The new UND ro-ros from Flensburg are powered by MaK M 43 engines, produced by Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG in Germany. They are proving to require only simple maintenance, fulfil the IMO Emission requirements and have low fuel consumption.
According to Wolfgang A. Sprogis, senior manager for quality, modular construction has been consistently employed in these engines. A philosophy of intelligent simplicity underpins their design, with maximum reliability, minimum operating costs, simple maintenance and consistent reduction of exhaust emissions by measures internal to the engine.
Electronic approval
DNV recently introduced computerised approval of drawings. Changing from paper-based to electronic approval has given us valuable benefits, says Sprogis. We have reduced the workload and can concentrate on the important issues. Comments are being put directly on the screen and we can communicate online with the classification society instead of waiting for the papers to be sent back and forth.
Controlling product quality
A Manufacturer Product Quality Assessment (MPQA) has been carried out by DNV, measuring the ability to control product quality.
Continues Sprogis: The MPQA has enabled us to improve work processes and has added value to our present internal system. The assessment gave us a complete overview of work processes in our organisation and pointed out specific areas of improvement, such as the need for greater focus on employee requirements and how to fulfil them.
Reducing inspection and testing
As a result of the MPQA Caterpillar Motoren has also implemented a Manufacturing Survey Arrangement (MSA), which is an agreement between DNV and the manufacturer describing to what extent inspection and testing can be carried out by the manufacturer without the presence of DNV. The MSA contract has helped us to become more process oriented, and reduced the need to certify each part of an engine, says Sprogis. We have also implemented MSA for certain sub-suppliers, which has increased efficiency for both parties.