Dirac and Fairlead Join Forces for Revolutionary Shipbuilding Methods Using Model-Based Manufacturing

A Strategic Alliance Between Dirac and Fairlead

In a significant move to enhance the American shipbuilding industry, Dirac, a technology leader specializing in model-based, context-aware production planning, has teamed up with Fairlead, a renowned maritime engineering firm based in Portsmouth, Virginia. This collaboration aims to transform traditional shipbuilding processes by implementing an innovative model-based manufacturing paradigm.

Empowering Modern Manufacturing

The partnership marks a pivotal shift in the shipbuilding landscape. Dirac’s advanced automated work instruction and production planning platform will be integrated into Fairlead’s operational framework. This integration is designed to lay down a robust digital production infrastructure built on Dirac's innovative manufacturing stack. The ultimate goal is to support the U.S. Navy in becoming the most agile industrial partner in the maritime field, focusing on scaling modular ship production to deliver a state-of-the-art fleet for the 21st century.

Dirac's CEO, Filip Aronshtein, emphasized that this initiative is central to rebuilding American industrial prowess, placing software technology at its core. He remarked, “Fairlead shares our conviction that production must move at the speed of design, and tribal knowledge, digital context, and manufacturing execution belong on the same plane.” The collaboration seeks to bolster the capabilities of Fairlead, transitioning them from a system integrator to a top-tier production platform, fostering rapid delivery of naval platforms with unmatched flexibility and adaptability.

Implementing Cutting-Edge Technology

As part of this strategic rollout, Dirac will assign a Forward-Deployed Engineer (FDE) directly at Fairlead’s facilities. This engineer will facilitate the integration of Dirac’s platform, enhancing model-based manufacturing processes and ensuring the flow of real-time feedback from design stages to product delivery. This new approach will enable Fairlead to achieve a paradigm shift in how they deliver naval vessels and other maritime solutions.

Fairlead’s leadership has expressed their enthusiasm regarding this partnership. Jerry Miller, Chairman and CEO of Fairlead, stated, “Modern naval platforms are too complex for tribal knowledge alone. With Dirac, we're capturing expertise in maritime production, scaling it across our workforce, and laying the digital foundation to lead in high-volume, modular shipbuilding.”

Fred Pasquine, the President of Fairlead, echoed this sentiment, noting that their traditional precision methods will now be paired with new capabilities for speed and adaptability, driven by Dirac’s innovative solutions.

Redefining the Shipbuilding Process

The significance of this partnership transcends the mere adoption of new software technologies. Both Dirac and Fairlead are on the frontier of a revolutionary shift in the defense manufacturing ecosystem. By fostering seamless collaboration between engineering, planning, and quality control teams, they aim to integrate digital models directly with shop floor operations. This integration promises to reframe how production changes are approached — viewing them not as disruptions but as opportunities for innovation and design improvement.

Jerrod Heiser, Head of Product at Dirac, highlighted that this partnership is not just about technology implementation; it’s about leading the Navy into the next generation of shipbuilding. He stated, “This is what it looks like when engineering and production finally speak the same language.”

Trevor Smith, Dirac’s Head of Partnerships, further posited that this alliance aims to dismantle the constraints of legacy defense manufacturing processes, enabling the delivery of a greater number of ships at an accelerated pace, with less need for rework and without sacrificing precision.

Future Vision

The collaboration between Dirac and Fairlead sets a blueprint for a future where the American maritime industrial base is software-defined. Each design decision will be made with contextual awareness, ensuring that every build is traceable and readily producible from the outset. As they embark on this journey together, Dirac and Fairlead are not just redefining shipbuilding; they are reimagining the entire technological infrastructure of the industry, ensuring that it meets the demands and complexities of modern naval operations.

As this strategic partnership unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor the advancements in shipbuilding capabilities and the impact of model-based manufacturing on America's naval strength. By embracing technological innovation, both companies are poised to drive significant changes in the maritime landscape, ensuring that the U.S. Navy remains at the forefront of global maritime capabilities.