The IT of Shipbuilding

Most CIOs involved in manufacturing produce high quantities of a variety of designs, with some amount of customization for special customers. Shipbuilding and mega-yacht construction is on the other end of that spectrum--where production of a single unit is measured in years, only one or two units are being produced at any given time, and repetition is limited. In exploring the technology challenges faced by the shipbuilding industry, Tom Costello learns a few lessons of value for CIOs in other industries as well.