Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

Global industries are rapidly adopting digital twin and simulation technologies to enhance operational efficiency and mitigate supply chain risks. With increasing demand for faster project delivery and cost optimization, particularly in capital-intensive sectors like shipbuilding and heavy manufacturing, solutions that streamline multi-site collaboration are paramount. This technology aligns with the global push for Industry 4.0, offering a robust framework for data-driven decision-making and sustainable production practices.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Optimizes Multi-Factory Collaboration Accuracy: Standardized data enables detailed simulation of task allocation and resource distribution across multiple factories, potentially reducing the overall construction period by up to 20%.

02

Achieves Substantial Construction Cost Reduction: Highly accurate simulation results eliminate wasteful processes and redundant resources, potentially reducing annual construction costs by 10-15%.

03

Offers High Scalability and Future-Proofing: A versatile data structure flexibly adapts to future factory equipment updates or new technology introductions, contributing to long-term business infrastructure development.

Market Opportunity
🚢 Shipbuilding Industry
$650M–$3.5B globally (AI est.)
Intensified global competition and the drive for digital transformation (DX) make enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs urgent priorities. This technology offers a direct solution.
Large-scale commercial shipbuilders Naval defense contractors Specialized vessel manufacturers Offshore platform fabricators
⚙️ Heavy Industry & Machinery Manufacturing
$550M–$3.5B globally (AI est.)
Many products involve large-component manufacturing and multi-factory assembly, creating a high demand for optimization through this technology's simulation capabilities.
Industrial equipment manufacturers Large engine producers Construction machinery OEMs Wind turbine manufacturers
🏗️ Large-Scale Plant Construction
$350M–$3.5B globally (AI est.)
Complex process management and multi-site collaboration are essential, making this technology valuable for improving the accuracy of construction period and cost management.
Energy infrastructure developers Chemical plant constructors Industrial facility integrators Power generation equipment suppliers
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent broadly protects various aspects of ship construction simulation through 16 claims, covering the method and system based on a standardized data structure for optimizing multi-factory collaboration. Its robustness was confirmed by successfully overcoming examiner objections during prosecution, indicating a strong, difficult-to-invalidate right with few prior art references.

Competitive White Space

This patent focuses on data structures and simulation methodology for multi-site manufacturing. Licensees could develop additional IP in areas such as real-time sensor integration for dynamic process adjustment, advanced robotics for automated assembly, or AI-driven predictive maintenance for manufacturing equipment.

Economic Impact
~$1.0M/year estimated cost reduction per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

Ship construction projects could see ~10% reduction in construction period and 5% improvement in resource utilization across multiple factories. For a company building an average of 5 ships annually, this could result in approximately $200K (AI est.) in cost savings per vessel, leading to a total annual economic impact of ~$1.0M (AI est.). This is estimated based on efficiencies in labor costs, equipment maintenance, and indirect administrative expenses.

Speed to Market
5× faster than in-house development
This technology is built upon a patented, standardized data structure and simulation methodology. Compared to developing a similar system from scratch, significant time savings are expected. Key algorithms and data integration frameworks for product, facility, and process models are already defined, allowing companies to bypass concept validation and basic design phases, moving directly to system construction and demonstration. This is estimated to shorten time-to-market by approximately 3.2 years.
Competitive Positioning

X: Multi-Site Collaboration Efficiency
Y: Simulation Accuracy

Business Models & Applications
🤝 Licensing Model
Licensees acquire the patent implementation rights for this technology, enabling rapid business deployment by integrating it into their own ship construction simulation systems.
🔗 System Integration Solution
This technology integrates with existing production management and CAD/CAM systems, providing seamless data flow and advanced optimization capabilities.
📊 Data Analysis & Optimization Service
We provide regular, detailed optimization reports by analyzing construction data from licensees using this technology, focusing on reducing lead times and costs.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
✈️ Aerospace Industry
Aircraft Manufacturing Process Optimization
Applying this technology's standardized data structure and simulation to multi-factory aircraft component manufacturing and assembly. This could contribute to reducing overall supply chain lead times and costs by an estimated 15-20%, while enhancing quality.
🚗 Automotive Manufacturing
EV Battery Production Line Optimization
Adapting the simulation for high-precision, multi-stage EV battery production lines involving multi-site component manufacturing and assembly. This could optimize resource allocation and resolve production bottlenecks, potentially improving productivity by 10-15% and reducing defect rates.
🏢 Large-Scale Construction Projects
Modular Construction Method Optimization
Utilizing standardized data to simulate modular construction from factory component fabrication to on-site assembly. This could reduce project timelines by up to 20%, streamline on-site work efficiency, and stabilize quality, contributing to overall construction cost savings.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 9-Month Deployment
Initial Assessment & Requirements Definition
Duration: 2 months
Evaluate the licensee's existing systems and data structures, define requirements for integration with this technology, and formulate an optimal deployment plan.
Model Construction & System Integration
Duration: 4 months
Construct the technology's product, facility, and process models, establishing the data integration foundation with existing design and production management systems.
Simulation Operation & Impact Verification
Duration: 3 months
Begin full-scale operation of the constructed system for construction simulation. Analyze results to quantitatively verify optimization effects and establish a continuous improvement cycle.
Technical Feasibility
This technology is designed with a standardized data structure, facilitating easy data linkage with existing CAD/CAM and production management systems. The patent claims detail the acquisition of basic design information, facility/worker information, and the model creation process using this data, making software implementation the primary component. This allows for integration as an add-on to existing IT infrastructure without significant physical equipment investment, indicating very high technical feasibility.
Success Scenario
Upon adopting this technology, licensees could potentially reduce construction project timelines across multiple factories by an average of 15%. This could enhance annual production capacity and expand opportunities for new orders. Furthermore, optimal resource allocation through simulation is estimated to achieve approximately ~$1.0M (AI est.) in annual operational cost savings by reducing unnecessary overtime and maximizing equipment utilization. This would enable more competitive pricing and reinvestment into research and development.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2021-111790
REGISTRATION NO.
7687668
FILING DATE
2021/07/05
GRANT DATE
2025/05/26
EXPIRATION DATE
2041/07/05
PATENT HOLDER
国立研究開発法人 海上・港湾・航空技術研究所
Examination History
2024年06月11日
出願審査請求書
2025年02月18日
拒絶理由通知書
2025年03月21日
意見書
2025年03月21日
手続補正書(自発・内容)
2025年04月15日
特許査定