At the heart of these skills and capabilities is the Integrated Product and Process Development approach - also known as Design/Build.  With this process, teams of Navy personnel, vendors and suppliers and Electric Boat engineers, designers and waterfront construction supervisors collaborate on submarine design and manufacturing issues.  The Design/Build process is facilitated by the application of advanced computer technology, which enables team members to view three-dimensional digital drawings of individual components, systems and the entire submarine in real time at every stage of the design.

To support this process, Electric Boat is developing a single data base that will link engineering and design with production, as well as with business and financial operations.  Navy representatives and vendors and suppliers will also be connected to this data base.

These initiatives will provide a seamless  and cost-effective transition from submarine conceptual development, to engineering and design, and production.  The end result - submarines that combine the optimum combination of affordability and military capability.