The US Navy is facing significant challenges in its shipbuilding programs due to a mix of long and short-term issues. A senior executive from Huntington Ingalls Industries emphasized that while the industry has the capability to produce warships, inconsistent demand and workforce shortages have deeply impacted capacity. After the Cold War, demand for ships fell, leading to a substantial reduction in experienced workers and shifting workforce demographics. Navy officials also note that fluctuating orders complicate efforts to stabilize production, ultimately resulting in delays and budget overruns.
"Industry knows how to build ships at scale," he said, but when the demand went down after the Cold War, "we turned the spigot off, and we stopped demanding ships."
"Today, the average electronic supervisor has been there four-and-a-half years," he said. That's a lot of lost experience.
Inconsistent demand signals from the Navy have caused significant disruptions, leading to a decline in workforce skills and capacity in the shipbuilding industry.
Navy officials and shipbuilders acknowledge the US shipbuilding problems stem from both long-term issues and the immediate impacts of inconsistent demand.
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