Delivering ships on time and within budget are imperatives in commercial shipbuilding. To ensure the design and construction of a ship can be executed as planned, commercial shipbuilders and buyers do not move forward until critical knowledge is attained. Before a contract is signed, a full understanding of the effort needed to design and construct the ship must be reached, enabling the shipbuilder to sign a contract that fixes the price, delivery date, and ship performance parameters. Navy programs often do not employ these best practices. This book examines commercial shipbuilding lessons that can be learned and applied by Navy shipbuilders.