Thomas Brandwijk shares how Onepush started from frustration and evolved into a platform that automates work preparation and connects pre-production and production in shipbuilding.
I’m Thomas Brandwijk, one of the founders of Onepush, and mainly responsible for product.
Onepush didn’t start as a business idea.
It started as frustration.
Before founding Onepush, I worked as an engineer. And like many engineers in shipbuilding, a large part of my time wasn’t spent solving complex problems.
It was spent on repetition.
Preparing the same outputs.
Rechecking information.
Manually translating 3D models into production-ready data.
It was time-consuming, and it didn’t add real value.
That frustration is where Onepush started.
I began looking for ways to automate the work preparation process, not just to save time, but to remove repetitive work and improve efficiency.
That’s where the foundation of Onepush was created.
As we explored automation further, one thing became clear:
If we could create a platform where users generate their own building packages, we could fundamentally change shipbuilding workflows.
Instead of manual preparation, engineers could:
define what they need
generate outputs automatically
stay in control without repetitive work
That idea shaped the early direction of Onepush.
But to build something that works in practice, we needed to go deeper.
We didn’t want to build software in isolation.
Firstly, we went to shipyards. We spoke with engineers, production teams, and planners. We observed how work preparation and production actually happen.
Something important stood out. We saw that many teams were marking steel plates manually, because it was critical for production. But it was repetitive, time-consuming, and completely disconnected from the digital workflow.
That’s when it became clear:
The problem is not the people.
It’s the process.
That insight led directly to one of our solutions: automated weld markings.
Instead of manual marking, this information is now:
generated directly from the 3D model
embedded in the building package
ready for production without interpretation
What used to require time, coordination, and manual work is now automated.
And that is exactly what we aim to do across the entire shipbuilding process.
From that point on, our approach has been consistent:
We ask.
We listen.
We observe.
And then we build.
Every feature and product decision is based on real workflows in shipbuilding.
The goal is always the same:
reduce repetitive work
improve quality and consistency
make processes more predictable
As product lead, my role is to translate real-world challenges into solutions that work in practice.
We came from the industry.
We understood shipbuilding, workflows, and where inefficiencies occur.
What we had to learn was how to build software, and how to build software that people actually use.
That meant:
translating real processes into digital workflows
building scalable and reliable systems
delivering tools that support daily operations
At the same time, we brought in strong software expertise.
That combination allowed us to build a platform tailored specifically to shipbuilding, not generic software.
With Onepush 4.0, we are taking the next step.
We are strengthening the connection between:
pre-production
work preparation
production on the shop floor
The goal remains the same: Remove unnecessary work. Increase clarity. Deliver better results.
But now, at scale.
What I enjoy most is simple:
Taking real problems and turning them into solutions that improve daily work.
Not in theory.
But in practice.
Because innovation in shipbuilding is not about adding more tools.
It is about removing friction.
Shipbuilding is evolving.
Automation, digital workflows, and integrated production processes are becoming essential.
At Onepush, we will continue to:
listen to the industry
build based on real needs
improve work preparation and production workflows
This is just the beginning.
Stay connected to read more about how shipbuilding workflows are evolving.
Lead change. Push forward.
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