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Tag: Strategy support

Strategy support – Our solutions

Wheelset torsional vibration

Customer: Various customers

Project tasks

  • Basic assessment of the vehicle’s wheelset torsional dynamics
  • Analytical estimation for dimensioning the wheelset shaft and, if necessary, other components
  • Multibody simulations for a more detailed analysis for optimization
  • Consulting and support for homologation measurements and support for documentation for homologation.

Our Approach

PROSE accompanies the entire, or single sections of the process chain, from the pre-design of the wheelset shaft over the optimization of the mechanical components up to the execution
of the homologation measurements for the determination of the maximum, dynamic torsional moment. By means of analytical and conceptual investigations, a fundamental assessment of the wheelset torsional dynamics of the vehicle is already carried out in advance, taking into account the dimensioning of the wheelset, the powertrain configuration and drive systems. Based on the preliminary investigations, in-depth analyses are carried out in consultation with the customer using multibody simulation models. On the one hand, these investigations limit
the maximum dynamic torsional moment to be expected, indicate the component loads to be expected and, at the same time, describe other dynamic properties of the driveline. Considering the existing driveline configuration, its design properties are optimized in such a way that the mechanical damping of the first torsional eigenmode of the wheelset is increased, thereby reducing the maximum dynamic torsional moment. The results of the analyses provide relevant information for the system analysis required for certification, which describes the wheelset torsional dynamics of the vehicle. In addition, the analyses are used to determine the vehicle configurations critical for planning and performing the homologation measurements. Finally, the maximum dynamic torsional moment is determined with metrological tests on the vehicle.

Customer benefit

The analyses carried out help the customer to minimize risks in the approval of the wheelsets. The preliminary investigations enable realistic time and cost planning up to the approval of
the wheelsets. The in-depth analyses and component optimizations reduce the stresses caused by torsional vibrations and prevent damage to safety-relevant components during operation. Finally, the identification of critical operating conditions significantly reduces and secures the scope of the homologation measurement.

 

Evaluation of offers for new KVG tram vehicles

Customer: Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft, Germany

Project tasks

  • Answering bidders’ technical questions
  • Support during the presentation of the workshop infrastructure to the bidders
  • Development of criteria for the evaluation-relevant requirements
  • Evaluation of the indicative offers regarding the fulfilment of the technical specifications
  • Preparing, assisting, and recording negotiations
  • Evaluation of binding offers regarding the fulfilment of the technical specification

Our Approach

PROSE assists the Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (KVG) with technical expertise from the time of publication of the tender until the award of the contract. KVG was supported particularly in the priority areas of:

  • Answering bidders’ questions
  • Bid evaluation and
  • Support during bidder discussions

Based on the technical specifications, which were developed with the support of PROSE, the bidders’ questions were answered. PROSE established a small agile team for the bid evaluation, which started the intensive and systematic evaluation after receipt of the bids. The team was engaged in the same composition for the indicative as well as for the binding offers. In addition to adhering to the demanding schedule, this required close coordination with the KVG project team. At a joint workshop on-site in Kassel, the bidder discussions were prepared, and criteria for the evaluation-relevant requirements were developed.

Customer benefit

The customer can benefit from broad and independent expert support by PROSE:

  • Reduced binding of own resources for the development of the requirement specification.
  • Supplementing own technical knowledge with external knowledge for the general vehicle concept and the associated subsystems and components
  • Drawing on experience from PROSE’s broad pool of experts
  • Fast, structured and always comprehensible processing of the evaluation of almost 2000 requirements and 200 offer documents
  • Support in the preparation of the award decision

   

Auditing vehicle maintenance

Customer: Appenzeller Bahnen, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Organisation
  • Workshop inspection
  • Consolidation
  • Report

Our Approach

PROSE implemented the maintenance audit in four sections: The content and objective of the first part was the deductive immersion in the maintenance organisation, starting from the strategy, the annual report on the structural and process organisation, the basic compatibility assessment of functional process organisations and the cooperation and division of labour between the different workshops. In the second part of this audit, two workshops were visited and their work was evaluated with regard to the knowledge gained in the first part and any gaps and/or suggestions for improvement were collected. Finally, the collected impressions were summarised and reflected upon and located with the client. The final report documented the result of the external view and provided information on the development status of vehicle maintenance.

Customer benefit

During the four abovementioned inspections, the Appenzeller Bahnen and their maintenance team received valuable feedback on their processes, on the organisation of procedures and processes, as well as on the status of their documentation. A number of suggestions for improvement were gratefully received and implemented as soon as possible.

 

Approval support snow blower zb

Customer: ZAUGG AG Eggiwil, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Proof of derailment, restriction and strength
  • Expert reports on fire protection, derailment and restriction

Our Approach

The AB-EBV requires a proof of compliance with the reference line. For this proof, PROSE has prepared a restriction calculation according to EN 15273-2:2013 as well as an independent expert report. The front and side windows are glued to the cabin of the snow blower. ZAUGG is not certified according to DIN 6701, but will have the bonding work carried out by an external company. PROSE has been commissioned to provide proof of strength for the two A1 bondings. In addition, the AB-EBV requires an expert report on the fire protection concept, which has been prepared by PROSE experts. PROSE has also provided the proof of derailment safety according to the BAV guideline “Nachweis sicheres Fahrverhalten Meterspur-, Spezialspur- und Zahnradbahnen”, as well as an independent expert report.

Customer benefit

PROSE’s expertise in the topics of verification as well as its comprehensive knowledge made it possible to use independent experts for the preparation of the expert report. For this reason, time was saved and ZAUGG was able to submit the required documents to the BAV on time.

Development Connection Magnetic Rail Brake Locomotive Gmf 4/4

Customer: Rhätische Bahn, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Geometric investigations
  • Risk analysis with expert opinion
  • Rough and detailed concept
  • Clearance verification (gauging)
  • Strength verification
  • Approval support

Our Approach

In the first phase, PROSE, as the developer of the motor bogie, was commissioned by the RhB with a geometric investigation, which showed that the possibility of slippage of the MTR in unfavourable situations could not be excluded. In a second phase, PROSE prepared an expert opinion describing under which conditions (operational, system characteristics, etc.) safe operation with the four service traction units Gmf 4/4 can be guaranteed until the completion of the conversion. This statement is intended as a basis for an RhB-internal risk assessment. In the last phase, PROSE developed a rough and detailed concept with gauging (clearance) and strength verification for a cross connection of the MTR arranged on both sides of the engine bogie of the locomotive Gmf 4/4. In addition, PROSE supported the customer in preparing the documents relevant for approval according to the regulation RTE 49100.

Customer benefit

Due to the detailed system knowledge of the bogie and the contribution of expertise in connection with the safety-relevant operation, the customer was able to remedy the malfunction with the most efficient measures possible. PROSE’s competence in vehicle authorisation also helped the client to submit the required documents to the Federal Office of Transport FOT in due time.

Leadership Coaching and Strategy Consulting Digital Interlocking

Customer: SBB Infrastructure, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Leadership Coaching
  • Strategy Consulting
  • Stakeholder Management

Our Approach

PROSE is carrying out the leadership coaching and strategy consulting for the SBB project manager “EESA 3.1 – Industrialised Rollout”. The leadership coaching was conducted between the poles of the rollout implementation, defined in the directional decision, and the call for tenders, which had to be prepared concurrently. On the one hand, the time constraints associated with the implementation were addressed, which led to good progress in the conceptual and content-related work. On the other hand, the strategy consultation dealt with prioritising the tender contents, whereby the implementation of innovations and the inclusion of essential rollout requirements were subordinated to securing the contract.

Customer benefit

In addition to more minor and continuous further developments of concepts, significant successes were also achieved in some areas. From a project management perspective, the following topics deserve special attention:

  • Publication of EULYNX Baseline 4.1 with the necessary adaptations for Switzerland.
  • Concluded procurement of a proof-of-concept platform for the Object Controller to demonstrate software separation, security features and a reference implementation of the Rail Safe Transport Application (RaST).
  • Results of the first iteration in the study, “Expandability using the example of the Dagmersellen – Emmenbrücke line”, showing a cost-saving potential between 50% and 75%.
  • Make-or-buy workshop with infrastructure management

Alternative forms of operation for the Appenzellers Rack railways

Customer: INFRAS, Switzerland

End customer: Canton of Appenzell A.Rh. and St. Gallen

Project tasks

  • Actual state analysis and screening of the available information including inspection of the three railway lines
  • Description of the state of the art in the market
  • Investigation of Automation possibilities
  • Development of a cost and benefit analysis
  • Creation of a final report including evaluation and recommendation for all three railway

Our Approach

As a first step a state analysis and screening of the available information including inspection of the three railway lines was carried out. Then a target system architecture was described using state of the art available technology. Various automation possibilities were developed and assessed. On top a cost and benefit analysis was carried out. All findings were collected in the final report including evaluation and recommendation for all three railways.

Customer benefit

Thanks to PROSE’s structured approach INFRAS received a well-founded result from a broad diversified analysis of the technical possibilities and economic effects of automation of the railway operation of the three lines. During the project the client received an overview of the possibilities as well as of the current state of the art on the subject of automated and autonomous driving operation. PROSE therefore develops a concrete recommendation and the magnitude of the necessary investments in the introduction of automated railway operations.

 

 

Audit of an ERTMS onboard system

Customer: Banedanmark (BDK), Denmark

Project tasks

  • Performance of the audit of the onboard projects of the Danish Signaling Program for the readiness for fitment
  • Assessment of the preparation for the installation phase of the vehicles in relation to:
    – Planning of the installation
    – Installation design
    – Prototype installation
    – Approval process
    – Assessment of different design issues

Our Approach

PROSE’s team of experts carried out this audit in less than three months; the audit covered the supplier Alstom, four railway operators, the national safety authority (Trafikstyrelsen), G-ISA and Banedanmark.

Customer benefit

Thanks to PROSE’s independent recommendations, our customer was able to optimize the current technical performance and to reduce the known risks.

Advice on the implementation of ECM Regulation 779

Customer: SBB CARGO, ECM2 strategic fleet management, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Leadership coaching of the responsible head of strategic fleet management
  • Expert mentoring of the executing project employee
  • External workshop organisation for team development
  • Stakeholder management with management level, HRM, standards and regulatory bodies
  • Methodical tool development in the area of competence management
  • Strategic organisational development regarding structure and process organisation
  • Strategic knowledge management in quasi-governmental organisations

Our Approach

In a first step, the safety-relevant (ECM) activities were separated from the availability-relevant activities and documented in an external workshop. A competence matrix of the fleet management employees was created in several project work steps. PROSE then developed a target matrix on the basis of the content of the impending leap in standards from 2011/445 to 2019/779, whose delta on the actual situation can be used as the basis for strategic employee development and represents the comprehensive and detailed proof of competence in the forthcoming safety audits.

Customer benefit

The Head of Strategic Locomotive Fleet Management (ECM2) receives a comprehensive and detailed overview of the area of activity of his department and is in a position to document, reference and thus prove the ability to carry out these processes at any time and at the appropriate level in an audit-capable manner. Externally, this department achieves competence suited for the forthcoming re-certification to the new 2019/779 ordinance landscape. Internally, it serves as a practical example of the implementation capability within the framework of the CargoFit programme. Furthermore, process-related and competence oriented dependencies between the ECM2 activities will be established: safety, availability, system engineering and regulations are clearly documented and located.

Support for the approval of an automatic coupler

Customer: SBB Cargo, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Analysis and description of the modifications
  • Formulation of the proposed modifications
  • Classification of the modifications and associated risks in accordance with RTE 49100
  • Preparation of an approval concept
  • Preparation of the documents to be presented to the FOT
  • Integration of FOT’s comments into the approval concept

Our Approach

PROSE managed the homologation process and supported the coordination between SBB Cargo and the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) to achieve the approval for the automatic coupler for commercial operation.

Customer benefit

The customer gains an overview of the valid regulations to be considered for the approval process with the FOT. Consequently, the authorities received a fast processing time and later the customer a lean, efficient verification and issue of the operating approval. PROSE has made a valuable, risk-minimising contribution to the “automatic couplers” project which is essential for the success of the strategic automation programme.

Multi-body simulation for providing evidence for safety against derailment for a metre gauge vehicle

Customer: PVF Trade, s.r.o., Czech Republic

End customer: Montreux-Berner Oberland-Bahn (MOB), Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Composition of the modelling parameters
  • Creation of the MBS model for each wagon type
  • Implementation of the boundary conditions in the simulation environment
  • Carrying out and evaluating the simulations
  • Evaluation of the results
  • Documentation in a verification report

Our Approach

The computational verification of safety against derailment in twisted track curves was carried out in accordance with the BAV guideline based on EN14363:2016 using method 1 with test conditions adapted for metre gauge.

Customer benefit

Due to the broad experience of the experts at PROSE with the MBS modelling and simulation of rail vehicles and the performance of computational verifications, the derailment safety verification for the metre gauge vehicles could be carried out efficiently and in target-oriented manner.

Definition of a vehicle authorisation strategy for a driver advisor system

Customer: KNORR BREMSE, Switzerland

Project tasks

  • Homologation strategy
  • Operational applicability
  • Human factor limitations

Our Approach

PROSE conducted an expertise on different topics. The aim of the PROSE homologation consulting was to prepare an argumentative concept on the legal situation relevant to homologation, as well as a description of the scope and content of the necessary notification to BAV (Bundesamt für Verkehr).

Customer benefit

KNORR BREMSE received a thorough expertise on the homologation imperative with regards to implementation of the driver advisor system in shunting and main line operation,  operational as well as human factors in and around the utilization a video camera system with artificial intelligence.

 

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