Tag: Strategy support

Strategy support – Our solutions

Advice on the modularisation of a functional vehicle authorisation strategy

2023-04-09

Customer: Plasser&Theurer, Austria

Project tasks

Safety assessment report
Efficient decision-making basis for identifying significant changes
Optimisation in the definition of system boundaries
Optimisation potential in the creation of the “Requirement Capture”
Optimisation of the creation of the safety plan

Our Approach

PROSE offers support for a corresponding further development and optimisation of the processes. The aim was to optimise the processes and methodologies at P&T to the extent that effort is reduced and lead times can be shortened, but always in compliance with the requirements of the CSM EU VO 402/2013. The results of the workshop, including recommendations for the further procedure, were summarized by PROSE in a short report after the workshop.

Customer benefit

In a full-day workshop, Plasser&Theurer discussed in detail the necessity of a safety assessment report, efficient decision-making bases for the identification of significant changes, the design of optimisation in the definition of system boundaries, the optimisation potential in the preparation of the requirement capture and the optimisation of the preparation of the safety plan.

Support for the purchase of low-floor trams

2023-04-09

Customer: Basel public transport authority (BVB), Switzerland

Project tasks

Capture customer wishes concerning vehicle technology
Support documentation of the resulting technical requirements
Consider the current state of technology
Take account of current technical rules and standards
Revise the draft specification
Conduct a technical evaluation of the submitted bids

Our Approach

PROSE employs experts with many years’ experience in rail passenger transport. This allowed PROSE to put the tender call in a correct and due form and to state the customer’s requirements so as to facilitate their practical implementation. PROSE also brought in current technical rules and standards and took current laws and regulations into account.

Customer benefit

The customer gained value because the PROSE experts, reduced the commitment of customer resources in the tender call’s development and because PROSE introduced knowledge of current technology and of corresponding systems and components in developing the concept for the tram. PROSE took into account the experience of other public transport agencies in recent rolling stock procurement projects and contributed to a neutral and impartial bid evaluation.

Consulting for efficiency increase in maintenance and life cycle cost optimisation

2023-04-09

Customer: ÖBB Personenverkehr AG, Austria

Project tasks

Implementation of benchmark and a concrete guidance for the application of the optimisation measures
Determination of the cost saving potential
Development of a standard methodology for future use cases in ÖBB passenger transport

Our Approach

First, an analysis of the current technical procurement depth of the tenders was carried out. In the next step, model calculations of investment costs (CAPEX) and operating costs (OPEX) were prepared, and a benchmark of the existing options for action was defined. The recommendations elaborated by PROSE show which adjustments would be reasonable in order to use the advantages optimally.

Customer benefit

PROSE enables ÖBB to provide a comprehensive overview and thus provides a basis for decisions on the choice of measures with which its medium and long-term goal of increasing efficiency can be realized.

Procurement support for bulk freight wagon

2023-04-08

Customer: Holcim Kies und Beton AG, Switzerland

Project tasks

Feasibility studies
Workshops
Procurement specifications

Our Approach

PROSE supports Holcim in the complete procurement process. In particular, PROSE deals with railway-specific issues and risks.

Customer benefit

Through Prose’s expertise and support in terms of feasibility in connection with railway-specific requirements, Holcim has verified procurement documents. With the developed basics, Holcim can request potential vehicle manufactures and has a suitable basis to evaluate the offers according to their requirements.

Feasibility study on driverless train operation (DTO)

2023-04-06

Customer: BLT Transport AG, Switzerland

Project tasks

Overall observation of the market
Detailed description of the planned infrastructure
Analysis of standards, technology and safety
Conclusion of asset of proposed measures of realisation – in coordination with FOT

Our Approach

During the first phase, a market overview was carried out together with a detailed description of the planned infrastructure – which ensured the achievement of the range required. The next step was creating the additional depth required by using standard technology and safety analyses. After consolidation, various variants were developed and evaluated during the feasibility phase. In coordination with the Federal Office of Transport (FOT), the best variant was selected and subsequently specified by proposed implementation measures

Customer benefit

Thanks to PROSE’s structured approach, BLT received a well-founded result based on a diversified analysis. During the realisation of the project, BLT already received an overview of the current state of the art autonomous transport systems and of present projects. In the end PROSE developed a coordinated proposal for a step by step introduction of autonomous operation, as well as further steps required for implementation, which were coordinated with the FOT.

Expert assessment – Operation of UIC and AAR brake systems in the same train

2023-04-06

Customer: Israel Railways Ltd., Israel

Project tasks

Analysis and comparison of the standards for UIC and AAR brake systems
Analysis and comparison of technical differences and operational characteristics of the two brake systems
Analysis of brake systems of the existing vehicles
Identification of technical and operational risks for the various train compositions

Our Approach

ISR commissioned PROSE with the preparation of an independent expert assessment to find out whether it is possible and safe to operate a train with different brake systems. The study focused on the analysis and comparison of the standards for UIC and AAR brake systems as well as on the technical differences and operational characteristics of the two brake systems. The brake systems of the existing vehicles were analysed, and the technical and operational risks for the various train compositions identified.

Customer benefit

ISR has now an independent expert assessment about the risks of operating trains that consist of AAR locomotives and UIC freight wagons. Moreover, PROSE listed the measures together with a suggested solution for the immediate reduction of the operational risks and for the long-term stable operation of trains which consist of both AAR and UIC rolling stock.

Assessment of unusal rail damages

2023-04-05

Customer: Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (BVB), Switzerland

Project tasks

Assessment on site: on site inspection of known danger spots, report and findings
Immediate assessment of the operational risk: findings, recommendations and room for maneuver
Management summary: short-term operational measures and long-term strategic scope
Preparation of the press release

Our Approach

On the advice of PROSE, BVB set up a working group on this subject and recommended a shortterm reduction in speed, and launched an investigation to understand the safety relevance of each problem identified. PROSE found no operational risk from the maintenance backlog for BVB during the maintenance of the vehicle fleet. As a result, an immediate shut-down of tram operation in Basel was averted.

Customer benefit

The causes of the unusual damage have already been solved since September 2018. After this, no more extraordinary damage has occurred to the tracks.

Ad interim locomotive fleet manager

2023-04-05

Customer: SBB Cargo, Switzerland

Project tasks

ECM Migration
ANSF Approval Re484
Re484 Analysis power converter, compressor, emergency stop
Planning R2 Re484
Planning R2 Re474
Midlife measures Re482
Technical Mentoring Obsolescence Manager: Competence Matrix ECM2
Leadership Coaching ECM2 Manager: White paper and concept for Life Extension Re620

Our Approach

In addition to ensuring operational safety within the framework of the ECM2 function compared to the upstream and downstream ECM functions, PROSE took care of the sustainable improvement of the availability of the new fleet. The integration of PROSE experts in technical questions considerably increased the expertise available on site.

Customer benefit

With this ad interim solution, the customer SBB Cargo received a flexibly deployable expertise with broad technical support from PROSE, who quickly and filled this specific personnel assignment. In addition to the operational security function within the framework of ECM2, this solution provided increased benefits in terms of availability, development and regulations. In addition, PROSE led the newly appointed obsolescence manager in the establishment of the competence matrix of the ECM2 team for the auditcapable mapping of competence management within the framework of technical mentoring.

Leadership Coaching ECM2 Manager for life cycle extension locomotive Re620

2023-04-05

Customer: SBB Cargo, Switzerland

Project tasks

Review of contents Re620
Technical Mentoring old Locomotives Fleet Manager
Leadership Coaching ECM2-Manager in Conceptualisation

Our approach

PROSE developed a three-stage concept as part of a professional coaching phase for the current ECM2 manager of SBB Cargo; taking into account the stabilisation of reliability and availability up to 2035 at the level of 2020 and the completion of revision R2 with a defined content, a planned annual mileage up to End of Life (EoL) of 120 thousand kilometres p.a. or 1.8 million km and a removal of the separation between light (SBB Cargo) and heavy maintenance (SBB-P, Bellinzona industrial plant), which had arisen as a result of the organisational split-up within the SBB Group.

Customer benefit

This concept gave SBB Cargo a sustainable opportunity to operate the strategically important Re6/6 fleet for a further fifteen years. The current ECM2 manager received management coaching at the appropriate level for the conception of a fifteen-year life extension for the Re620 (SLM) old locomotive from the 1970s.

Feasibility study for passenger coaches with standardised length and introduction of an automatic coupler system across the entire fleet

2023-04-05

Customer: Rhaetian Railway, Switzerland

Project tasks

Strategy support
Gauging analysis
Independent second opinion

Our Approach

The space requirements of the various vehicles (main network cars, Bernina cars) on the corresponding routes were determined and compared by means of gauging analysis. In a second step, the general introduction of the automatic coupler was analyzed. For this purpose, PROSE carried out a product analysis of the common coupling systems and contacted different railway operators to contribute their experiences.

Customer benefit

The knowledge shown by PROSE regarding the length of the car body and the automatic coupler enables the Rhaetian Railway to proceed with its next procurement and to make the necessary decisions. PROSE was able to bring in its own independent view on the facts and thus to help the Rhaetian Railway to a well-founded decision-making.

Market innovation strategy consulting

2023-04-05

Customer: CURTISS-WRIGHT DRIVE TECHNOLOGY, Switzerland

Project tasks

Strategy tool training for the management team
Strategy analysis workshop at the customer
Two market innovation workshops with strategic customers (integrators)
Two market intelligence workshops with strategic transport planners
Strategy Canvas Workshop with the client

Our Approach

In a joint workshop, CURTISS-WRIGHT DRIVE TECHNOLOGY and PROSE jointly assessed the marketability of the service portfolio based on the railway engineering references of CURTISS-WRIGHT DRIVE TECHNOLOGY on the one hand and the industry experience of PROSE on the other hand.

Customer benefit

The credibility and persuasiveness of the business case crystallized from the understanding of the motivational factors of the demand generators, and thus whether a demand for the product and service portfolio of CURTISS-WRIGHT DRIVE TECHNOLOGY can be generated at all among the integrators.

Risk management at SBB Cargo

2023-04-04

Customer: SBB Cargo, Switzerland

Project tasks

Development of the LTS RM board tool
Presentation to the management circle
Training of SBB Cargo employees
Interface management with operators and corporate management

Our Approach

To fulfill the challenges in application of the EU Regulation 402/2013, Article (18), Paragraph (3), PROSE developed an operational risk management tool for SBB Cargo. All other asset management departments were trained by PROSE to meaningfully integrate the RM tool and the K250 procedure into their daily work.

Customer benefit

In terms of the application of the EU Regulation 1078/2012 at SBB Cargo as an overall company, this tool developed by PROSE and its regular application ensures the strategy, priorities and implementation plan of the control processes.