Increasing utilisation thanks to a new maintenance method.
Rhomberg Sersa Ireland provided its client Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail with a dynamic method to improve maintenance productivity.
The RM 90 ballast bed cleaning device by Plasser & Theurer is a good, reliable machine that plays an important role in Irish Rail's maintenance work. However, due to a three-hour maintenance break that had to be taken after every ten hours of use, it was actually in use for only 57% of the available utilisation time. A joint working group of Rhomberg Sersa Ireland and Irish Rail has now managed to increase the productivity of this key machine by more than 40%.
Initially, the Continuous Improvement Group (CIG) included fitters in the operations team. This changed the team composition from the previous four operators to two operators and two fitters. The next step was to create an on-site maintenance plan that identified three types of maintenance work – non-stationary, stationary and full stop. Result: Non-stationary maintenance is now carried out by one of the fitters during operation. The maintenance work itself could be carried out quickly and efficiently by creating a new standard with an event timeline and by storing the tools required for maintenance on site. Instead of 57% of usage time, the RM 90 is now 81% productive. An increase by easily 42%!
