Delivery challenges at a mechanical testing centre facility: a case study of a railway system in South Africa

Abstract

The Mechanical Testing Facility, which is a division within TT Pty (Ltd), provides component mechanical testing to other divisions tasked with implementing new components in the railway system. The records over seven years show a steady increase in the number of tests delivered late to clients. In this paper, the background to the facility is provided, which extensively details the processes and relationships between the resources involved in the process. An analysis of the root causes for the late delivery of tests shows that lack of training and ineffective management were among the most significant reasons for late delivery. Recommendations for improvement include more active accountability of all resources, enforcement of standard operating procedures, and technical training for each resource specific to their tasks. Quick wins identified to drive these improvements included the implementation of key performance indicators for each resource, improvement of storage methodologies, and agreement of standard service levels with partners.

Keywords

• operationa management
• rail
• railway system
• performance management
• statistical tools