Day 1 - 27 June 2023

Implementing Cost-Saving Innovations In Fleet Maintenance To Improve Availability

Comparing Diverse Strategies To Increase Availability While Reducing Cost  From Adjusting Maintenance Regimes To Using Data More Effectively, From Improving Workforce Performance To Accelerating The Transition To CBM

GLOBAL RAIL MAINTENANCE MEGA-TRENDS: AN EXECUTIVE BREAKFAST BRIEFING 07:45 Examining The Impact Of Global Rail Trends On Rail Maintenance To Enhance Service, Capacity, And Passenger Experience While Lowering Cost This 60-minute pre-conference briefing, divided into two key parts, identifies key rail megatrends and their impact on rolling stock scheduling availability and maintenance. The session analyses how operators are reducing costs while increasing availability and responding to changing travel patterns from a maintenance, scheduling, and capacity delivery perspective. Part A (25 minutes) Changing Travelling Patterns Post COVID Impacts on Fleet Maintenance and Rolling Stock Scheduling Looking at the global megatrends for rail companies to adapt to changing travelling patterns post-COVID and assessing the changes to fleet maintenance and rolling stock schedules. -  Decreased commuter ridership: What are the current trends and outlook for fewer passengers commuting by rail, leading to reduced ridership? How are rail operators changing maintenance scheduling as less frequent service may result in more extended periods between maintenance checks, leading to decreased efficiency? -  Increased demand for reliability: As people return to rail travel for leisure, they now expect a higher level of reliability and punctuality, which impacts maintenance and scheduling. -  Changes in passenger behaviour: The pandemic has also led to changes in passenger behaviour, such as increased demand for sanitation and safety, which could impact maintenance and scheduling. -  Technology implementation: In response to the changes in travel patterns, rail operators may implement new technologies to improve efficiency, reliability, and passenger experience, which could impact maintenance and scheduling. Part B (25 minutes) How International Rail Operators Are Optimising Maintenance At Reduced Cost Considering A Higher Demand For Train Reliability, Increased Capacity, And Comfort in which areas are they prioritising new technology development that delivers ROI?  -  Investment in new technology, data and equipment to improve service quality and reliability -  Use of technology to optimise maintenance processes, reduce manual labour, and improve efficiency -  Greater focus on passenger experience, including accessibility, safety, and comfort -  How rail operators are making the transition to CBM -  Optimising the workforce through training, development, and deployment to improve productivity and efficiency -  Strict adherence to safety and compliance regulations to reduce risks and improve overall safety. 08:35 Breakfast briefing Q&A

 

MAIN CONFERENCE AGENDA Improving The Reliability And Availability Of Rolling Stock At Reduced Cost

08:50 Chair’s Opening Remarks

KEYNOTE ENGINEERING DIRECTOR OPENING PANEL – HOW IS MAINTENANCE DONE TODAY?
08:55 Global Perspectives On Maintenance Solutions For Enhancing Rail Capacity While Reducing Cost In The Face Of Systemic Industry Challenges

Increasing rolling stock availability while lowering costs is a significant challenge for global rail operators who face financial constraints but cannot afford to cut services. The panel will evaluate how Chief Engineers deliver results by calibrating different approaches to adopting new technology, improving workforce performance, increasing standardisation, accelerating the transition to CBM and tightening cost control.

08:55 UK PERSPECTIVE Adapting Maintenance Regimes To Changing Travelling Patterns To Increase Capacity While Reducing Cost
-  Aligning maintenance schedules with changes in passenger demand and capacity requirements
-  Ensuring optimal utilisation of resources, minimising disruptions, and improving the overall passenger experience.
-  Successfully utilising data and technology to monitor changes in passenger demand and proactively adjust maintenance schedules as needed
-  Standardising processes and eliminating redundancies in the system to reduce costs and increase efficiency

Ian Rawlings, Head of Profession - Vehicle, Transport for London

09:15 EUROPEAN VIEWPOINT Transitioning To Condition-Based Maintenance In Conjunction With Classical Maintenance To Reduce Cost & Deliver Capacity
-  Alignment of condition-based maintenance to complement classical maintenance strategies
-  In the most effective and cost-efficient way – critical lessons learned
-  Conducting a thorough cost analysis to determine the costs and benefits of transitioning to condition-based maintenance and to evaluate the impact on overall maintenance costs and delivery of capacity
-  Integration of data and technology to monitor the performance of rail assets and predict maintenance needs.
-  Implementing change management to ensure that all stakeholders are aligned and that the transition is smoothly executed
-  Upskilling personnel trained in data analysis, predictive maintenance techniques and maintenance management

Paolo Massini, Head of Rolling Stock Technology and System Engineering, Trenitalia

0935 COST CUTTING IN 2023 Taking Steps To Cut Costs And Deciding How Many People To Hire At A Time When Prices Are Escalating, And Strikes Are More Frequent
-  Adapting maintenance strategies to meet the challenges posed by the current market conditions
-  Analysis of current costs and identifying areas for cost savings, such as reducing operational costs, negotiating better prices with suppliers, and streamlining maintenance processes
-  Improving employee productivity across the workforce
-  The role of standardisation in improving efficiency and reducing cost

Paul Staples, Fleet Director, TransPennine Express

09:55 DELIVERING RESULTS UTILISING DATA Successfully Delivering Data-Driven Maintenance Planning Decisions That Save Money And Increase Efficiency
-  The strategic engineering director's view on ensuring personnel with the necessary skills and experience collect, analyse, and act on the data
-  Optimal data collection and analysis to make sure that the data collected is of high quality and relevant to the maintenance decisions being made
-  Integration with existing systems
-  Continuously improved the process to ensure that it remains relevant and effective in delivering cost savings and increasing efficiency.

Johannes Emmelheinz, CEO, Siemens Mobility Customer Services

10:15 Curated questions and discussion

10:30 Morning Refreshment Break In The Networking Area
 

CASE STUDY - ADJUSTING THE MAINTENANCE REGIME TO REFLECT CHANGES IN CAPACITY
11:00 Best Practices On Adjusting The Maintenance Regime To Reflect Changes In Capacity

• Considering asset utilisation rate in terms of the number of trains being operated and the number of miles each train is covering
• Adjusting the regime based on the age and condition of the fleet
• Considering operating conditions and maintenance history
• Conclusions and takeaways

Oliver El Falaki, Manager Maintenance Optimisation, Deutsche Bahn

11:25 Questions and discussion
 

PRACTICAL EXAMPLES OF CONDITION-BASED MONITORING SAVING MONEY Reduce Cost And Keep More Trains In Service

PANEL – COST SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCY GAINS FROM CBM
11:30 Actual Results From The Condition-Based Monitoring of Critical Train Components To Provide Useful Data For Maintenance Planning

This panel session focuses on the complexities of acquiring high-quality data to make maintenance planning decisions, particularly when considering the linkages, for example, between a condition monitoring system and an asset management system, to alert the maintenance operator that something is about to happen that will affect the maintenance plan. This panel will bring together some of the best-in-class case studies from around the world to determine who is doing this well.

11:30 OPTIMISING DATA UTILISATION FOR CBM A Global Strategy For Improving Performance For Operations And Maintenance

- Crisis and opportunities: addressing pain points with new technologies

-Capitalising on first successes: extending the use of data-driven decisions and go for platforming

-Recent rolling stock as a game changer, how to upgrade the legacy fleet

-Triggering further investment, knowing there's unquantified value lying ahead

Philippe Laharpe, Manager for Telediagnostics, SNCF

11:50 ENGINE AND SUBSYSTEMS ROI Utilising Data & Technology To Continuously Monitor & Improve Maintenance Of Locomotive Engines & Power Transmission Components 
-  Overview of the whole data analytics journey – from capture to cleaning, leading to the actioning of data that delivers valuable information for maintenance planning and cost reduction 
-  Putting resources into integrated and accurate data systems
-  Integrating data from several sources while making sure it's accurate
-  Implementing comprehensive real-time monitoring and evaluation of equipment
-  Best practice workforce education and training for implementing data-driven processes and technology
-  Staff training initiatives to improve data analysis and decision-making skills are being implemented
- Collaborating with technology providers to benefit from their knowledge of CM management system setup and upkeep
-  Reviewing procedures and systems frequently finds weak spots and addresses them

12:10 BOGIES, BRAKES, AXLES AND WHEEL SETS ROI Implementing A Condition Based Maintenance Strategy For Bogies, Axles, Brakes & Wheelsets To Improve Maintenance Planning Decision Making
-  Delivering changes for maintenance planning and cost reduction
-  Investing in a streamlined and reliable data analytics infrastructure and workforce
-  Combining data from multiple sources while ensuring its accuracy
- Providing workforce training programs to promote the adoption of data-driven methods and tools
-  Working with tech providers to leverage their CM management system setup and maintenance expertise

Keith Mack, Quality Standards Manager, London North Eastern Railway

12:30 HVAC, DOORS AND ONBOARD SYSTEMS ROI Effective Interpretation, Analysis & Cleaning Of Data Generated By Condition Monitoring Systems For HVAC, Doors & Onboard Systems 

12:50 Questions and discussion

13:10 – 14:10 Networking lunch
 

Utilising Data More Effectively Across The Whole Maintenance Team To Save Money

BEST PRACTICE DATA USAGE TO SAVE MONEY AND TO CALIBRATE MAINTENANCE PLANNING
14:10 Assess Workflows, Technologies, and Techniques to Convert Data into Actionable Insights to Enhance Maintenance Planning and Reduce Cost

This panel focuses on the real-world solutions rail operators are working on to turn data into meaningful action that results in cost savings. In 2023, many train operators will have access to a vast array of data generated from their fleets. However, effectively utilising this information is a challenge beyond data interpretation. The problem is pervasive across organisations and can encompass cultural, organisational, and technical barriers. It takes work. While some maintenance engineers may support data-driven decision-making, others may be more sceptical. Each panellist will delve into how they overcome common hurdles, establish a culture of data-driven decision-making, and effectively implement technology and processes to transform data into valuable insights.

STRATEGIC LEVEL DATA ANALYTICS CASE STUDY 
14:10 A Whole Organisation Perspective On Establishing A Culture Of Data-Driven Decision-Making Throughout Maintenance, Asset Management & Operations 
-  Differentiating between useful and useless information
-  Cleaning and organising data to make it more meaningful and actionable
-  Understanding where the data comes from can help to determine its accuracy and reliability
-  Establishing a data analysis team throughout the maintenance depot to review and make sense of the information to identify trends, improve processes, and drive decision-making

Menno De Glopper, Head of Operations, GVB

BUILDING AN ADVANCED ANALYTICS WORKFORCE
14:30 Best Practices On Building The Technical Expertise To Effectively Analyse And Use Data For Maintenance Decision Making
- Implementing a successful staff training programme to utilise the latest technologies to make data-driven decisions

Phillip Stone, Training and Strategy Development Manager, Eurostar

WORKFLOWS TO ACTION DATA ACROSS THE WHOLE MAINTENANCE ORGANISATION
14:50 Improving Data Visualisation & Implementing Workflows To Transform Data Into Valuable Insights For Cost Reduction – What’s Working?

Overloading the system with complexity can be detrimental and make it challenging to extract meaningful insights. This session looks at how to use simple information and techniques to make sense of the data and drive positive outcomes that save money.
-  Optimising data visualisation to make decision-making and trend identification more accessible for the wider maintenance team 
-  Workflows and techniques for spotting patterns and trends more quickly
-  Implementing quick and easy wins to make your analytics more effective

Sam Bussey, Sales Director, Instrumental

15:10 Extended questions and discussion – sharing audience experiences on translating data into insight

15:30 Afternoon refreshment break
 

PRIORITISING INVESTMENT INTO TECHNOLOGIES THAT REDUCE COST
16:00 Adopting AI & Machine Learning & Data Automation Applications To Reduce Cost And Improve Efficiency

Evaluating and prioritising benefits and costs of critical technologies to determine a positive return on investment for cost reduction.

16:00 UPDATE ON THE USE OF AI FOR PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE

Using Machine Learning Algorithms To Predict Potential Failures And Take Preventive Measures, Reducing Downtime And Maintenance CostsUnderstanding the latest machine learning concepts for 2023, including supervised and unsupervised learning, algorithms, and data preparation.
-  Identifying which variables in the data are relevant for prediction
-  Selecting and engineering key machine learning features is crucial for building effective machine learning models
-  Assessing the different types of machine learning algorithms for predictive maintenance in rail and being able to choose the most appropriate one for a given problem

16:15 DATA UTILISATION AUTOMATION
Application of AI Algorithms To Automate The Process Of Cleaning & Pre-processing Data As Well As Detecting Anomalies To Save time and Money
-  Optimal deployment of AI algorithms in a rail maintenance environment
-  Understanding how to integrate AI algorithms into existing maintenance systems and processes
-  Validating the model to ensure it is accurate and reliable
-  Using the latest techniques, such as cross-validation and testing, to validate their models
-  Integrating machine learning models into their maintenance systems and processes to deliver tangible benefits

16:45 AI FOR DATA VISUALIZATION
Using AI Can Automate The Creation Of  Visualizations From Complex Data, Making It Easier For Maintenance Engineers To Understand And Act On Information

17:00 Questions & Discussion

17:10 PLANNING DIGITAL TWINNING
Creating Digital Twins Of Rolling Stock To Simulate And Analyse Maintenance Scenarios, Identify Potential Problems And Optimise Maintenance Plans

• Building simulation models that accurately represent the real-world systems they are trying to analyse
• How to visualise the results of simulation models is crucial for effectively communicating insights and making data-driven decisions.
• Integrating digital twins into existing maintenance systems and processes
• Using digital twins to inform maintenance decision-making and optimise maintenance plans

Steven Cervello, Innovation and Design Manager, Lucchini RS and Francesco Lombardo, Strategic Commercial Projects Manager, Lucchini RS

17:30 Questions & Discussion

PANEL - ASSESS THE LATEST DIGITALIZATION SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE COST 
17:35 Prioritising The Implementation Of Digitalisation Solutions To Help Rail Maintenance Cut Cost In 2023 

In 2023, there are now numerous opportunities to digitalise the maintenance process. Two case studies will explain the rationale for prioritising investment into specific solutions that maximise ROI across the board.

Which combination of digitalisation solutions offers the optimal ROI for cost reduction and maximising efficiency? Where do operators see results and success?

Equipment Monitoring	Digital Twins	Mobile Apps & Workforce Management	Automation of work process	CMMS Maintenance Management
E Learning & Training	Asset Management Integration	Remote Monitoring	Robotic Process Automation	Web Based Applications

17:35 CASE STUDY 1 A Rail Operators View On Prioritising Digitalisation Solutions That Maximise ROI and Cost Reduction

17:50 CASE STUDY 2 Maximizing Return On Investment And Cutting Costs Through Digitalization: The Perspective of One European Rail Operator

18:05 Questions and discussion

18:20 Chair’s closing remarks and close of day 1

18:25 VIP Drinks Reception