TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY:
Capacity Assessment and Staff Evaluation
  Client:   A passenger rail operator with two rail car facilities and one locomotive repair and heavy maintenance facility.
     
  Problem:   Internal operations plan and budgets did not fully utilize the workforce or fixed plant capacity. Did the repair and heavy maintenance operations have the skilled craftsman, scheduling flexibility, management, quality assurance, materials procurement, distribution capability, technical support and physical plant to perform major repairs, modifications and upgrades to transit rail cars and locomotives for various customers?
     
  Approach:   Conduct site surveys using a Tunnell team with extensive experience in managing a large rail contract facility. Collect data on annual schedules, production planning, workstation specifications, cost accounting system, shop layouts, workforce by craft and shift assignment, quality assurance programs, material support functions, historical performance, contract work experience and engineering support. Analyze client capabilities by comparison to a successful large contract rail maintenance and repair operation.
     
  Results:   It was determined that one facility was working at 20%-25% of capacity and the others at 40%-45%. Based on the assessment of all factors involved with operation of a profitable contract rail equipment facility, the client was advised to pursue contracts from agencies seeking repair, remanufacture or upgrade to rail transit equipment with work scope and technical specification similar to current client programs.
       
   
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