Asset management is spelled with a "D" like data.

The adaptation of maintenance requirements is one of the central tasks of maintenance development (ECM2). A not negligible responsibility lies on the shoulders of the actors. A change or even a small optimization of the maintenance strategy has consequences for the entire operation of a utility. It influences the availability of the vehicles, the costs of maintenance activities and finally the competitiveness of the railway undertaking. Making decisions here requires a lot of effort in terms of collecting, processing & analyzing all available data.

All the way from manufacturer specifications to workshop reports

Starting with manufacturer requirements and ending with the analysis of failure and workshop reports. Ideally, this process is continuous and the maintenance measures and their scheduling are constantly being developed. The effort involved in this process is great. And, of course, it is important not to make any mistakes in the process. Boom Software AG has set itself the goal of providing a significant reduction in the workload – and even goes one step further. The innovative software solutions from Austria are not only relieving ECM2 of previous tasks, but also enable the achievement of the next evolutionary stage of modern maintenance. With the help of the asset biography – the digital vehicle file – all vehicle data is now available in real time. But the new systems offer much more.

What must modern maintenance look like?

Modern maintenance must provide employees with status information about the vehicle, maintenance recommendations and forecasts. This is the only way to work as efficiently and competitively as possible. Boom Software’s comprehensive tools collect all the data generated by the rail vehicles, evaluate the past and thus enable a forecast for the future. Statistics and status displays are available for each individual vehicle but also for each individual component. By documenting and analyzing the data obtained, it is possible to identify critical conditions at an early stage at a glance. These evaluations are then directly merged with the maintenance data, thus massively simplifying the maintenance process for the railway undertakings. In this way, not only the operator benefits, but also the entire rail system and, of course, the customers in passenger and freight transport.

Asset biography and a learning system

Boom’s so-called asset biography provides a complete lifecycle file for each asset. It captures & stores all technical, logistical and commercial parameters of the vehicle. This provides a 360 degree view on the vehicle and its components. The software imports all relevant sensor data of the vehicle and thus provides important information in real time. Thus, it is possible not only to make statements based on live data, but also to learn from past records. To do this, these large amounts of data must be linked and analyzed. The complete software solution of Boom Software AG covers a comprehensive evaluation of the data with predictive maintenance. Data acquisition, processing and analysis can thus be easily integrated into existing processes.

Continuous improvement through learning

The system itself is also constantly learning. By linking factors influencing the vehicle in operation (weather, route, speed, etc.) and relevant wear data, it is possible to find and identify the causes of failures or wear. In this way, maintenance intervals can be adjusted and stability in operation can be increased.

Quoting Helmut Hohenbichler: “The added value of our products lies in the fact that we turn data into information and derive insights from knowledge. Through the complex application of the resulting operating and wear patterns, predictions for the future can be made with a high degree of certainty. This significantly optimizes the type and scope of maintenance as well as the operational use of vehicles, increases profitability for rail transport companies and ensures competitiveness – in this way we become true to our motto: Making efficiency programmable!”

Less downtime!

The unexpected breakdown of a rail vehicle affects customers, the operator’s pockets, and, in the worst case, also other trains. Predictive maintenance and well-founded forecasting models are the basis for avoiding downtime and significantly improving the availability of a transport system.

Fewer empty runs!

Condition-based monitoring of rail vehicles allows more intelligent planning. This also means that unnecessary transfers, so-called empty runs, for maintenance are eliminated. In addition, the challenge of reliable maintenance by qualified third-party workshops must be met. From the North Sea coast to the southern tip of Italy, from Rotterdam to Ankara. A target-oriented and optimized turnaround planning saves a lot of money and, above all, time!

Reduced costs!

Fewer empty runs and less downtime – this also means lower costs for the operator! But also the recommendations and forecasts for maintenance reduce costs and allow efficient planning of resources in the workshop. Longer maintenance and service intervals reduce life cycle costs and thus increase the competitiveness of the railway company. According to a study by the consulting firm Roland Berger, digitalization saves 20 percent of maintenance costs. This is a huge economic effect, as maintenance and servicing expenses account for the majority of operators’ costs.

Increase availability!

In both logistics and passenger transport, the availability of rail vehicles is the key performance indicator. Punctuality and reliability are essential not only for climate policy goals in the context of a traffic turnaround or for the image of the railroad. Trade and industry with international flows of goods must also be able to rely on reliable rail services. Detailed screening of rail vehicles with all their components and forward-looking planning means that downtimes occur when the workshop has capacity available and the vehicle is not needed or a replacement is available. This is the only way the rail system has a future and can compete with cars, trucks and planes.

“Be among the first and not the last!”

We are sure that our systems will create added value in your company. How our solutions can be integrated at your site is part of the first phase of a collaboration between maintenance development and Boom Software. Existing processes are evaluated and potentials for improvement are identified. Our experts are already looking forward to hearing from you.

Request to: office@boomsoftware.com
Phone: +43 3452 76 216 -0