Menu
Location:
Adelaide, Australia
Sector:
Transport
ARTC are a vital link in the nation’s transport supply chain – building, maintaining and operating rail lines across the country to move freight and passengers safely, reliably, and efficiently.
They continue to invest in our 8,500km rail network, which spans five states, 39 worksites and the lands of more than 50 First Nations.
Currently, ARTC employ more than 2,000 people who help manage the transit of around 440 passenger and freight trains every day.
ARTC engaged AMCL to undertake an asset management gap assessment across the Interstate and Hunter Valley networks to identify opportunities to strengthen asset management practices. One of the areas identified for improvement was around asset information subjects, where the business maturity was scored low. It was evident that an extensive collection of information systems exists in different stages of maturity and development across both networks.
Asset information is now and will continue to be, a critical mechanism for managing, justifying and optimising the interventions carried out on assets and the decisions made by ARTC.
Establish ARTC’s approach to managing asset information to support all operational processes and decision-making. Define the what, when, and why of asset information for ARTC.
Consider the structure and format for collecting, storing and reporting asset information and the systems necessary to hold the information, to support the business, and to provide the right information to the right stakeholders at the right time.
Provide guidance on expected data quality, information ownership, auditing of records for accuracy and validity.
AMCL developed an Asset Information Strategy that enables ARTC to prioritise its asset information activities, improve data quality and drive efficiencies in the asset information systems and business processes, thereby reducing costs and increasing value to the business. Critically it will ensure ARTC has the right information, at the right time, delivered efficiently to optimise Asset Management decisions making decisions at the strategic, tactical and operational levels of the ARTC management system.
The Asset Information Strategy assessed the current position of the asset information approach and clearly articulated an “end state” or intent in terms of business capability. It refers to the organisation’s approach to data management, detailing aspirations for business ownership of data, roles and responsibilities, and its approach to data quality management. It defines how ARTC intends to collect, maintain, utilise and dispose of asset information to support strategic planning and life cycle delivery activities.
We leveraged our previous experience and knowledge with ARTC gathered during the asset management gap assessment and spoke with key stakeholders about their asset information requirements, interfaces, decisions, challenges, systems etc.
The Asset Information Strategy provided guiding principles for improving and managing asset information and a long-term strategy for developing asset information quality and capability, including necessary asset information standards, information systems and data/information management. Improvements and capability can be cascaded through ARTC, the networks and its supplier organisations. Our Strategy considered and included improvements to the following areas:
Data and Information Management, which ensures the structured control, management and continuous improvement of asset data and information quality for users and decision-makers across the business via an oversight body that provides a cross-business ‘guiding mind’ to ensure the best overall approach. Governance of an organisation’s information and the deployment of its information systems is critical to ensure that good quality information is provided against the parameters of defined standards. Governance groups should ensure the information needs of the business are correctly captured and prioritised and necessary and appropriate training is delivered to information users.
ARTC is on a journey towards managing the Australian freight rail network on a risk and condition basis replacing the old time and tonnes method. To achieve this objective an Asset Information Strategy has been produced by AMCL working closely with ARTC stakeholders. AMCL proved to be invaluable balancing business needs, current state and the political landscape within ARTC. The Asset Information Strategy has proven to be a blueprint for ARTC working towards Accurate, Reliable, Trustworthy, Consolidated Information.
