Scott Wilson's Applied Railway Systems Engineering
14 September 2004 11:10
The application of Systems Engineering techniques to railway projects is the most effective way of ensuring that the finished project will fully meet the user requirements without unexpected variations of timescales or cost. Through the structured management of user requirements, interface integration and conformance with RAM (Reliability, Availability and Maintainability) and safety operational targets throughout the project lifecycle, assurance can be provided to the user (or client) that the finished project will fully meet the stated performance and safety requirements without any surprises.
Railway Systems Unit
Scott Wilson Railways has been providing System Assurance services to the railway industry for a number of years. These services have been provided for a diverse range of clients principally in the area of EN 50126 RAMS, Engineering Safety and Assurance. With the creation of a new business unit, the strategy is to expand the range of services we offer to encompass all the Systems Engineering phases of the project lifecycle. To reflect this broadening of scope, the new business unit is to be known as Railway Systems.
The Importance of Accurate Data
Key to the success of applying Systems Engineering techniques effectively is the requirement for accurate data. In particular, for the railway environment, there is a need to correctly identify the operational requirements, the engineering solutions and the associated interface issues, to ensure that comprehensive integration is accomplished.
The Applied Approach
To ensure that the most accurate data is available, it is proposed to adopt a new unique approach to Systems Engineering on rail projects under the title Applied Railway Systems. The key new element to this approach is that the Systems Engineering team for a railway project should also include multi-disciplinary applied railway consultants who have a thorough understanding of how the overall railway "system" functions, where all the interfaces are and the integration processes required to engineer the optimum solution.
Helping the Rail Industry Deliver
The Railway Systems unit is developing rapidly whilst continuing to serve existing clients. Through a dedicated Railway Systems Manager located in each Scott Wilson Railways office, support is provided to Project Managers in the rail industry through the selective application of appropriate systems engineering techniques. Following the roll out of internal processes later this year, an industry-wide launch will be carried out in early 2005. The Railway Systems unit of Scott Wilson Railways is looking forward to playing a key role in supporting the railway industry to deliver projects on time and within budget, on a consistent basis.
For more information on this company:
Scott Wilson - International Multi-disciplinary Railway Consultancy
Copyright 2007 SPG Media Limited a subsidiary of SPG Media Group PLC
