Optimal maintenance of rail assets with IBM Maximo Asset Management
Alstom Maintenance Rotterdam
Maintaining locomotives and wagons is highly specialized work. Above all, it is extremely business-critical. Downtime of rolling stock directly affects the core operations of freight operators, passenger transport companies, and rail contractors. This is why Alstom Maintenance Rotterdam—then still operating under the name Shunter—has relied on its partnership with LAMA Empowers since 2013.
Recently, the French rolling stock maintenance and overhaul company Alstom acquired Shunter. The group maintains more than 1,000 locomotives, trainsets, and wagons each year. This includes both planned maintenance as well as overhauls and damage repairs for freight operators, passenger transport companies, rail contractors, and leasing companies.
The challenge
The collaboration began in 2013 when Shunter (as it was then known) was looking to upgrade its systems but could not find a suitable partner. That partner became LAMA Empowers. What started as a small upgrade was gradually expanded through flexible, modular solutions until a complete ERP backbone was in place.
The biggest challenge at Alstom lies in the highly specialized nature of the maintenance work, as well as in remaining compliant with regulations, including the requirements of ISO certifications and ECM regulations. The logistics process for parts is complex, making it essential that the entire process runs as efficiently as possible. The software must support and enable these processes accordingly.
The solution
The ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system is configured using IBM Maximo Asset Management. IBM Maximo covers the software for the entire organization, including maintenance planning and execution, invoicing, HR, and inventory management. Support and functional management are also provided by LAMA.
The implementation
The system was implemented fully in line with the customer’s processes. The wide diversity of assets posed a significant challenge, as did tailoring the software to Alstom’s specific processes. The initial implementation took approximately six months. After that, the system was further configured and expanded through a series of smaller projects.
The success formula
Maintenance is a critical part of the core business process, so Alstom must be confident that its partner fully supports this. Flexibility is therefore essential, along with a high level of trust and a strong working relationship. Because LAMA demonstrates entrepreneurship, flexibility, and ownership, the collaboration has been successful for many years. Both parties strengthen each other and jointly achieve optimal asset management.