Loss Reduction in Tooling Service of Locomotive Repair Depot

This article considers potential efficiency improvement techniques for locomotive stock units of Russian Railroads OJSC as exemplified by a locomotive servicing depot. During the analysis of the locomotive depot tooling service, the authors identified the key problems associated with its incorrect operations. To facilitate tool storage and management, an automated system for cutting and measurement tool provision was to be built in the tooling service of a locomotive service depot as part of a Lean Manufacturing program. The suggested system is integrated into the global automation system of the locomotive service depot based on the general yearly locomotive repair schedule. To solve the problems in question, the authors suggest using the optimization of production planning that includes three key components, namely the presence of the optimality criterion, the variability of solutions to achieve the criteria, and the production and managerial restrictions. The developed mathematical model allows for the efficient utilization of the locomotive depot tools and equipment and facilitates the achievement of the optimal state of the depot tooling service system in question. The authors present a tool provision system for the locomotive service depot after the deployment of the universal automated support system, as well as a system for tool purchase for the locomotive service depot after the deployment of the universal automated system of tool provision. The positive effect of deploying the suggested automated tool provision system is manifested not only in the reduced tool provision and alternative selection times but also in the purchasing of new tools.