RETDue to the improvements in maintenance, RET, was able to win public tender for bus transportation.

The Task
In 2008, Mainnovation was approached to assist RET in professionalizing the entire infrastructure and fleet asset management organization. The objective of this assignment was to establish an organization capable of providing at least the same quality to its customers at (sometimes significantly) lower costs. During the VDM audit, the objectives of RET’s Engineering department were set for the period 2009-2012. The primary focus of the infrastructure business unit was on lowering capital expenditures by professionalizing the lifetime extension of assets. Ambitious, but realistic objectives were developed for the fleet aspect, designed to enable RET to operate in line with market practice by 2013.

The Approach
During the period 2009-2010, RET and Mainnovation devoted a great deal of effort to developing a new organization based on Value Driven Maintenance and Asset Management, including the application of new, more effective methods of work to be able to deliver the required performance. By means of a clearer division of roles among departments and the introduction of performance management, it became possible to make the performance of the entire Engineering organization more transparent. The reinforcement of the organization at a tactical level furthermore resulted in making performance more predictable. What objectives did RET manage to achieve this way? In terms of the capital expenditures for infrastructure maintenance, a significant reduction over the 2009-2020 long-term plan is anticipated. An additional effect is that a decline in the operational maintenance costs by a comparable percentage appears to be feasible as well. The necessary fleet maintenance improvements were also realized over the period 2009-2012. During this period, the percentage maintenance costs for the bus, tram and metro modes of transportation demonstrably dropped by double digits. For the bus fleet, a reduction in the maintenance costs per kilometer of such magnitude was achieved for various bus series, that the company has become highly competitive in the market.

In part due to the improvements in maintenance, RET, in March 2012, was able to win the all-important public tender for bus transportation in the Rotterdam region.

Mainnovation’s Added Value
In part due to the improvements in maintenance, RET, in March 2012, was able to win the all-important public tender for bus transportation in the Rotterdam region. As a result, RET ended up in a growth scenario for this mode of transportation. In principle this should enable the company to further reduce costs. Value Driven Maintenance for asset management pays off!