Truck Rail Network Optimization

The Challenge

Facility Rail Study: Achieving Target Production - Truck Manufacturer

A major truck manufacturer based in Mexico contracted Design Systems, Inc. (DSI) to evaluate and optimize its plant wide rail delivery network due to the increase in production capacity. DSI utilized various engineering techniques and resources to analyze the current delivery model and identify process bottlenecks constraining the elevated production targets. The team was also expected to recommend process and facility requirements to achieve the target production.

The Solution

Establish the current state parameters.
Evaluate the critical points in the process like wagon capacity, non-value added time in yard operations, replenishment times, intermodal yard capacity etc.
Generate recommendations based on attainability, impact on machine, requirements, costs, and expected benefits

The DSI Difference

Identified bottlenecks based on the information collected from the plant.
Evaluated congestion in the network using Factory flow software to assess the requirement of additional infrastructure.
Recommended operational improvements to support the target production rate with current infrastructure thereby saving capital.
Generated future infrastructure concepts and recommendations to further improve the responsiveness of the network