Implementation of RailSoft – Rail Yard Management System

Our client, the world’s largest steel producer, decided to implement an integrated RailSoft system to manage all rail yards at its plants. The goal of the project was to improve operational efficiency, integrate with PKP Cargo’s freight systems, avail of entries and exits, streamline the process of ordering railcars by production facilities, record shunting work on an ongoing basis, and integrate with the SAP system.

Project background

In 2019, the company, recognizing the need to modernize and optimize the management of rail yards, decided to implement RailSoft, an advanced system for managing rail traffic and logistics. The decision was motivated by the need to increase efficiency, reduce operations time and improve data management.

Challenges

  1. Complexity of rail operations: Managing train traffic on more than a dozen yards in 3 geographic locations at several production facilities.
  2. Integration with PKP Cargo: Need to integrate with PKP Cargo’s systems for placing and processing orders and setting up waybills to streamline advising and transportation operations.
  3. Monitoring the position of wagons on several hundred kilometers of yards
  4. Wagon ordering and substitution: streamlining the process of ordering wagons by production facilities and substituting and receiving prepared train sets.
  5. Shunting work: Effective management and coordination of ongoing shunting work by the railroad company.
  6. Integration with SAP: Need to fully integrate with existing SAP ERP system to unify data and process management.
  7. Integration with OCR system to recognize side car numbers

Solutions

  1. RailSoft implementation: implementation and customization of the RailSoft system, which enables comprehensive management of sidings, rail traffic, advisories and shunting work.
  2. Integration with PKP Cargo: Implementation of interfaces for direct data with PKP Cargo’s freight systems, which allows automatic exchange of information on waybills and wagon orders and advisories.
  3. Shunting works module: Introducing a shunting work management module that allows accurate planning and tracking of operations.
  4. Integration with SAP: RailSoft’s connection to SAP’s ERP system, which ensures consistency of operational and financial data.
  5. Entry and exit advisory module
  6. Monitor the number of railcars on each yard in real time

Results

  1. Increased operational efficiency: RailSoft has improved the efficient management of rail traffic on sidings, resulting in faster and more efficient operations and reduced handling costs
  2. Better integration with PKP Cargo: The automatic exchange of data with PKP Cargo’s systems has reduced errors and accelerated processes related to advisories and shipments.
  3. Optimization of shunting work: Careful planning and coordination of shunting work has allowed better use of resources and reduced operating costs.
  4. Data consistency: Integration with SAP has ensured a uniform flow of information between different systems, which has improved resource management and production processes.

Examples

  1. Automatic advising of entrances and departures: RailSoft enables the automatic advising of train arrivals and departures, which significantly reduces the time required for paperwork and reduces the risk of delays.
  2. Tracking rail traffic: With RailSoft, it is possible to track the movement of railcars on sidings in real time, making it easier to manage and plan operations.
  3. Optimization of wagon stay costs: implementation of the system resulted in the introduction of monitoring of wagon stays at sidings, which translated into a reduction of costs related to charges for prolonged stays.
  4. Freight data integration: The system allows seamless integration of freight data from PKP Cargo with SAP, ensuring consistency and accuracy of financial and operational data.

Summary

The implementation of RailSoft in brought significant benefits in terms of managing rail yards, increasing operational efficiency, optimizing shunting work, reducing wagon detention fees and integrating with PKP Cargo and SAP systems. Thanks to modern technological solutions and effective implementation, the client was able to improve rail traffic management and achieve a higher quality of logistics operations.