THE DIGITAL RAILWAY |
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Smarter working improves safety and productivity for Network Rail Working smarter, not harder and ensuring track inspection workers get it right first time is the remit of a new digitisation project for Network Rail and the Central Railway Systems Alliance (CRSA), that is delivering efficiencies of up to 70 per cent and track safety improvements thanks to the adoption of digital work instruction platform WorkfloPlus from Intoware
L
ast year Network Rail and the CRSA approached digital workflow specialists Intoware as data on its track renewals was not being fully captured and utilised efficiently across the business. They aimed to digitise critical data and processes of Network Rail’s frontline teams to help deliver quality data, improvements in track safety and reduce costs. A digital ‘connected worker’ solution was required to help mitigate a series of ongoing challenges for Network Rail’s track renewal operations that included: time lags in receiving documentation and data; sometimes incomplete asset intelligence and a reliance on paper-based processes. It was agreed that an Accelerated Innovation R&D project technology trial, to be delivered from June 2021 would bring together existing innovative solutions to help standardise data collection and reporting for safety critical renewals from legacy paper-based processes into one, easyto-use and adaptable solution to be trialled at Network Rail’s Aston Depot.
With Intoware’s support, Network Rail started to digitise a series of legacy paperbased renewal activities. This meant working with the Aston depot teams on the ground to fully understand their current activities, assess issues and challenges and then design, digitise and standardise the workflows to meet existing requirements and make time, safety and sustainability benefits. Network Rail’s processes are currently focussed on regularly occurring and timeconsuming operations. These processes represent a suite of track assessments and
Hannah Bailey, Business Development Director
The solution Digital work instruction platform WorkfloPlus was chosen as it easily integrates with RealWear HMT-1 (head mounted tablet) assisted reality headsets, tablets or smart phones for collaborative working. Intoware helped Network Rail to create a solution that would allow its workers to easily create, edit and adapt digital workflows using an easy-touse interface. Rail Professional
