Implementation at DB Cargo

Rail freight, sand mining, siding operation, and rolling stock maintenance are all activities carried out by the Polish firm DB Cargo Polska (DB Schenker Rail Polska until April 2016), which has its headquarters in Zabrze. It is a member of the German corporation Deutsche Bahn as of July 2009. Nearly 3,000 people work for DB Cargo Polska. Today, we speak with DB Cargo’s maintenance coordinator, Jarosaw Kurach.

What did Maintenance at DB Cargo look like before utilising QRmaint’s services?

We used to keep everything in Excel. Paper versions of assignments, notes, and error reports were accepted. It led to significant turmoil. We hade to change that.

Why did you choose QRmaint over other CMMS platforms?

We investigated the market. Our goal was to select a service where value and cost are mutually exclusive. Our only presumption was that we would need an hour to comprehend the software. It’s not for us if we don’t understand it right away.

How would you rate the application implementation procedure at DB Cargo?

A software designed for maintenance called QRmaint is quite transparent. No issues existed in this instance. You don’t have to sift through countless tabs in quest of the one thing you need because there aren’t too many options available. With regards to upkeep, cost control, service reminders, managing human resources, etc., we are entirely delighted with its features. That’s all a Maintenance coordinator would require.

Which QRmaint features do you think are the most useful? How many DB Cargo employees are currently utilising our app?

Presently, 25 technicians are working with QRmaint every day, and 200 users are reporting defects.

Here, there are two sides: the side of the technicians, and the side of the notifiers. The progress of a certain application is visible to UR masters and foremen. Only the tasks that are allocated to technicians are completed. Everyone is always aware of what they ought to be doing in this manner. Everyone is informed about workplace events, even when on vacation or other time off.

– With QRmaint, what issues have been resolved?

Communication. Prioritizing and priority of tasks was our biggest issue. the task’s immediate surroundings, including obtaining supplies, organising orders, and assigning jobs. We rotate between shifts at DB Cargo, therefore we delegate work to the following shift. Now that everyone is aware of what has been completed and what remains to be done to end the work, all the technician needs to do is add a comment to the task. In terms of how the job is organised, there is a coordinator and a group of mechanics, electricians, and electronics technicians on each shift.

– How did you boost the team’s productivity while accelerating task completion?

The reaction time is now significantly faster. The group of people who are interested in the issue are also aware of the specifics and their role in this activity.

We place more and more value on analytics today. We may view information such as the quantity of requests, the location of the bottleneck, the area that is the most problematic, and whether the issue is ongoing. This form is useful both for the complaint process and for the audits themselves. Our CMMS system from QRmaint helps us pass audits.

– What further development initiatives does DB Cargo have in mind for QRmaint?

We’ve got a few thoughts. With regard to QRmaint, I have taken pleasure in working with you from the start. The next version of the software would always receive an update with fixes for any issues or ideas. There is a plan to deploy Industry 4.0, where machines will notify errors on their own through the system’s introduction of an API.

– Would you advise other businesses to utilise our app and use QRmaint?

Without a doubt, I advise trying it. It pays to be receptive to fresh ideas. Many individuals think it’s pointless to look because we’ll never find a better answer after we’ve found one. I believe that in this case, being open-minded and experiencing the 14-day version entirely will be sufficient to determine whether this is the right choice for us.

Thank you for the interview.