IMPLEMENTING A LOCOMOTIVE OPTIMIZATION MODEL

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS

 

(PRESENTED AT INFORMS - MAY 8, 2000)

 

 

 

 

 

 

- HISTORY OF LDM (LOCOMOTIVE DISTRIBUTION MODEL)

 

- DATA ASPECTS

 

- PROCESS ASPECTS

 

- LESSONS LEARNED

 

 

IMPLEMENTING A LOCOMOTIVE OPTIMIZATION MODEL

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS

 

 

 

HISTORY OF LDM DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

 

 

- STRATEGIC MODEL (1995 - 1998)

STEADY STATE

SATISFY TRAIN REQUIREMENTS AT MIN COST

USED FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT, TRAIN PLAN EVALUATION

 

- TACTICAL MODEL (1997 - )

 

1997 AUTOMATED DATA FEEDS (TRAINS, MAINTENANCE)

TONNAGE FORECASTING (DoW)

CLASS PREFERENCES & RESTRICTIONS

1998 QUEUING MODEL AT SHOPS

POWER CYCLES

PICK-UP AND SET-OFF

1999 CONNECT TO MPS

LEADER LOCOMOTIVE

TRAIN PRIORITIES

MANY UPGRADES (DATA, REPORTS, GUI)

 

IMPLEMENTING A LOCOMOTIVE OPTIMIZATION MODEL

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS

 

 

 

HISTORY OF LDM DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

- cont’d

- TACTICAL MODEL (1997 - )

 

1999 TRIAL IMPLEMENTATION

Consist break-up major issue

2000 PARTIAL SOLUTION IS SENT TO MPS

 

IMPLEMENTING A LOCOMOTIVE OPTIMIZATION MODEL

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS

 

 

 

DATA ISSUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATA MODEL

==============è

QUALITY DEVELOPMENT TIME & COST

 

 

MODEL DISCIPLINE IN

=============è

REQUIREMENTS DATA CREATION PROCESS

 

 

IMPLEMENTING A LOCOMOTIVE OPTIMIZATION MODEL

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS

 

 

 

DATA ISSUES

 

EXAMPLES :--

 

- Train Plan (multiple sources - SRS/TOPC/MPS)

 

- Forecast of Trains for model time horizon

 

- Forecast of train tonnages (did not exist)

 

- Work Trains

 

- Locomotive mechanical status (free form vs code)

 

- Disconnected Network

 

 

IMPLEMENTING A LOCOMOTIVE OPTIMIZATION MODEL

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS

 

 

 

PROCESS ISSUES

 

 

Changing business rules è shifting model requirements

e.g. local vs mainline fleets

leader unit on U.S. trains

Hard vs Soft Rules

e.g. trip servicing deadline

HP to Ton requirement

Lack of Consensus on how model will be used è

Architecture is evolving

(function of confidence level)

 

 

IMPLEMENTING A LOCOMOTIVE OPTIMIZATION MODEL

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS

 

 

 

LESSONS LEARNED ?

OR

AWARENESS OF RISK FACTORS

 

 

- Detailed analysis of requirements no guarantee that model specs will be properly defined

why?

Long development time means

Players will change

Business rules will change

Difficult to see all "problems parameters" in advance

 

 

- Need agreed upon process to deal with data problems

should it be fixed? rules to fix it, who should fix it

 

- Confidence in model depends on ability to understand "Why"

 

- Important to document model specs

 

- Allow generous time for dealing with data issues