Track: Operations Research

Abstract

The aim of this project is to investigate the causes of derailments in the locomotive industry. The focus is on a specific locomotive Yard. Several derailments have occurred on this line and an investigation is critical in finding out what is causing these derailments.

The primary objectives of this research are to determine whether the use of poka-yoke devices can be utilised in managing derailments, and to further investigate the applicability of poka-yoke devices.

Past evidence from literature points out that railway derailments have a huge impact on operations, production and the employees’ health and safety.

Data is collected from a population of 60 employee’s. The investigation provides a recommendation of using poke-yoke devices on how these devices can be aligned to the work of the yard employees with the objective of minimizing and avoiding freight derailments.

The analysis of results revealed that 66.67% of derailments at the Yard were caused by operational failures (human errors), while 16.67% is caused by infrastructure failures, rolling stock and other failures contribute 8.33% of failures which lead to derailments.