FUNCTION SHEET: Wagon Engineer

Missions

Wagon Engineers (WE) are technically qualified and are responsible for the safety of wagons in operation whilst limiting maintenance costs and down-time to a minimum. They are in charge of the on-site inspections and monitoring of the maintenance suppliers but also on a daily support to Fleet Management team.

Technical expertise and capacity of analysis are the main characteristics of this function. Dedicated to geographical areas as well as area of expertise (Tech-10) the mission of the technical manager is:

Maintenance

• Monitor the maintenance suppliers by technical visits/audits (according to Technical Visit Plan DT-239) and quality checks (wagon exit inspections),
• Instruct wheelset centers about the type of maintenance to perform on each wheelset,
• Conduct investigations on sites,
• Establish instructions for corrective repairs and select the workshop to perform it (for damages on tracks)

• Manage the realization of the maintenance with the maintenance suppliers:
  • Establish all the necessary technical instructions to the workshops,
  • Provide technical support to workshops,
  • Validate the revision dates of wagons and wheelsets and any extensions as required,
  • Support Fleet Managers in identification of parts and processing spare parts requests (for spare parts portfolio - see Tech-10).
  • Support Fleet Managers in validation of exit documentation,
  • Ensure the recording and traceability of maintenance,
• Make workshops fulfill their requirements (downtimes, quality claims, documentation),
• Actively support Fleet Managers when required in establishing proof of Lessee responsibility.

Deliveries/Redeliveries

• Support Wagon Resource Manager / Sales in choice of wagons for delivery, especially for the area of exprtise (see Tech-10)
• Deliver support for Fleet Managers and Wagon Resource Manager on Deliveries/Redeliveries of wagons,
• Perform the Deliveries/Redeliveries inspections, incl. support to Fleet Managers for rebilling

ECM responsibilities

• Alert by opening an Incident Report in the event of an anomaly detected by him,

• Assess the criticality of events,
• Lead Incident Report investigations for critical events,
• Confirm proper repair and release the wagon back to service in case of critical damages,
• Collect return of experience from maintenance providers, customers and RUs,
• Develop Client's maintenance manuals,

• Manage maintenance development/design projects allocated to him,
• Support Maintenance Organization Manager in choice of workshops.

Wagon fleet

• Provide technical Support to Fleet Managers / Wagon Resource Manager / Sales / Customers for the fleet for which Wagon Engineer is a Competent Person (see Tech-10)
• Creates parts and part types in Kheops for the Purchase and Logistics Activity.

Responsibilities

Evaluation of a wagon or a component condition in regards of availability, reliability, interoperability and safety criteria, in order to propose safety measures to management.
Ensure that maintenance providers are working acc. to Client's maintenance manuals/instructions and quality requirements.
Completeness, consistency and accuracy of Clients maintenance manual (instructions) for the area of Competency (see Tech-10).
Definition of relevant maintenance design proposals, incl. drafting of Risk Assessment.

Activities that affect rail safety

Preparation of wagons for deliveries and redeliveries,
Definition of maintenance instructions,
Analysis of maintenance data
Monitoring of maintenance suppliers in terms of quality and of safety
Supporting Logistics in the technical description of wagons spare parts and components.

Interfaces

Internal functions

• Technical Department
• Fleet Management Department (Fleet Managers, Area Managers, and Wagon Resource Manager, Maintenance Organization Manager)
• Logistics Department
• Quality Department

External functions

• Maintenance suppliers
• Customers
• Railway Undertakings

Initial training and qualifications

Rail engineer or technician with over 5 years' experience in the rail sector or equivalent

Skills and experience required

General

• Organized, accurate and meticulous
• Good contact with workshops
• Ability to work in a team but also ability to work alone

Technical

• General mechanics,
• Manufacturing processes,
• Basics about welding and non-destructive testing,
• Knowledge of wheelsets, bogies and air brakes,
• Knowledge of wagon superstructure equipment.
• Knowledge of GCU, VPI and Client's maintenance manual
• Basic knowledge of EN standards regarding wagon design and maintenance

Scope of responsibility (with respect to rail safety)

Cannot decide to put back in service or leave a wagon in traffic if aware of any deviations of the wagon as per maintenance rules or rail regulation.

Training and refresher training

Kheops training relating to maintenance modules.
Language training to improve understanding with foreign workshops or colleagues.
Technical training in new types of wagons and in new regulations.

Delegation

Maintenance instructions can be delegated to any other Wagon Engineer or ECM Engineer.
Process of critical events / of investigations must be delegated to the Maintenance Safety Manager or the Technical Director.