Railroad

Case 1 - Largest railroad in India

Case 2 - One of the most forward-looking railroad organizations in India

Case 1
Customer: Largest railroad in India
Technology: Development of detailed IT strategy

The Customer:
It is one of the largest organizations in the world handling the movement of passengers and cargo across the country with staff strength of more than 1.5 million. Its operations are spread over 12 zones, over 50 operating divisions, 6 manufacturing units, R&D units and over 7000 field units like stations, workshops, and railway yards.

The Challenge:
Tata Infotech was engaged to conduct UNDP funded study of the MIS requirements of the customer. The objectives of the three stages of the project were:

• To develop the broad outlines of an Information System (IS) and Information Technology (IT) Strategy.
• To work out the detailed functional system software specifications and hardware system specifications for the proposed MIS.

The Solution:
Tata Infotech Limited undertook this project with a team of 8 consultants, a project manager and a client-relationship manager. The team conducted a detailed study of the MIS requirements of the customer through interviews, site visits and extensive reviews of the existing data sources and reports. They gathered information from the various zones, divisions and manufacturing units on the current and future information needs.

The outcome of the study was a report, which provided the IT strategy for next 12 years. This report suggested the functional framework for computerization at various levels, the technologies that were needed, the specifications of the applications to be developed and the details of the Information Management Organization needed to manage the entire activity. Tata Infotech also presented a case for going in for a large data warehouse solution along with various front-end applications for analysis and reporting.

Based on the study and analysis, Tata Infotech proposed information framework that should:

• Cater to the existing information needs of the client.
• Provide a view of all operational activities in an integrated manner.
• Be flexible to incorporate changes in strategy having an impact on information needs.
• Prioritize information needs with respect to business concerns of the customer.
• Highlight the policies required for the functioning of the Information Management Organization (IMO) and clearly define the roles, responsibilities and criteria for selection in the IMO.
• Provide a cost-effective technical solution and upgradation strategy for information management.

Benefits to the Customer:

Tata Infotech defined the need of a data warehouse, planning applications, transaction based applications, general-purpose applications and office automation systems to cater to MIS needs in various subject areas such as financials, works and projects, asset accountal, services and quality of services, asset management, employee management.

Case 2
Customer: One of the most forward-looking railroad organizations in India
Technology: Development of an integrated ERP for railroad

The Customer:
The customer is a public sector undertaking with a share capital of over $130 M, formed to construct and operate a railway along the west coast of India covering a distance of more than 450 miles covering 50 plus stations. It is the one of the most advanced railroads in the country using state of the art systems developed by Tata Infotech.

The Challenge:
The customer appointed Tata Infotech as consultant to develop and implement the software for operations, train control, signals and telecom, administration and office management, selection of hardware and designing the IT network.

The Solution:
The project involved computerization of all the aspects of the railway operations. The entire project was divided into 17 major modules consisting of:

• Operations & Train Control
• Commercial Coaching
• Commercial Freight
• Claims & Compensations
• Stores & Inventory
• Track & Structure Maintenance
• Electrical
• Signal & Telecom
• Rolling Stock Motive Power
• Rolling Stock Carriage & Wagon
• Financial Accounting
• Expenditure Authorization
• Traffic Accounts
• Health & Administration
• Personnel
• Security
• Office Automation

Benefits to the Customer:

• Integrated Enterprise-wide Planning and Management System for the Railroad, covering and integrating all the functions involved in running a railroad
• Online Real Time System for the various functions

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