Rail companies successfully rely on integrated management

Rigi Bahnen AG, Schweizerische Südostbahn AG, Thurbo AG, BLS AG and Hafenbahn Schweiz AG are examples of companies that have opted to use IMS PREMIUM. The integrated management software has six interlinked modules: Processes, Organization, Improvement/Measures, Key Figures, Risk Management and Integrated Document Management. Different business areas (e.g. rail operations, real estate management, infrastructure, etc.) or companies within the rail company use one and the same system with different process landscapes. Standard processes or individual processes can be mapped for each division/company.

Transparency and overview at all company levels
Schweizerische Südostbahn AG (SOB) has been using the IMS PREMIUM product with several modules as the basis for process-oriented company management since 2008. This has created transparency and provides an overview at all levels of the company. Centrally managed and versioned documents are available at all times in relation to processes. Important key figures can be viewed “top down” and “bottom up” via an IMS PREMIUM cockpit view.

Coordinating improvements and measures
The improvement/measures module (CIP) plays a central role in the company organization. The frequent audits by authorities, certification bodies, internal safety audits, etc. generate a large number of measures that have to be processed on time across several operating units.

The Cubes information platform and various search and evaluation functions provide information on the status of improvements and measures at all times.

Online customer feedback automatically generates an improvement measure in the system at SOB, which is processed in a customer-oriented manner. Safety-relevant events are also recorded and monitored company-wide with the improvement/measures module.

Regulation of tasks, responsibilities and competencies
The need for action in document control as well as responsibilities and competencies led Thurbo AG to the decision to introduce IMS PREMIUM as a management system.

Job descriptions, requirement profiles, competence matrices and activities linked to the processes create a high level of transparency in day-to-day operations. The handling of around 40 job descriptions and the intuitive creation of the organizational chart simplify the work steps. The simple import of personnel data avoids redundant databases.

Compliance with regulations and standards with the help of an integrated management system
The introduction of the standards and laws option allows the SOB to flexibly record the desired regulations and subsequently assign individual chapters or articles of law to the relevant processes and documents. The aspects of the safety management system (SMS) can be easily integrated into the management system and form a central component. Assigned standard points (SMS, ECM, ISO etc.) can be evaluated for processes and documents at the touch of a button (convergence table).

In order to achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification and the Q3 seal of approval from the Swiss Tourism Association, RIGI BAHNEN AG initially used conventional process preparation and then opted for the IMS PREMIUM process module and document management. Cross-location processes (e.g. support processes) as well as company-specific service processes could be realized side by side. The various options for process detailing, including flow charts with responsibilities, allow the level of detail to be freely selected according to requirements. Certification with the new system was successfully completed within just six months. As a side effect, internal transparency was massively increased and the cultures of the different parts of the company were brought closer together.