Rail Asset Management (Scoping)

Asset management is the systematic and coordinated activities and practices through which an organisation optimally and sustainably manages its assets and asset systems, their associated performance, risks and expenditures over their life cycles for the purpose of achieving its organisational strategic plan [i].

 

The rail industry is concerned with the condition of its assets and actively recruits people to be responsible for developing and maintaining its infrastructure [ii], [iii]. The challenge that asset management presents in the rail industry, however, extends beyond infrastructure and into assets of all classes, including infrastructure, transportation systems, management, operations, rolling stock, services, safety and security.

 

At a global level there is substantial work being undertaken to define global standards for asset management principles and terminology, requirements and application [iv].

 

This research will look at asset management training methods in the Australian Rail industry to identify the practices and problems that occur as a consequence of current asset management training. The objective is be proactive before new asset management standards are released in 2013 and as a consequence to enable the recruitment and training of staff in modern asset management methods [v] and meet the national competition policies for reform in rail transportation [vi].