Heidelberg Materials UK

Fishbone Logistics managed a Rail Optimisation Project for a Heidelberg Materials UK Quarry in Whatley, Somerset. The project was to improve current performance and efficiency.

Fishbone Logistics in turn focussed on the following:

• Operational performance of the train services from Whatley Quarry.
• Rail infrastructure and facility operations at Whatley.
• Commercial performance, based on operational efficiency and volume growth.

This project included the development of a balanced scorecard providing high quality management information to focus efforts in the areas requiring attention.

Alongside the focus on current performance, Fishbone Logistics also explored the capacity potential of Whatley Quarry and the associated railhead for sustainable business growth through assessments of the internal rail infrastructure, capacity on the rail network and fleet deployment to maximise the output from the quarry to the outlying depots, creating an efficient and reliable supply chain.

The three stages (Baseline/Assessment/Optimisation) have already transformed the day to day performance levels within the quarry with projects live to introduce additional technology to automate reporting.

A dedicated project team have worked alongside Heidelberg to understand, develop and support the changes required and the results speak for themselves.

• 5:1 return on investment in year 1 for the client, 25:1 over 5 years.
• Train cancellation costs reduced by 47%.
• Short-formed trains costs reduced by 60%.
• Trust delay attribution costs reduced by 55% .
• Fleet positioning costs reduced by 38%.
• All above initiatives will provide benefits in perpetuity.
• Four further significant savings initiatives identified for the client which will provide an additional 3:1 return on Fishbone’s fee.