SIAD rail team’s ingenuity slashes vehicle loading time by 85%
Photo By Ann Zaniewski |
The SIAD rail team's custom-built magnetic measuring device (in blue) attaches to the......read moreread more
Photo By Ann Zaniewski | The SIAD rail team's custom-built magnetic measuring device (in blue) attaches to the railcar, providing a clear guide for the critical 1/8-inch overhang. The device has reduced the time it takes to load heavy vehicles onto railcars by 85%. (U.S. Army photo) see less
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SIAD rail team’s ingenuity slashes vehicle loading time by 85%
By STEPHANIE CHILD, lead program analyst
JOHNATHON AYERS, sustainment quality director
Sierra Army Depot
SIERRA ARMY DEPOT, Calif. – A simple, innovative tool designed by the Logistics Support Directorate’s Internal Rail team has revolutionized a critical process at Sierra Army Depot.
Previously, centering a multi-ton Bradley Fighting Vehicle or M1A1 tank on a railcar was a meticulous, high stakes balancing act. The process required team members to manually push and pull the suspended vehicle, making constant adjustments to meet a strict 1/8-inch tolerance.
This painstaking method of repeated measuring and repositioning consumed an average of 12 minutes and 8 seconds for every single vehicle, creating significant operational delays.
Frustrated with the inefficiency, members of the rail team applied their expertise to devise a brilliantly simple solution: a custom-built magnetic measuring device. The tool consists of a powerful industrial magnet that instantly grips the side of the railcar, holding a small metal rod cut to the exact 1/8-inch measurement. This gives the crane operator and ground crew a clear, immediate visual guide for the overhang limit, eliminating guesswork.
It took the team about four hours to design and sketch out the tool, and only about 30 minutes to build it in the weld shop from scrap metal. It was first used last fall.
The impact of this innovation was immediate and dramatic. With the magnetic guide, the team now places and verifies the position of each vehicle with speed and precision on the first attempt. The average process time has plummeted from over 12 minutes to just 1 minute and 52 seconds.
This 85% reduction in process time is a powerful testament to the ingenuity and commitment to continuous improvement that defines the SIAD workforce.
