Transportation and Logistics

The transportation sector of our economy is constantly evolving. Whether transporting people or products by land, sea, or air, all new transportation strategies will need to balance efficient network design and operations (including intermodal solutions) with increasing complexity, government oversight, environmental responsibility, security risks and demands for flexibility and performance from customers. Transportation solutions permeate all facets of business and comprise about 10% of all economic activity.

Global economic disruptions and volatile fuel pricing are driving the need for more disciplined operations, innovative service offerings, and creative business models. The ability to manage change and drive continued process improvements are paramount to transportation enterprises that want to maintain competitive advantage and survivability. 

Markets We Serve

Thomas Group focuses on the vital transportation components of our economy, providing solutions directly to each client to meet their particular challenges and dilemmas. Our technical depth within each sector is complemented by our consulting experience delivered across all sectors:

• Freight Railroads: We provide operations consulting services for network and velocity planning, operations asset effectiveness, equipment maintenance strategies and execution, and supply chain excellence for:
  • Class 1 rail and regional carriers
  • Suppliers l
  • Shippers
• Public Transportation: We provide operations consulting services to the public transportation and transit agency enterprises including transportation operations, operations asset effectiveness, equipment maintenance strategies and execution, and supply chain excellence for:
  • Major transit agencies
  • Heavy and light rail, and subways
  • Buses, transports, and trolleys
• Shippers and Distributors: We provide operations consulting services for integrated value chain solutions, modal expertise for:
  • Carriers – Rail, road, and air cargo
  • Shippers – Distributors and manufacturers across all industry verticals
• Manufacturers: We provide operations consulting to improve asset effectiveness, operational and supply chain excellence for:
  • Railroad equipment manufacturers
  • Parts manufacturers and distributors
  • Bus manufacturers, chassis builders, and engine builders

Comprehensive Service Offerings

• Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Excellence
  • Reduction of direct and indirect spend
  • Partnering, negotiation, and long-term agreement strategies
  • Parts planning and management for optimal availability and inventory turns across distribution net
  • Fast, easy access to parts for mechanical skilled resources, including point of use
• Asset Utilization and Performance: improve utilization of resources – people, equipment and facilities
  • Operations Asset Effectiveness (OAE) – driving higher availability, reduced failures and labor productivity
  • Reliability Centered Maintenance – toolkit for preventive, condition-based, and predictive maintenance methods
• Freight Management and Logistics Optimization: Control freight operations and costs and keep products flowing smoothly and economically through the transportation network and satisfy customers with on-time, cost effective deliveries
• Fleet Planning and Management: Optimization of one of our largest capital expenditures is a prerequisite for success in both the freight and passenger sectors.
• Facility Operations: 
  • Shop layout improvement to enable rapid flow of equipment through the shop
  • Site rationalization, consolidations and expansions
• Safety and Security Effectiveness:
  • Passenger safety
  • Employee safety
• Change Management and Business Process Improvements:
  • Thomas Group program leadership brings experienced cycles of learning and access to industry benchmark performance
  • Business metrics to drive accountabilities and performance visibility
  • Tops down integrated leadership to focus resources around hi-leverage activities

Thomas Group Credentials

Thomas Group partners with transportation providers to help them transport people and goods more safely, efficiently, and cost effective. Our people have the ability to apply knowledge across multiple complex business operations and to provide support across an expansive toolkit, including lean, six sigma, supply chain excellence, strategic sourcing, time to market, and operational asset effectiveness. We can offer complete turnkey improvement programs or quick turn, tailored point solutions. We use a metrics-driven, process improvement approach to identify improvement opportunities and then execute focused changes based on prioritized barrier removal actions. While working with us, clients realize:

• Increased customer satisfaction and on-time performance
• Reduced downtimes and failures
• Improved workplace safety
• Reduced process cycle times
• Increased productivity of assets – i.e., people, equipment and inventories
• Increased revenues, lower costs and improved profitability
• Streamlined operations and increased output capability with current capital outlays
• Improved process and product quality 
  

Contacts

 Harrison Goldman 
Practice Leader
972.401.4284

Case Studies

Class 1 Railroad

National Rail Passenger Service

Passenger Rail Operation

Public Transit Agency

Rail Product and Services Group