CSX
Transportation* awarded Bronze (3rd) in recent ASQ
International Team Competition for “Locomotive Shutdown
– A
Fuel Conservation Project”
Headquarters members: (L to R) Dean Menefee, Andy John, Wayne Seguin.
Sample of field members: (seated L to R) Derik Skeens, Sam Shadd, John
Baker, Jim Ward, Phil Bartley,
Tim Goddard, Randy Gilliam, Dave Nicolls, (standing L to R) Dan
Jarrell, Bob Henderson, Roger Ford, Greg
Turner.
(1st time
participant)
Type of business: TRANSPORTATION
Team type: PROCESS IMPROVEMENT/SIX SIGMA
A CSX Process
Improvement Team sponsored by the vice
president of Transportation was
created to address a $30 million per year fuel waste problem.
Locomotives idling, running but not
in productive use, were found to be burning four gallons of fuel per
hour. With a fleet size of
some 3,800 locomotives the team had a challenge.
The team was formed to include all effected stakeholders. All team
members received at least
one day of Six Sigma overview training with additional training
regarding specific tool use
including, FMEA, C&E matrix, SIPOC and process mapping. In
addition
20% of the team is six
sigma black belt or master black belt certified.
Following the DMAIC roadmap, the team employed a wide variety of
qualitative, quantitative, and
project management tools. The insights of subject matter experts were
developed through FMEA
and C&E matrix exercises. Hard data tests including, ANOVAs and
Mood Median’s of locomotive
GPS location and shutdown status, along with regression models of
temperature decay after
shutdown supported SME insights The CSX accountability model was also
an integral part of the
process, with defined timelines of who was responsible for what by when.
The team included benchmarking of other railroad in identifying the few
critical X’s. The operating
rule for locomotive shut down was changed to allow shutdowns at lower
temperatures.
With this solution, the team had to develop communication and control
plans to impact almost
8,000 employees directly involved in locomotive shut down.
The locomotive shutdown team increased shutdown time of idling
locomotives, reducing fuel
consumption across CSX The team generated savings of more than 14
million gallons of fuel
worth $28.8 million over the three year span of the project, in
addition; the reduction of idling
locomotives improved citizen and government relations at a number our
locations.
* About CSX
Corporation
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., owns companies providing
rail, intermodal and railto-
truck transload services that are among the nation's leading
transportation companies,
connecting more than 70 river, ocean and lake ports, as well as more
than 200 short line
railroads.
Its principal operating company, CSX Transportation Inc., operates the
largest railroad in the
eastern United States with a 22,000-mile rail network linking
commercial markets in 23 states, the
District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces. CSXT headquarters are
in Jacksonville, Fl
|
