IRON - How one integrated planning tool helped SNCB Logistics improve quality, safety and performance

S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NETHERLANDS--(Business Wire / Korea Newswire)--SNCB Logistics selected Quintiq and its implementation partner, Ab Ovo to implement the Quintiq software and model the solution to the customer’s demand - a collaborative project called IRON.

SNCB Logistics is an independent freight rail operator within the Belgian rail group SNCB. The freight activity was historically losing money, even before the economic crisis. To become a profitable and competitive private rail operator, it needed to restructure itself completely. The firm had never invested in cutting-edge systems to improve the efficiency and quality of its services - that was of course until IRON.

The implementation of an integrated planning tool gave the firm’s managers the ability to plan based on actual demand and get a precise and transparent view of required resources.

The solution allows SNCB Logistics planners to see the entire plan in one place. It integrates planning and scheduling of line locomotives, shunting machines, drivers and yard staff. It helps planners make the best decisions for scheduling and re-scheduling resources. The new system integrates existing planning methods with the new processes required for the operations of the new SNCB Logistics organization.

IRON has improved profitability, efficiency, productivity, quality and safety. Thanks to major cost-cutting measures and the benefits of tools like IRON, break-even is near and productivity and quality have structurally improved.

“IRON is proving to increase our competitiveness and supports our mission to become the most reliable rail operator. This initiative is only one step in a line of measures that SNCB Logistics is undertaking to improve the safety, quality and productivity of its services,” said Geert Pauwels, CEO of SNCB Logistics.

About SNCB Logistics
SNCB Logistics, headquartered in Brussels, is an independent rail freight company that is part of the SNCB group. The group was created in 2008 by integrating all companies that were active in the SNCB freight division to bring strengths and complementary activities under one sound structure. On 1 February 2011, the company SNCB Logistics became operational as a rail operator. All entities of the group work on the same clear mission: to become the most reliable railway company that provides customer-oriented and quality services to companies and large industrial groups. To that end, SNCB Logistics will endeavour continuously to improve quality, productivity, cost efficiency and its service offering. The group’s commercial flagships are IFB for container transport and Xpedys for logistical solutions for conventional transport (heavy industries and industrial & consumer goods). SNCB Logistics is responsible for rail production in Belgium, and calls on reliable partners such as Cobra and Sibelit for international rail transport. www.sncblogistics.com - www.interferryboats.com - www.xpedys.com

About Quintiq
Every business has its supply chain planning puzzles. Some of those puzzles are large. Some are complex. Some seem impossible to solve. Since 1997, Quintiq has been solving each of those puzzles using a single supply chain planning & optimization software platform. Today, approximately 12,000 users in over 80 countries rely on Quintiq software to plan and optimize workforces, logistics and production. Quintiq has headquarters in the Netherlands and the USA, and offices around the world. For more information, visit www.quintiq.com or follow Quintiq on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Website: http://www.quintiq.com

This is a news release distributed by Korea Newswire on behalf of this company.