We will provide detailed assessments of your trains at key stages of their life cycle, including lease return, post-long-term use or before refurbishment.
Our assessments range from individual component checks to full unit inspections, covering the interior, exterior, and underframe to ensure structural and operational integrity. We also evaluate customer-owned spares, materials and tooling, providing detailed reports on their condition and suitability.
We will tailor your assessment to your specific obligations and liabilities and will include a step-by-step plan to resolve any issues, precise cost breakdowns and actionable recommendations.
By delivering a detailed evaluation of each train’s condition and the costs involved to restore the units, we can support your decision-making regarding repairs, upgrades and handbacks.
Our team has significant experience in undertaking a first article inspection (FAI) – a fundamental step in ensuring the quality and compliance of a manufactured product.
We will establish a comprehensive understanding of the product requirements by thoroughly reviewing the engineering drawings, specifications, and any relevant documentation, and develop a detailed inspection plan, outlining the key characteristics and critical features to be examined during the inspection.
During the physical inspection, we will meticulously examine and measure each component and, where applicable, test against the established criteria. Any differences will be documented and analysed to determine their impact on product functionality and compliance.
We will then compile an FAI report, summarising the inspection findings and providing a clear overview of the product’s quality status.
If required, we can also carry out a subsystem quality review and provide a more in-depth examination of a specific item, assessing their individual performance and integration within the larger system.
Our comprehensive approach ensures that the product not only meets the specified requirements but also operates seamlessly within its intended context, promoting overall system reliability and performance.
We can conduct comprehensive audits across the following processes in manufacturing, quality, test, and management plans. Such audits enable organisations to uphold operational excellence and consistently deliver high-quality products or services.
A holistic approach to these audits ensures that every facet of the business aligns with established standards, promoting continuous improvement and sustainable success. Regular and systematic audits play a pivotal role in identifying areas for enhancement, mitigating risks, and fostering a culture of quality and excellence within your organisation.
When conducting a manufacturing review, we perform a comprehensive evaluation and in-depth assessment of the processes and activities involved to gauge the efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance of your manufacturing operations.
Our objective is to identify areas for improvement, ensure quality control, and optimise the production process. Our team will assess the quality of the products being manufactured, ensuring they meet the required standards and specifications.
We will assess the efficiency of manufacturing processes to identify bottlenecks, streamline operations, and improve overall productivity. Additionally, we ensure that your manufacturing processes adhere to industry regulations, safety standards, and environmental guidelines.
We evaluate the skills and training of the manufacturing workforce, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle their responsibilities effectively and only undertake tasks for which they are competent.
West Midlands Railway, a major operator in the UK’s rail network, engaged our team at Encompass to conduct a comprehensive review of their Maintenance Design Justification File (MDJF).
This document plays a key role in ensuring proper fleet maintenance by outlining tasks and schedules essential to the safe and efficient operation of their trains. Our job was to validate this documentation, ensuring that the maintenance schedules matched the actual operational requirements.
Rock Rail owns a fleet of 25 Class 717 units that has been serving passengers since 2019.
To protect their assets, Rock Rail wanted an independent specialist team to conduct inspections on these Siemens units - from both the physical unit and maintenance perspective. The project would provide insight into whether or not agreed-upon maintenance procedures were being adhered to.
West Midlands Trains (WMT) has introduced a new fleet to increase capacity on some of its routes.
Encountering various engineering challenges along the way, to help complete the project, they needed additional engineering technical support and brought in Encompass Engineering to help.
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