Xpedite was contracted by CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) to generate a fully configured asset management database for their fleet of 39 ferries, producing a configured asset structure, spare parts, and maintenance register. The project intent was to support CFL in generating concise registers and master records that will facilitate the generation and delivery of precise maintenance at optimal intervals, supported by the correct ILS artefacts within their future Maintenance Management System (MMS). The project required Xpedite to engage with the CFL community to implement user buy-in and culture change.
Xpedite employed best practices to generate an intelligent, joined-up set of registers based on the principle of ‘capture once, use many times’. Xpedite’s processes ensured a clean, structured, and standardised data set would be available for CFL to import into their future MMS solution. The use of COTS products such as Azure SQL server, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and MS Office, paired with in-house bespoke software designed for complex data extraction and text recognition, gave our team the advantage of efficiently producing accurate master records. Our team’s combination of data engineers and marine engineering experience further promotes efficient extraction and handling of data, coupled with thorough technical validation, meaning the resulting master data records are accurate and fit the chosen MMS in-service requirements.
Xpedite provided a support solution of 5 personnel for the year-long contract, comprising marine engineers, data engineers, and software engineers. Xpedite employed a dedicated project manager who worked collaboratively with the CFL project manager to define timescales and delivery schedules. The team visited all ships within the fleet to ascertain equipment fit status and asset configuration. These visits promoted awareness of the CFL business exposure to the ship ‘lived experience’.
Having a centralised maintenance system where all information can be easily accessed using various identifying labels such as asset ID, compartment location, part number, and stores requirements, with attached drawings and documentation, is proving invaluable to CFL, who are now competing the tender to provide an MMS. Xpedite has significant experience in asset generation, data manipulation, maintenance delivery, and through-life asset management. We are aware of many of the practical issues likely to arise in the implementation of a future MMS. Xpedite has maintained our relationship with CFL to ensure a smooth transition of data into the new system.
It was highlighted during the project that purely capturing OEM maintenance was not delivering a fully assured maintenance baseline. Xpedite hopes to work with CFL to enhance their engineering through-life support products in relation to maintenance delivery.
