scope:

Scope of the handbook

Resourcing work on the track can present the track management teak with problems which, at worst, can prevent work commending or in many cases reduce the efficiency, impair the quality and increase the cost of the job. This handbook is intended to help the team plan and prepare for track works and address both the problems and opportunities associated with maintenance resourcing. The resources can be categorized. As:

• labour and skills

• materials

• transport

• plant

• equipment

• access

• time

• finance.

This handbook sets out ways in which the track team can prepare for the effects of lack of resources and how to overcome them and ensure that, when provided, the resources are used in the most effective way. For example, in discussing human resource the handbook relates to manpower, to the assets to be managed and the levels of skills required undertaking the variety of operation necessary for the proper maintenance of the track.

Section 2, deals with each item of the resource schedule, and takes account of limiting factors such as access.

Section 3 looks at the need to first consider an annual plan. If the appropriate resource is not in the annual plan, it is unlikely to be available for the work specified in the detailed programmes. It is intended to assist the manager to prepare an annual plan, identifying the necessary finance for procuring most of the other resources.

Section 4 considers the principal tasks involved in the maintenance of the track and covers in more detail the most complex resources, people.

Section 5 provides a guide to the provision of materials, track equipment including plant, and transport. Section 6 concentrates on the question of time and access, including information on the procedure of booking through to the Critical Resource Agency.

Section 7 aims to draw together the types of information which will be available, or may need to be established, if we are to learn any lessons from our resourcing performance. The management information so derived needs to be put to good effect to refine or develop better resourcing skills by indentifying weakness and bottle necks and concentrating efforts on eliminating them.

Throughout this handbook there are some useful tips on how productivity might be improved but there is an inter-relationship between all the various types of resources giving wide scope for improvements.