What was the problem?
BlueScope Steel operates an iron, steel and steel products manufacturing facility in Pt Kembla, NSW. Heavy transport in and around the facility is supported by a railway.
The BlueScope Steel locomotives used at the site are nearing the end of their economic life and BlueScope is evaluating a number of options to replace them. Options include:
- in-house operations v out-sourcing
- new work practices
- reduced numbers of locos
As many of the locomotive tasks in the hot metals area are time critical, a key success criteria is that the selected option provide a low risk of failure to complete these tasks on time. To assist in the evaluation of the options BlueScope Steel Logistics group have determined the need to build a simulation model.
What did we do?
Working in conjunction with Bluescope, InterDynamics developed an animated simulation model with capability to test time critical activities involved in moving ladles with locos around the plant. This model tested a variety of combinations of loco capabilities and numbers enabling Bluescope to optimise the number of locos to meet productivity goals while minimising costs.