Surjit Bharj

Said the following about DEM Tech Team Old Oak Common:

“Introducing innovative solutions to difficult problems is already a tradition at the Old Oak Common Depot, especially when it comes to improving health and safety, productivity and colleague satisfaction. After the successful introduction of the acclaimed MediaCAT information boards placed around the depot, the OOC Tech team led by Ajmal looked at a way to simplify and improve the scheduling of staff, competency records and fatigue management systems. The previous systems used a series of complicated Excel spreadsheets which meant that access was limited, it wasn’t user friendly and the administration was very time consuming. Having researched the market and discovered the newly created system of Sirenum, they quickly made use of it’s services and simplified the entire staff scheduling, competency and fatigue management processes.

The implementation of Sirenum was not only innovative, but also essential to the efficient management of Old Oak Common depot. As additional staff were recruited, new competencies were required and fatigue standards tightened; scheduling became increasingly complicated and hard to manage. Previously, a convoluted collection of Excel spreadsheets were used to manage all the shifts and competencies of staff. These spreadsheets were not only inefficient, but difficult to use for all but the person who created them. All the information of staff shifts and training were divided into sheets and not working together harmoniously. With the new Sirenum system, HSE Fatigue Index levels can be calculated with the click of a button, alongside shift scheduling and competency management.

Sirenum has also helped to solve the problem of access to staff scheduling for many OOC staff members. In the past, staff members have complained about being unable to access their rosters. They were often unaware of future shifts they had scheduled and found it difficult to arrange cover. Sirenum uses cloud-based technology to enable easy access to all staff members in all locations. Now colleagues are able to see their current shifts, future shifts and any opportunities for overtime with ease. Changes to shifts can be made quickly and staff can be instantly alerted to any changes to their schedules. Sirenum also offers a smart phone app, meaning the roster and its facilities can be accessed anywhere at work or home.

The implementation of Sirenum has revealed a number of benefits. Primarily, it has simplified the process of shift scheduling and fatigue calculations. The time saved through this basic process has been invaluable to staff at OOC. Complicated Excel spreadsheets are no longer necessary and all staff are able to access the basic roster. Staff across all levels, with all types of access to technology, now have the ability to see shifts and make requests.

Perhaps one of the key benefits of Sirenum is its visually clean interface and ease of use. It is easy to see shifts, vacant turns, and annual leave all with the click of a button. Sophisticated filtering systems mean that the information can be customised with ease, rather than filtering through pages and pages of cells.

With the additional competency features, cumbersome paper records are becoming less necessary. Piles of annual leave and overtime request papers can now be replaced by a simple online process. In doing so, it is not just the staff that benefits, but also company resources and the environment. Competency certificates can be scanned and archived online, rather than amassing in offices and taking up otherwise useful space. The system also provides a flagging feature, which immediately lets staff know if a competency is expired or about to expire. Overall, Sirenum has completely streamlined and changed the scheduling process at OOC.

Sirenum is not just making positive changes for the staff at OOC; customers are also seeing the benefits. Less time spent creating rosters and calculating fatigue means more time spent on improving services for the customer. Quicker and more accurate calculations of fatigue and risk mean a safer working environment in the depot. A safer working environment ensures that there is less capacity for mistakes that could negatively impact service and the customer. Fatigue can be calculated instantly; ensuring that the service offered to the customers is always at its best. In addition to this, the more careful management of competencies also improves the safety of the working environment. The flags used by Sirenum ensure that all staff hold the competencies necessary to complete their work. With every hour of staff time that is saved by using Sirenum, money becomes available to promote more focus on an improved customer service.

Everyone at OOC depot have begun to notice the difference to their working atmosphere. Managers have been able to save time, focusing on more important tasks during their working day. Fatigue and risk management has been streamlined and become much easier. Similarly, other staff across the depot have been able to access their rosters more easily. They have been able to make annual leave requests, request overtime and see who is on shift instantaneously, without having to hunt down a manager. Sirenum has improved communication between staff and their managers, and they’re all seeing the difference.

Sirenum has greatly improved customer service provided by the OOC Depot and therefore First Great Western. Less time is being spent on managing rosters and more time is being spent improving the service to the customer.“

Ajmal Akram

Said the following about DEM Tech Team Old Oak Common:

“The Dem Tech Team at Old Oak Common depot are the backbone of the Depot, These guys basically do everything required to get the job done.

The DEM Tech Team work days, lates and nights, when required they will also attend call outs and work above and beyond what is expected.

The team have no hesitation to stay back and help out, if this involves swapping shifts or weekends they just do it without thinking twice .

The Techs work as a group and are always helping each other out.

The Tech Team also man a “Bat Phone” which is used to help drivers and Maintenance Control with any Class 180 technical faults, the Team have especially worked hard with the Class 180 fleet and for two years running have won the silver spanners for the most improved fleet.

Its quite simple to say that these guys go above and beyond year in year out and just get better, they are committed, dedicated, and have pride in what they do , most important they only want the best for the company.“