The Effectiveness of Rolling Stock Maintenance on Quality Assurance at the Largest South African Rail Company

This paper presents the results of the evaluation of the effectiveness that rolling stock maintenance (RSM) has on quality assurance (QA) at the largest rail, port and pipeline company in South Africa, as a case study conducted at its Koedoespoort depots and factories. Using a quantitative approach descriptive in nature, the researchers aimed to gain an insight into the research problem and to investigate the effectiveness RSM has on QA at freight rail company. Data was collected from a sample of 30 employees randomly selected at the engineering division. The evidence collected shows that the engineering division does not have a criterion to monitor the effectiveness of the current maintenance plan, the division does not have a maintenance system that is well understood by the artisans as well as technicians. The recommendations emphasized on a continuous training program on quality planning and implementation for the whole engineering division to ensure that the proposed maintenance strategy delivers as expected right the first time.