In the rail and transit industry, production delays don’t just impact a single vehicle – they cause significant issues across entire fleets and affect entire transit systems. For global OEMs producing electric rolling stock, consistency, reliability, and speed are critical to keeping projects on track.
The Challenge: Fragmented Supply and Delays
A leading rail OEM faced significant production challenges due to fragmented suppliers and inconsistent assembly output. Electrical box and subassembly builds were particularly impacted, suffering from part shortages and frequent rework. These disruptions created bottlenecks that delayed rail car production and drove up costs.
The SIS Solution: Turnkey Assembly and Smarter Supply Management
To solve these issues, the OEM partnered with SIS to transition from a fragmented supplier model to a fully integrated turnkey assembly solution. SIS managed every stage of the process, from sourcing and assembly to testing and packaging. This provided our customer with a single, reliable partner.
Key steps included in the SIS process:
- Turnkey Subassembly Production: SIS oversaw the entire build process, from component sourcing to final packaging
- Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI): Continuous material availability eliminated costly delays caused by shortages
- Standardized Processes: Clear work instructions and traceable testing protocols ensured consistent, scalable quality
The Results: Efficiency and Reliability Restored
The shift to turnkey subassembly support provided major improvements for our customer including:
- 18% cost savings through supplier consolidation
- On-time delivery restored for new vehicle builds
- Consistent quality across every production lot
Why It Matters
For rail and transportation projects, delays cause challenges across entire fleets. SIS provides scalable, reliable subassembly support by consolidating suppliers and standardizing processes. We help OEMs focus on delivering modern transit systems without disruption. Talk to our team at SIS for production, assembly, and inventory solutions to help your business scale and avoid delays and shutdowns.