Analytical Decision Making - Queen's University 2024

Paris Consulting Group partnered with Transport Canada (TC) to enhance the efficiency of transportation inspections across Canada's railway and international bridge and tunnel sites. Tasked with automating the inspection planning process for TC's Regional Managers, the consultants focused on developing an optimization model to streamline inspection scheduling. This model aimed to maximize inspection capacity, crucial for identifying safety hazards and mechanical issues. The project was segmented into three phases, with the focus on the final segment: determining the annual inspection capacity. Utilizing data from TC's Atlantic region, the consultants crafted an optimization model, iterating through three versions before finalizing. The outcome showed a promising 75% of inspections could be completed within 931 hours of the allocated 937.5 hours. Further validation with Pacific region data affirmed the model's effectiveness, predicting a 67% completion rate within 2246 of the 2250 available hours. The success of this model led Paris Consulting Group to recommend strategies for TC to address inspection gaps, suggesting funding allocation for inspection division expansion, pooling inspectors across transportation modes, and introducing mode expansions. Additionally, they advised scheduling further sessions to develop models for the initial planning phases, aiming to fully automate TC’s inspection planning process and ensure comprehensive transportation safety.