Alstom Transport Logistics

Alstom relies on integrated and flexible software for planning and organising its transport operations. Together with Logica, it developed the TLS application (Transport Logistics System), which takes care of logistic planning and handling of all transport activities worldwide in a single integrated system.

The customer 
Alstom with headquarters in Paris is a global leader in the world of power generation and rail infrastructure. The Group employs 65,000 people in 70 countries. In Switzerland, Alstom is located on five sites with 4,500 employees. Not only is Alstom one of the company’s main international subsidiaries, it is also one of the largest industry companies in Switzerland. The power produced by Alstom machinery accounts for roughly one quarter of the power generated worldwide. The Transport Logistics System (TLS) was developed for the business division Alstom Power (power generation).  

The target
As most of the components are extremely large and heavy, and because of the worldwide distribution of Alstom’s power plants, the transport of power plant equipment and spare parts is highly demanding in terms of logistics. This task is the responsibility of the CHST/POL department of Alstom in Baden (Switzerland). TLS facilitates the budgeting, planning, organisation, monitoring and accounting of their transport operations worldwide.

The project 
This project was launched in 1994 as a solution for handling the transport activities of the plant business of ABB. Further applications such as those for the turbine blade business, planning of transport operations and maintenance followed. As part of the millennium changeover, Alstom commissioned Logica to develop an application to replace an old accounting system based on dBase.
Existing solutions were combined into one single application and new functions for accounting and electronic customs notification were integrated. At the end of 1999, the new application was implemented for the customer. The system has since been constantly adapted to meet new requirements and extended with additional functions, reports and modules.