Optimising Value From Innovation In The Rail Industry
IET Central London Evening Lecture , Savoy Place, 13-Apr-2016 A large and enthusiastic audience were well informed and entertained by Graham Hopkins (Technical & Engineering Director, Group Safety) of Network Rail. Most of Graham's experience comes from his many years with Rolls Royce aeroengines; Manufacturing is a key to him: to create wealth, you can dig it up, grow it or combine the two in Manufacturing. A key learning is that innovation touches everything, not just technology, although that was the focus this evening. Some of the most striking points that I picked up on were: Progress in the rail industry is glacially slow (common to have a 50 year vision) - this should be faster (hence the need for innovation). Think of whole systems and integrate things; for example, don…