Colloquia

Samenvatting

In today's digitally driven world, the convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems within the railway industry presents significant opportunities and challenges. The emerging importance of IT into the operations of rolling stock puts the software systems high into the functional criticality scale. This master thesis, conducted in collaboration with Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways), focuses on mitigating the impacts of software failures in IT and OT system design through the application of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS) methodologies. The research identifies the need for enhanced strategies to prevent software failures, which are increasingly critical in modern railway operations.

Employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, the study first explores the importance and understanding of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) in the railway industry to set a new point of view for dealing with these systems from a maintenance perspective. Afterwards, the current RAMS practices applied to IT and OT were explored, integrating insights from literature and interviews with engineers from the Dutch Railways. The core of the research involves adapting Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) methodologies, traditionally applied to hardware, to address software failures. A novel Software Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (SFMEA) approach is developed, along with an Excel-based tool to facilitate the implementation of Software Reliability-Centered Maintenance (SRCM).

The findings highlight the potential for improved system reliability and maintenance efficiency by incorporating software failure considerations into RAMS processes. The developed tool, validated through feedback from industry professionals, demonstrates practical applicability and offers a structured method for proactive software failure mitigation. The thesis concludes with a discussion on the implications for the railway sector and recommendations for future research to further enhance the reliability of IT-OT integrated systems.