Strategic business consulting for the railway and logistics industry

SCI Verkehr is a medium-sized, sustainability-oriented consultancy focussing on strategic issues in the international rail and logistics business. We support our business partners in optimising their processes and evaluating their assets. We help to analyse markets and develop sustainable and tailor-made strategies for the future. This includes, among other things: Accompanying M&A activities, realising climate targets, optimising the portfolio or existing processes, and opening up new markets and business areas.

Strategic Management Consultancy Examples

Organizational change of a nationwide logistics organisation

Customer: Global player of the beverage industry

A global player of the beverage industry wants to standardize the management structures of its German logistics centres and make them sustainable. In the course of an implementation project in two pilot regions in Germany, SCI Verkehr analysed the current organizational structure and executed the migration into a new, homogenous structure. All steps were undertaken in cooperation with all relevant management levels as well as employee representation. Following the project, this structure is to be transferred to the remaining five German regions.

Market Potentials of Infrastructure Services

Customer: Provider of products and services within the infrastructure segment

On behalf of a provider of products and services within the infrastructure segment, SCI Verkehr analyses existing market potentials outside its domestic market. The possibility of a market entry with services by founding a subsidiary and by means of a buy and build strategy is examined.

Market potential analysis for locomotive leasing

Customer:

An internationally operating investment company intended to strategically expand its existing financing volume of leasing locomotives. SCI Verkehr analysed selected European core markets and in particular evaluated future investment potential for alternatively-powered locomotives as well as for locomotives used for infrastructure works.

Market Analyses Examples

Investment strategy for a freight wagon lessor

Customer: Freight wagon lessor

SCI Verkehr analysed the market and price development for a freight wagon lessor. Based on the market analysis, SCI derived an investment strategy for the following five years. Moreover, SCI analysed the customer demand for relevant innovations.

Global refurbishment projects passenger vehicles

Customer: Worldwide technology group

On behalf of a supplier of rail vehicles, SCI Verkehr conducted a global analysis of established and anticipated refurbishment and modernisation projects of passenger vehicles including the relevant players and measures.

MC Worldwide Markets for Track Systems 2009-2014

Customer: SCI Verkehr GmbH

For the first time, SCI Verkehr analysed and compiled a forecast of the worldwide markets for track systems. In eight market regions and for five product segments (rails, switches and crossings, sleepers and rail fastenings, slab tracks/ballastless track and other vehicle components), SCI Verkehr first of all assessed the general specifics of the products and characterised the structures of the markets in the individual market regions. Starting from general socio-economic, demographic and transport-related developments, the drivers were identified (globally and for the individual market regions) which have a significant influence on the development of markets for track systems. The global and regional market leaders in the individual product segments were identified and portrayed in clearly arranged fact sheets showing their company and business data as well as organisational and strategic information. SCI Verkehr determined their current shares in the national, regional and global markets for the product segments in question and assessed the future development in the market.

Asset Valuations Examples

Value analysis of new DMUs and EMUs for operation in the German commuter rail market

Customer: International credit institute

On behalf of an international credit institute, SCI Verkehr assessed the value developments of DMUs and EMUs for operation in the German commuter rail market. SCI Verkehr analysed both technical aspects, such as maintenance condition and refurbishment costs, as well as the opportunities for reuse in the European market, in particular once the franchise expires.

Evaluation of intermodal wagon fleet

Customer: Freight wagon leasing company

For supporting a freight wagon leasing company as part of a transaction of used intermodal wagons, SCI Verkehr identified current and future vehicle values of container and pocket wagons by using a DCF and DRC evaluation.

Asset valuation of Spanish freight wagons and locomotives

Customer: Banking institution

In the run-up to the sale of locomotives and freight wagons, SCI Verkehr identified the fair value and OLV taking into account the special characteristics of the Spanish freight wagon market. For this purpose, we took into consideration maintenance costs and conversion costs for operation on European standard gauge width.

Public Consulting Examples

International production relocation and outsourcing strategies in the rail industry

Customer: Hans Boeckler Foundation

SCI Verkehr presents corporate strategies for outsourcing and relocation abroad. The study also draws upon experience from other reference industries. SCI Verkehr is examining and compiling a list of realised and prospective outsourcing measures in the rail industry in Germany on the basis of a company survey. The results of the report are presented in the form of a presentation and are accessible to the public.

Management LOG-IT CLUB

Customer: LOG-IT Club e.V.

Since the foundation of the LOG-IT Club e.V. in November 2002, SCI Verkehr has conducted the business of the association. This includes the support of the association committees, account management, budgetary control and acceptance of new members.

Evaluation of the funding guideline of a German ministry

Customer: German Federal Ministry

Together with two partners, SCI evaluated the funding guidelines of a German federal ministry. The impact of the funding was assessed using statistical and qualitative evaluation criteria, and examples of adjustments for the future were developed.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Market value analysis freight wagons

Customer: Freight wagon manufacturer

SCI Verkehr advises a manufacturer of innovative freight wagons on the acquisition of financing models with the analysis of potential market value trends.

Strategic concept freight wagon division

Customer: Railway operator

SCI Verkehr supports a leading railway operator in the conceptual reorganisation of essential parts of rail freight transport. For this purpose, available concepts are reviewed and new approaches to advancing this field of business are developed and evaluated. It is aimed at achieving higher efficiency in this segment by reorganising responsibilities and processes in production and sales.

Process optimisations Examples

Implementation and monitoring of structures and processes in a workshop

Customer: Global player in the food industry

Following an analysis carried out by SCI Verkehr of existing structures and processes in one of the client?s workshops, the first changes to the structures at the site have been initiated. The next task for SCI Verkehr was to operationally implement the processes in some areas, change them in a sustainable manner and coach a newly hired workshop manager in his role.

Restructuring of workshop flows

Customer: Global player in the food industry

When centralising three workshops into one new site, our client had not implemented an active change management strategy. The processes and areas of work taken over from the old locations led to a significant drop in output at the new site. First of all, SCI Verkehr analysed and documented the existing workflows in a task force including management and the works council. At the same time, the team from SCI Verkehr identified and initiated necessary changes and oversaw the implementation on site. The aim of the project was to introduce staff to the new conditions in order to establish the adapted working areas and processes for the long term.

Coordination of offer drafting for an SPNV- tender

Customer: Transport company

SCI is accompanying the drafting of an offer in the context of an SPNV-route tender for an expanding transport company. Consultation on project coordination and support for the development of a general organizational, structural and operational model for future tenders are a part of the project. In addition, SCI Verkehr has elaborated the marketing and personnel structures as well as elements of the business concept.