dr.ir. M.M. Ramtahalsing (Merishna)

With a background in Mechanical Engineering, a specialization in Asset Management and Maintenance Engineering, projects on Risk Based Inspection, Deferred Maintenance Management, Innovation Management, Systems Integration, and experiences gathered within the oil refining- and architectural coating industries, and railway and energy sector, I am certain that convergence between industries and academics is key.

I carried out my PhD research in the SIRA project (Systems Integration for Railway Advancement). The research was carried out in close collaboration with our industry partners NS and ProRail in the railway sector. Moreover, focused on applying systems thinking in practice to enable change integration in complex sociotechnical systems. 

I am currently working as strategic assetmanager at Distribution System Operator Stedin, and am affiliated with the University of Twente as a guest researcher in the Faculty of Engineering Technology, within the chair of Asset Management and Maintenance Engineering. 

Expertise

• Chemistry

  • Environment
  • Safety

• Computer Science

  • Adaptation Strategy
  • Definition Phase
  • System Analysis
  • Events

• Engineering

  • Integrated System
  • Integration

Organisations

An important step in studying or designing changing systems is to define the system of interest, or at the least to set bounds on the different aspects that are considered to be of interest. Limiting the scope of the study in complex systems and thus focusing available resources. The trend is that socio-technical systems are becoming increasingly more complex. Because of this, defining the system of interest (S.o.I.) also becomes more difficult. This is especially the case in railway transport, where there are constant modifications (technical, organizational, etc.) or new (sub)systems integrated, to achieve or keep achieving the desired performances. Here different organizations and multidisciplinary teams with  different  views,  skills,  responsibilities  and interests are working towards improved performance, all adding to the complexity.  Failure to properly manage changes can severely influence the quality of the designed process or system.

The advance planning and preparation of integration which includes defining the system of interest, should include the scope, purpose and environment of the S.o.I. and describe essential characteristics of it. Moreover, it should clarify the interfaces to other systems, including the input to be provided and the output that can be expected. In order to define the S.o.I., different stakeholders having different interests and perspectives of the S.o.I. need to have a common and integral view of it.  

In this regard, the goal of this Ph.D. research is to aid in defining the S.o.I. for inter-organizational projects in the complex railway context. This should facilitate a joint approach to create an integral view of the S.o.I.. In addition, aid to identify crucial factors of these S.o.I.s, to which proper attention should be paid which result in effective integration and finally upgrade railway system performance.

Publications

Research profiles

Invited to participate as teacher/assistent in:

• ME-Masters Course Maintenance Engineering & Management
• Master Class FMEA within Master Risk Management 
• Master Class Systems Performance

Affiliated study programs

In the press

• Vakblad Asset Management 2021, #1: Systeemintegratie. Voor beheer en onderhoud op kort termijn al onvermijdelijk.  https://issuu.com/nvdo7/docs/vam1_februari_2021
• iMaintain Prestatiemanagement 2019: Creating Value. Systeemintegratie SIRA. https://imaintain.info/inschrijfpagina/prestatiemanagement-2019/

News on utwente.nl

• University of Twente and Strukton Rail are improving rail availability and maintenance: https://www.utwente.nl/en/news/2019/12/250777/university-of-twente-and-strukton-rail-are-improving-rail-availability-and-maintenance
• https://www.utwente.nl/en/et/dpm/amme/

Address

University of Twente

Horst Complex (building no. 20), room W260
De Horst 2
7522 LW Enschede
Netherlands

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Organisations

Additional contact information

https://www.utwente.nl/en/et/dpm/amme/