Martinus is utilising its unique position in the infrastructure space to bring new technology to the forefront of what it does.
Martinus is continuing to bring fresh ideas into the rail maintenance and infrastructure space to shake up the broader industry.
General Manager of projects at Martinus Travis Rawling has been a major driver of this incorporation of technology into Martinus’ construction processes.
“We are constantly canvassing the industry to find and understand new technology that comes out to the market and engaging with those suppliers where we see alignment to our current way of working, or the opportunity to incorporate into our existing systems to improve project performance,” he said.
“Once we identify something we want to run with, we typically select a live project and look to run a pilot programme in parallel to current ways of working. This provides a kind of sandbox or test environment where we can better look to understand the new technology or software in a live project environment. It also allows for better on-the-job training for our teams and provides them with the ability to integrate the new technology and seek out any customisation.
“What we are finding with the successful implementations is that our project teams are gravitating to the newer process or way of working, as they see the benefits, improvements and efficiencies these new technologies are providing.”
COINS ERP
Martinus has recently brought on board the Construction Industry Solutions (COINS ERP) software system to help improve its technological support.
COINS ERP is a leading construction management software and services company providing end-to-end business solutions to the construction, engineering, home building and service sectors.
The COINS ERP software was built by industry with the team having more than 40 years’ experience serving construction professionals.
The global team has unrivalled industry knowledge gained through working with the world’s leading construction companies. This experience enables COINS to deliver end-to-end construction solutions that add true business value throughout the construction lifecycle.
Martinus’ chief operating office Ryan Baden said COINS ERP will provide a fundamental business management system across its international organisation and will assist with consistency and reporting throughout the organisation.
“COINS ERP will allow the Martinus business to standardise operational processes and consolidate data across global business units – a key factor in the evolution for the company,” he said.
The COINS ERP software allows Martinus to simplify the communication between itself and subcontractors.
The organisation is also using the Aphex system to help deliver on time for customers.
The Aphex system creates a reduction of claims, planning efficiency, increased accountability and reduced “firefighting”.
Martinus is currently delivering one of the largest infrastructure projects the Australian rail industry has seen. The Stockinbingal to Parkes section is progressing on schedule, with principal contractor Martinus making great progress according to the ARTC.
The organisation is currently working in very narrow shutdown windows to ensure it delivers this project on time. Back in mid March it had an 88 hour window to complete a range of works and this use of technology has been revolutionary in helping to deliver the Inland Rail project.
“We have been delivering major infrastructure projects for a number of years now, utilising the skills and expertise of our people and the existing business systems,” Rawling said.
“What this technology is doing is it is allowing us to improve the reliability and performance of our projects, which in turn improves our ability to provide our customers with a more certainty of delivery.
“It allows for improved productivity and efficiency across our projects, providing enhanced value for money whilst also creating a platform for us to introduce Martinus’ unique offering within the rail industry.”
How technology truly supports on the ground
Martinus have worked diligently to ensure the technology it brings on board truly supports the workers on the ground and enhances its offering to the rail industry.
The COINS ERP software allows for improved access to information which in turn provides a faster response time to decision making and an agility to respond to change.
Workers on the ground have access to never-before-seen data which in turns enables the worker to make better and more informed decisions. Teams have also got better connectivity meaning they can connect and share virtually.
“You can have members of the team with fantastic experience but working in different sections,” Rawling said.
“We can now allow them to share their invaluable knowledge across multiple teams, something that we have not been able to do before.
“The implementation of technology has improved productivity and overall performance, by allowing our rail experts to focus on a large proportion of their time on their passion – delivering rail projects.”
Rawling explained the intense processes the organisation goes through to ensure the technology is right for its needs and will fit seamlessly.
“We will create a sandbox or test site, run a pilot in parallel, sequentially phase or integrate into an existing project,” he said.
“We also look to introduce new technologies during the pre-contract phase of the project so we get the benefit of the technology early and can engage with our customers on the benefits prior to delivery.
“We then utilise on the job training and live demonstrations as we believe our team learn best when they are doing.
A lot of companies often rely on outdated software, we have the advantage of integrating modern, fit-for-purpose software solutions. This allows us the opportunity to select the very best options available to suit the needs of a modern rail industry.”
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