Quality perfectly managed

The wise man, they say, travels by train. That's right: The train is - ahead of the plane and behind the ship - the second safest means of transport in the world. This is made possible, among other things, by highly specialized companies such as Schweizer Electronic AG.

The Reiden-based SME is valued worldwide for its three main strengths: innovative level crossing systems, first-class construction site safety and LocControl for local radio control of shunting locomotives. In addition, a fourth successful competence centre has recently been added, whose services are likely to become increasingly important in the digital age: Functional Safety & Cyber Security.

Complex analyses, uncompromising implementation

Product development for safety in the railway industry is enormously complex. Hardly any other industry has more extensive hazard and risk analyses during conception and planning. In addition, all new developments go through a strictly standardized phase model (more on this below).

An incredible effort that only a few suppliers can and want to make. As the leading supplier in its sector, Schweizer Electronic AG has very few competitors in Europe.

Electronic quality management for over 20 years

It is hardly surprising that Schweizer Electronic has been relying on electronic quality management for over 20 years. The tool of choice from 1997 to 2007 and again since 2012: IQSoft, the quality management software from IQS AG in Zofingen, which has proven itself throughout Switzerland.

IQSoft, Intermezzo, IQSoft

Hans-Peter Kost, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IQSoft AG in Zofingen, fondly remembers the beginnings of the cooperation with Schweizer Electronic: "We have a long history together. I had the privilege of advising the then boss Peter Schweizer in the 90s during the initial certification for ISO 9001. Then in 1997 came the first IQSoft version. A lot was done with it at Schweizer." Then an unexpected break: in 2007, a new consultant at Schweizer Electronic stopped using IQSoft and switched to a different tool. Why? Nobody knows anymore. How that went? Let's put it this way: since 2012 Schweizer Electronic has once again been using IQSoft for digital quality control.

Standards, standards and more standards

Klaus von Arx, Quality Manager and Safety Officer at the Reiden-based SME since 2016, appreciates the Zofingen software. IQSoft helps him to standardize and control the processes of his company according to the highest standards. He sees ISO 9001:2015 as the basis for the quality management process. The company is also certified according to ISO 14001:2015.

However, other standards are considered the yardstick for functional safety in the rail industry: "We comply annually with EN 50126 (editor's note: general specification and proof of reliability, availability, maintainability and safety), EN 50128 (software safety) and EN 50129 (system safety)."

Clear specifications for product and project development

In other words, in Reiden all processes are based on clear specifications: "From the first planning step to the TÜV appraisal, every development goes through nine phases. As a rule, eight to ten engineers are involved. At the end of each individual phase, the documents are checked by the TÜV. A project like this usually runs for about two years."

All those involved (and of course also auditors) attach importance to the fact that the key data of each development can be called up in detail. At Schweizer Electronic, document templates have therefore been created for each step. Hundreds of such templates are always up to date and can be called up immediately via IQSoft.

This rigorous procedure is most comparable with the requirements in the medical sector. Even the training of new employees follows a competence matrix monitored by TÜV. And, of course, everything is fully documented.

Nine phases, nine approvals by the TÜV. At least.

All processes were structured according to standards and made visually comprehensible with the IQSoft BPM (Business Process Modeling) module: "This took a long time: We redesigned the entire process structure - always based on the phase model, of course.

Some key points of this phase model: concept, planning and hazard analysis. System requirements and device requirements (for software and hardware, of course). Each phase is concluded with a phase verification with the aim of obtaining the TÜV certificate after phase 9. And finally the field testing of new products at the railway companies for several months before getting the operating licence.

But what happens if a customer demands product changes? Klaus von Arx: "In such cases, we carry out an impact analysis. Depending on the results of this analysis, all the necessary phases are run through again, naturally including checks by the TÜV, with TÜV expert opinions and also field testing again. And that is a good thing: After all, the devices are supposed to run for decades." The development costs of each business unit are correspondingly high.

No huge quantities

In 2019, Schweizer Electronic managed the construction of 136 level crossings worldwide. The focus is on high availability and long service life. The project price for a level crossing also includes its mandatory maintenance.

An important mainstay for the long-established family business is also the comprehensive project planning of construction site safety systems, including equipment rental, for example rotten warning systems.

And since we're on the subject of railway construction sites, let's ask the expert: Is it a deceptive impression or is there construction going on everywhere on the railways at the moment? Klaus von Arx confirms this. In many places, little has been done over the years: "There's a lot of catching up to do. In the high season, we are always present at around 80 construction sites in Switzerland.

From good to best

After seven trouble-free years with IQSoft, Schweizer Electronic decided to upgrade to the latest IQSoft version 7.9 in September 2019. After all, why, when there were no problems?

"We wanted to be up to date. It fits our company. We are an innovative and agile company. I see this freshness and agility as our great strength, as our lifeline. So it's logical to keep our digital Q management up to date as well."

Effortless migration

The existing SQL database was put through its paces in Zofingen. This happens every time an existing IQSoft installation is upgraded to the new version 7.9. During this "screening", a "To Do List" is automatically created, for example with invalid links. This is followed by a 10 to 20 day test phase at the customer's site, while the previous and new versions run side by side. Klaus von Arx: "In our case, the new installation ran from one day to the next. However, we discovered many inactive users. We then deleted them and cleaned up the rest. After 10 days I decided: The old version will be shut down. We go live. There was a one-day interruption. It's been up and running ever since."

No separate training

Separate training for IQSoft 7.9? Unnecessary. "I wrote a quick reference guide for version 7.9, which worked well. Most of our 100 or so IQSoft users only use two modules anyway: document control and opportunities for improvement. And, of course, you have to understand the process landscape."

According to von Arx, new employees also quickly find their way around IQSoft 7.9. Thanks to the new graphical interface, everything can be seen at a glance: "The new cockpit is well received. And the program is pretty self-explanatory. That's why an initial training session only takes about two hours. At the end, you still have to learn how to create messages - and that's it."

Partnership at the top level

The bottom line is that Klaus von Arx is completely satisfied with his electronic quality assistant and the upgrade to version 7.9. He sees the upgrade as the logical evolution of a successful partnership:

"IQS AG and Schweizer Electronic AG think and work very similarly, among other things in the traceability of work performed. These are the best prerequisites for a high-level partnership."