Dave Taylor

Experience

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  ABC-NACO

  Jul 1997 - Mar 2002

  Design Engineer

  Duties of this post include the design of steel castings for several clients in various fields - locomotive industries, oil and gas industries, valve manufacturers, defence industries and mining equipment. This post requires an in-depth knowledge of casting methods, fabrication/welding, machining, and stress analysis. Design and development of the Axle Motion™ rail freight bogie was my main duty since October 1999. This involved designing and developing the product to meet UK and European standards. Show less

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  Meridian Rail Europe Ltd

  Apr 2002 - Dec 2002

  Project Engineer

  Meridian Rail Europe Ltd was formed in 2002 by the owners of ABC-NACO and sold to Powell Duffryn in 2002. The primary function of the company was to sell freight bogies to the UK and European market. Most of the contracts were in the UK, Finland, Sweden, and India. My job was to ensure that the product met all the technical specification. Position included design, technical support, and customer liaison.

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  Powell Duffryn Rail Ltd / Probotec

  Jan 2003 - Jul 2004

  Project Manager

  Duties included, managing of supply contracts. Preparing tenders and specifications. Problem solving both technical issues and delivery/planning issues. Responsible for total life cycle cost investigations on the rolling stock products lines.

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  SCT Europe Ltd

  Aug 2004 - Dec 2011

  • Rolling stock design expert.• Design of BER™ freight bogie. Drawings, models, FEA, specifications, VAMPIRE railway vehicle dynamics (Conceptual design through to production) etc.• Created assembly and maintenance procedures/manuals and sketches for operators of all levels. Also provided full technical support.• Carried out complex design calculations (static and dynamic) for suspension systems, brake systems and structures.• Managing design and supply contracts to regulatory standards and overseeing operations and subcontractors.• Negotiating and managing customer and supplier contracts (UK, Europe & China).• Managing testing plans.• Technical sales support. Show less

  • Director

    Nov 2010 - Dec 2011

  • Project Manager & Senior Engineer

    Aug 2004 - Dec 2011
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  Wabtec Rail Group

  Jan 2012 - Apr 2013

  Project Manager

  In 2010 Wabtec Corporation acquired Standard Car Truck Europe Ltd and this job was a move into a different division of the Wabtec group. I led a team which were responsible for conceptual design and development of a new high speed powered locomotive bogie intended for the US market. (125mph diesel/electric locomotive).• Responsible for employing and managing engineering contractors for design and analysis.• Preparing high quality documentation, internal/external memos, technical reports, and cost estimation as part of the feasibility study.• Excellent knowledge of product specifications and regulatory standards. Show less

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  Wascosa AG

  Apr 2013 - Dec 2015

  Mechanical Engineering Consultant (New Build Inspector)

  • Quality assurance work on over 2000 new build TSI freight tank wagon, hopper wagon and container wagon production in Tatravagonka (Slovakia) & Astra Rail (Romania) for Wascosa AG (Swiss leasing company).• Quality inspections/audits ensuring the supplier met the various manufacturing standards. An example is ensuring compliance to EN15085 standards for Welding of railway vehicles and components.• Supervised aspects of wagon production which includes steel cutting, machining, welding, general assembly, painting and testing.• Technical specification and design management for special wagon development projects.• Vehicle approvals – Coordinating with wagon builder, leasing company and the rail regulators. I successfully completed cross acceptance approval for EU wagons gaining access through Channel tunnel to London.• Development of flat wagons for carrying standard and specialised ISO tank containers. Show less

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  Taylor Rail Ltd

  May 2013 - now

  Managing Director

  Formed my own company to supply consultant engineering, management and sales services.

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  The Greenbrier Companies

  Jan 2016 - Mar 2024

  Mechanical Engineering Consultant

  As a key team member at Greenbrier Saudi Arabia, I played a pivotal role in the successful execution and management of a high-value project specializing in the commissioning, operations, maintenance, and technical warranty support of 1325 freight railway wagons. These wagons, with a total value exceeding $300 million USD, were delivered to the Saudi Arabian Railway Company (SAR). • In-Country Warranty Support: Provided dedicated warranty support for all Greenbrier railcars. Proactively managing routine inspections and maintenance to ensure optimal fleet availability and reliability:• Achieved 100% Mission Capable Rate (MCR) and resulted in no endemic warranty failures.• Achieved a reliability index exceeding the contractual obligations by a factor of 20.• Technical Support: Offered technical guidance and expertise to ensure optimal performance of railcars.• Retrofit Program Management: Supervised retrofit programs, including procurement and fabrication, adhering to industry standards (AAR & AWS standards).• Railcar Commissioning: Led the commissioning process for all Greenbrier-supplied wagons to SAR.• Conducted and supervised railcar brake diagnostics, repairs, and testing. (Electrically controlled (ECP) & Pneumatic brakes)• Delivered technical training to the customer.• Managed maintenance and operation of all 1325 wagons.• Collaborated with railway operations to enhance loading and unloading efficiencies. Includes 1185 tank wagons and 140 bauxite hopper wagons.• Subcontractor Management: Efficiently managed subcontractors for tasks such as rubber lining and valve repairs, minimizing downtime.• Managed local manufacturing and procurement, ensuring supplier compliance with ISO 9001 and other relevant standards. Reducing lead-times by at least 30% and increasing local content.• Produced engineering reports, risk assessments, and maintenance/operations manuals enhancing railcar maintenance and operation. Show less