Carl Thornton
TANAH MERAH,QLD
Summary
A reliable and enthusiastic individual with 35 years’ experience in manufacturing, testing, maintaining and engineering on Rolling Stock, with proven problem-solving skills using a logical and methodical approach. A respected leader and mentor with confidence in the ability gained through the years of experience. Performs consistently under pressure and delivers results within set time scales. Eager to learn for continued development of existing knowledge and skills.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Fleet Engineering Manager HCMT TLS
Downer Rail
Melbourne
01.2018 - Current
- Recruit and manage the Engineering and Technical Support (FOSO) teams supporting the HCMT Fleet
- Review and provide improvements to train, depot and simulator documentation at all stages of design
- Responsible for effective control and management of daily site activities
- Member of the Engineering Change Board and Failure Review Board
- Develop and implement the Maintenance System suite of procedures, tools and documents
- Manage Reliability and Availability performance and improvements
- Support the Attribution process through Engineering analysis and reports
- Determine and deliver the TLS Operational Readiness activities
- Develop and ensure compliance of the Asset Management Plan and Technical Maintenance Plan
- Responsible for the Maintenance Phase Configuration Management of the Assets
- Review and update the Downer accredited documentation and ensure continued compliance
- Generate the Life Cycle Costing model for the 35-year maintenance contract
- Accountable for the Operational Expenditure in line with purchasing policies
- Stakeholder engagement with DoT, Franchisee and Independent Reviewer
- Develop Franchisee Cooperation Agreement documentation to support Rail Safety accreditation
- Hazard Log reviews and implementation of controls
- Risk Management reviews and actions
- Perform Critical Risk Observations and complete generated actions
- Conduct ICAM investigations for incidents and near misses providing full reports and recommendations
- Support Commercial activities for Modifications and contractual issues
Operations Manager
Downer EDI Rail
Brisbane, QLD
06.2023 - 06.2025
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes.
- Conducted regular performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement and developing action plans to address them.
- Managed inventory and supply chain operations to achieve timely and accurate delivery of goods and services.
- Led hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external vendors and suppliers.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by establishing clear communication channels and addressing concerns promptly.
- Analyzed and reported on key performance metrics to senior management.
- Oversaw facility maintenance, ensuring optimal functionality of equipment and infrastructure at all times.
- Managed budgets effectively, consistently delivering projects on-time and within financial constraints.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers to obtain best pricing and terms.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
Asset Manager
Downer EDI Rail
Pakenham, VIC
06.2021 - 06.2023
- Proactively identified areas for process improvement, driving increased efficiency throughout the organization.
- Managed risk by conducting thorough due diligence and regular portfolio reviews.
- Collaborated with legal teams to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
- Mentored junior team members, fostering an environment of continuous learning and professional development.
- Created key performance indicators to measure and assess investment performance.
- Established a proactive maintenance program, extending the useful life of assets while minimizing unplanned repair costs.
- Streamlined operations, optimizing the use of technology for tracking and reporting performance metrics.
Systems Improvement Engineer
ALSTOM Transport UK
Liverpool
01.2012 - 01.2018
- Support daily service requirements for Engineering issues on the Class 390 Fleet
- Maintain the service availability contract requirements of 50 trains per day
- Achieve contractual MDBSAF performance of 28K through reliability growth
- Service Affecting Failure delays attribution
- Ensure Fleet compliance to the legislative standards and guidance documents relating to Railway Safety
- Participate in monthly Joint Technical Reviews with customer and asset owner
- Identify, develop and implement Engineering Changes with consideration to the LCC (Life Cycle Costs)
- Liaise directly with suppliers for reliability, quality, obsolescence, new product and delivery issues
- Provide periodic reports/KPI’s and deliver at senior management meetings
- Promote continuous improvement process using the DMAIC philosophy and FRACAS
- Development of Rule Engine - real time train-to-shore asset health, diagnostics and analysis tool
- Data analysis and trend projections for reliability centred maintenance
- Customer Facing systems improvements through data driven Engineering Change
- Conducting on train trials and tests for potential design improvements through engineering change
- Design and installation of data logger equipment for real time train-to-shore information
- Support daily operations for in service failures and intermittent fault investigations
- Develop software changes for new TMS alerts and modify trigger logic for existing alerts
Commissioning Engineer
ALSTOM Transport UK
Liverpool
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Static and Dynamic Testing and Commissioning of new build 11 car class 390 trains
- Fault finding and rectification on all train systems
- Implementation and Testing of Field Modification Instructions
- Project planning and KPI reporting
- Team Leader and mentoring responsibilities
Systems Support Technician
ALSTOM Transport UK
Manchester
01.2004 - 01.2010
- Fault finding of service affecting failures on all systems of Class 390 Pendolino EMU trains
- Providing Technical Support to Fleet Engineers, Depot Maintenance and Project (Modification) Teams
- Improving Reliability of major systems through Engineering Change
- Downloading and analysing train systems data
- Detailed reporting of investigations and development of fault recommended actions
- Improving Train sub-system Control Electronics Software
- Set up Workshop Test Facility for diagnosing electrical component failures
- Secondments at Chester (Class 175) and Wembley (Class 390) Depots
Field Service Engineer
Balfour Beatty Utilities
NW England
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Planned Preventative Maintenance on Waste Water Pumping Stations
- Reactive Maintenance on 1 and 3 ph pumps and control systems (soft start, star/delta, static drives)
- Set up/Testing of Ultrasonic Level indicators, PLC controls and Telemetry alarm systems
- Commissioning New Build Pumping Stations
Electrical Control Gear Test Engineer
ALSTOM Transport UK
Preston
01.1999 - 01.2003
- Testing Traction Control Equipment and Auxiliary Converters
- Fault Finding on Warranty Repairs
- Design and Type Testing of new products
- Designing and building Test Boxes to simulate Train Wiring
- Secondments to France (Type Testing of CITADIS Tram), London (Traction modifications on class 458 and 460) and Belgium (Auxiliary Converter Technology Transfer)
Electrical Motor Test Engineer
ALSTOM Transport UK
Preston
01.1994 - 01.1999
- Full Load power testing of DC Traction motors, AC Traction motors and Motor-Alternator Sets
- Fault Finding on Warranty repairs
- Customer witnessed Type Testing
Electrical Technician Apprentice
ALSTOM Transport UK
Preston
01.1990 - 01.1994
- Broad Based 4-year apprenticeship
- Rotation experience covering all departments of the traction equipment manufacturing process
Education
Bachelor Of Electrical Engineering - Engineering
Preston College
Preston, Lancashire06.1994
Skills
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Coaching and mentoring
- Engineering design
- Lean six sigma
- Project oversight
- Financial analysis
- Team building
- Incident investigation
- Hazard identification
- Safety program development
- Incident reporting
- Risk identification
- Compliance management
- Safety hazards analysis
- Problem-solving
- Analytical thinking
Certification
- City & Guilds 232 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- City & Guilds 201 Basic Engineering Competences
- GCSE – Maths, English, Physics, French, Geography, Commerce
- PTS (Personal Track Safety)
- DP (Designated Person)
- Lean Sigma Green Belt
- TTSA (Train Track Safety Awareness)
- ICAM Lead Investigator
- Safety Critical Worker
- Authorised Person
- Electrical Safe Working
- Emergency First Aid
- Accident Investigator
Timeline
Operations Manager
Downer EDI Rail
06.2023 - 06.2025
Asset Manager
Downer EDI Rail
06.2021 - 06.2023
Fleet Engineering Manager HCMT TLS
Downer Rail
01.2018 - Current
Systems Improvement Engineer
ALSTOM Transport UK
01.2012 - 01.2018
Commissioning Engineer
ALSTOM Transport UK
01.2010 - 01.2012
Systems Support Technician
ALSTOM Transport UK
01.2004 - 01.2010
Field Service Engineer
Balfour Beatty Utilities
01.2003 - 01.2004
Electrical Control Gear Test Engineer
ALSTOM Transport UK
01.1999 - 01.2003
Electrical Motor Test Engineer
ALSTOM Transport UK
01.1994 - 01.1999
Electrical Technician Apprentice
ALSTOM Transport UK
01.1990 - 01.1994
Bachelor Of Electrical Engineering - Engineering
Preston College