Reducing Storage Costs and Downtime in Railways Through Spare Parts Redistribution and MCDA-Based Optimization

The article discusses the issue of improving the management efficiency of spare parts at railway stations to reduce operational costs and enhance the effectiveness of rolling stock maintenance. A comparative analysis was conducted between traditional inventory storage strategies and models involving the redistribution of surplus spare parts between stations. For the quantitative assessment of the proposed approach, a mathematical model based on a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methodology was developed that includes the calculation of storage, transportation, and redistribution costs. The results show that redistributing spare parts reduces storage costs by 25%, while implementing the proposed strategy shortens the average downtime of railway wagons by 12.5%, confirming its economic feasibility. Moderate savings were achieved at the Zharyk and Zhanaaul stations, where excessive stockpiling of spare parts was reduced, and the main logistics hub—Karaganda Sortirovochnaya—helped minimize the risk of downtime. At the same time, the analysis revealed certain limitations, such as increased transportation costs and reduced network stability when redistribution volumes are high. The practical implications of the study lie in the potential implementation of the developed inventory management improvement model, not only for railway transport but also for other industries such as aviation and automotive logistics. Spare parts redistribution reduces the financial losses associated with frozen capital, increases the capital turnover, and decreases the risk of depreciation of stored components. The proposed approach ensures a more balanced distribution of resources between stations, facilitating an increase in the profitability of railway enterprises.