Senior Technical Analyst
for SDI Systems
From travelling within days of my start date to bringing client systems down to under 0.05% error rates - SDI Systems has been the biggest adventure to date. Working around the clock to automate procedures and watching millions of transactions fly through a database. This is definitely a great company to work for! Now onto what I actually did for SDI Systems and all the proprietary specific Material Handling wonders our clients use.
Skills & Technician Tecniques
Expertise. Intuition. Ingenuity.
SQL
Expert Guide
SQL is the backbone of our software suite. We use stored procedures and interface with our own proprietary software. It is also used to communicate with the outside host systems our clients use to provide order information, label information, customer details, and much more.
I say I'm an expert guide in that while I was not a source programmer for the software procedures, I am heavily involved with quality assurance and testing, as well as creating reports and "tweaking" already standing SQL procedures.
VLC Controls Programming
The Path to Success
Our business largely uses Steeplechase (created by Phoenix Contact) to control the Material Handling machines we design and install. I have learned basic and advanced use of Visual Logic Controllers and Programmable Logic Controllers. While, like SQL, programming is not largely my expertise, digging into programs and finding where they are broken is. Essentially illuminating a path to success.
Technical Analyst
A Comprehensive Approach
When issues arise, I do my best to consider all possible causes and expedite a creative resolution. There's more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak (I love cats, but I digress). When there's $20,000/hour worth of production costs flying out the window, I have found that client businesses love the ones who find a workaround. Those band-aids that bring back even 90% functionality may be a Hail Mary, but Six Sigma doesn't even teach courses on how to do anything of the like. To learn and implement high-level and low-level technical changes, find the correct needs, or accurately assess and conceptualize how to effectively bring a business and its technical branches online is something that is taught via trial-by-fire.
Travelling Guru
Wanderlust with Purpose
Some things you cannot do remotely, so of course, there's the daunting task of flying all over the world to create, correct, or crunch numbers. In the last few years, I was sent solo to multiple international sites to fix problems or install new systems at our warehouses. Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy are just some of the countries I've been to. There were times when I stayed for 4+ weeks, which involves impressive determination to acclimate one's personality to handle such extended work stints.
Quality Assurance and Control
Correct Consultation
Many instances a business needs to ensure correct implementation of a product and/or service. If a business does not ensure this, well, plenty has been done to ensure the products and services I handle or am involved with meet a standard held high. A standard to which are professionally and reliably self-defined (always above and beyond). The faster the product, the better the service, the rigidity of quality refined will create a perfect storm of efficiency. That is what I am after - work smarter - not harder. Just mind that if someone works smart enough - they can automate themselves out of a job - unless they can keep automating!
Bureaucratic Compromises
Skillful Critique of Others
While in the field or behind a phone, there are many times when I find myself working with others who cannot seem to find exactly where to put the flat-head screwdriver... (so to speak). Luckily, I always keep a calm, cool, and collected demeanor and am great at explicit and/or layman instruction. While such talents may be wasted on simple measures, I find that helping those who need assistance with simple measures tends to build rapport and trust, while also supplying my own methods of achieving an end goal. I can instruct a man from Canton, Mississippi, on how to change a machine's encoder - and even communicate clearly enough with international clients that they leave feeling understood and content with the interaction and outcome. Anything that needs to be done can be done with a positive exchange of words resulting always in a pleasant outcome.
Skill Tree
Who, What, Where, When, Why?
Here is a list of programs and skills I have worked with and have experience in while working at SDI Systems: Microsoft Office Suite 2016, SQL 2008, SQL 2012, SQL 2016, VMWare, VMWare Workstation 12, Virtual Machines, EverRun, Stratus Systems, VPNs and access, Cisco Anyconnect, Cisco Global, GoToMyPC, Teamviewer, Phoenix Contact, Allen Bradley, ICONICS, Steeplechase, Rockwell, SICK scanners, Cognex scanners, Banner cameras, Schneider Micrologic, Datalogic Cameras, HTML, CSS, C++, and many more.