Work Experience

 

 

1998 (Aug) - 1999 (July) AirTouch Cellular Bellevue, Wa, USA	Overview   Roles Systems Analysis, Design, Technical lead Programming, testing,debugging,implementation    Technical Environment IBM OS/390, CICS 4.1, IMS 5.1, DB2 5.1, IBM AIX COBOL, DL/1, EZTRIEVE, JOBTRACK (job scheduler), Focus, JCL NT 4.0 Server, Unix, Oracle Projects G/L, Billing, Inventory CAMBAR Financial System Enhancement & Y2K Compliance CAMBAR Job Schedule Performance Tuning Mainframe to Unix Interface   CAMBAR Financial System Enhancement & Y2K Compliance Project   Successfully enhanced the system to enable the client to add  retail outlets and make the system Y2K compliant.   The CAMBAR Financial System is a 12 year old accounting system package.  It handles Order entry, Inventory control ,account and billing information. It interfaces with other numerous accounting/financial packages.  It is written in COBOL, IMS DB, DB2, CICS, EASYTRIEVE, VSAM, and ASSEMBLER.   The following are the project requirements: Modify the system to accommodate the significant increase in the number of U.S retail outlets Modify the system to meet Y2K requirements Convert OS/VS COBOL programs to O/S 390 COBOL Convert  CICS 2.1 COBOL programs to CICS 4.1 COBOL Convert IMS 2.0 COBOL programs to IMS 5.1 COBOL Modify JCL to accommodate the above conversions    The following are some of my duties and responsibilities: Identify systems, programs, JCL to be changed (500 programs/subroutines, 300 JCL) Identify changes to other systems and notify systems owners and discuss alternatives Identify tasks and resources Estimate completion dates and schedule resource requirements Plan and conduct end-user training and mode of implementation Analyze and review  required changes and confirm with users and system owners Interview and hire technical resources with the required technical skills Assign tasks to other team members, review/discuss tasks status Peform programming , testing, and debugging Prepare weekly status report for review by management Prepare and implement test plan, test data, test procedures Prepare implementation plan  including backout procedures   CAMBAR Job Schedule Performance Tuning Project   Successfully reduced batch run time from 7 hours to 12 hours.  This enabled employees in the New York office to do something usefull  starting at 8:00 AM instead of waiting until 12:00 PM or later to accept and process orders.   The batch portion of the CAMBAR Financial System runs  everynight for about 12 hours. If any problem occurs during the night, the daily on-line order entry operations is delayed. Clients cannot place orders and the system cannot be used resulting in substantial loss of business.   To prevent and minimize downtimes and the resulting business losses, the nightly runtime was reduced from 12 hours to 7 hours.  This was done as follows: Identify and modify  jobs (JCL) that consume the most time and optimize it Identify and remove duplicate and un-neccesary jobs steps Re-sequence the job schedule to group all critical jobs ahead of the schedule and the non-critical jobs at the end of the schedule. Eliminate redundant file backup steps    Mainframe GL to Unix Interface Project   The UNIX G/L Systems is an accounting package that was just recently installed.  It replaced a Mainframe G/L System. It is written using Oracle.   The following are the project requirements: Feed the new UNIX G/L System with G/L data similar to the Mainframe based G/L system Produce audit trail and control and balance reports similar to the ones currently being produced   The following are some of my duties and responsibilities: Identify data, data format, and record layouts acceptable by the new UNIX G/L System Identify data sources, data/file conversion  required to make the Mainframe data acceptable to the New UNIX G/L System Estimate completion dates and schedule resource requirements Select programming tools (COBOL for data/file conversion and EASYTRIEVE for Reporting) Perform programming, testing, debugging, unit/system testing Setup backup and recovery procedures
1998 (Feb-July) Connext Power  Seattle, washington, USA	Overview    Roles Systems Analysis, design Programming, testing,debugging,implementation  Technical Environment IBM 3090, OS/MVS Windows NT 4.0, Micro-Focus Cobol, XDB Database, Visualage Smalltalk COBOL II, DB2, CICS, QMF, TSO/ISPF,CLIST Platinum, Expediter, Intertest  Projects Accounts Receivable Billing G/L    Billing & A/R On-Line Systems    The above Systems were developed using Visualage for Smalltalk as the GUI component running on Windows NT, IBM Mainframe COBOL/CICS as the application server, and IBM Mainframe DB2 as the data server. This architecture represent an N-tier model . Development work was done primarily on Windows NT workstations and final testing done on the IBM Mainframe     The following are some of my duties and responsibilities: Identify user requirements and translate into user specifications Translate user specifications into programs and  subroutines. Estimate development effort required and completion dates Identify which existing subroutines to use, error-checking required and DB2 tables/views to set up. Perform programming, testing, and debugging Prepare and implement test plans and review test results with users
1994(May) - 1998(Feb) Reliant Technologies Group, Inc. Burnaby, BC, Canada	Overview    Roles Systems Analysis, design, Project Management, Technical Lead Programming, testing,debugging,implementation  Technical Environment IBM 3090, OS/MVS, IBM AIX COBOL II, DB2, CICS, QMF, TSO/ISPF,CLIST, IMS DC, ORACLE PLATINUM, EXPEDITER, INTERTEST, TELON Windows NT 4.0 ACCESS, WORD, EXCEL, VBA Visual Basic  Projects Teleform Project Wireless Data Access (CDPD Modems) Proof of Concept Project RACE Insurance Premium Assessments, Accidents Analysis/Prevention Photo Radar System, Courts System, Electronics Payment System Merchandising, Direct Store Delivery, Warehousing     Teleform Project   Every year, the CLIENT hires about 50 temporary clerical help to help manually enter data  into a computerized system. This activity last for about 2 months, after which the temporary help are laid-off. Due to the high cost and disruptive nature of this process, it was decided to automate this yearly activity.   TELEFORM, a software package, was considered as a viable solution: it will read data from the form (forms sent via fax, e-mail or regular mail) and converts it into a text file.  This text file will then be used to update a Mainframe-based system.   The following are the project requirements: Install TELEFORM to process the incoming forms (via fax, e-mail, regular mail) Extract the data from the forms and create a file to feed the Mainframe System   The following are some of my duties and responsibilities: Identify data, data format, and record layouts acceptable by the Mainframe System Coordinate with other in-house technical experts (Networking, Security,  etc.) to get their input, review, and approval of  the project and the proposed methodologies to be applied Identify data sources, data/file conversion  required to translate TELEFORM file into acceptable Mainframe file Select programming tools (VISUAL BASIC to convert TELEFORM file to Mainframe formatted file, COBOL to update Mainframe DB2 databases and  produce Management Reports, IBM ) Design and develop VISUAL BASIC programs to convert the text file produced by TELEFORM into a file readable by a Mainframe Cobol program. Design and setup the JCL to automatically run VISUAL BASIC programs on a PC, upload the resulting PC file from the PC to the IBM Mainframe, and run a Cobol/DB2 program on the Mainframe withou any user/operator intervention. Perform programming, testing, debugging, unit/system testing, implementation Setup backup and recovery procedures   Wireless Data Access (CDPD Modems) Proof of Concept Project   Field auditors require access to Head Office Mainframe information from anywhere. Currently, whenever field auditors require information from Head Office, they have to go to the nearest facility where a phone jack connection is available for their laptops. This could be miles from the object being audited (i.e, a fishing vessel out at sea).   The following are the project requirements: Enable Field Auditors to access Head Office information wherever they may be through their computer laptops Prove that the technology is doable   The following are some of my duties and responsibilities: Helped identify CDPD Modem as a viable wireless communication tool. Interview field auditors to determine information requirements Designed and developed a VISUAL BASIC program to accept input from field auditors,  retrieve the requested information from the Head Office data base (DB2 on the Mainframe), and display it on the field auditors laptop. Set up test DB2 tables, UNIX gateways, ODBC parameters, TCP/IP connections   RACE Optimization Project   Reduced quarterly file conversion effort from 1 week to a few hours.   RACE is a management reporting system.  It is a laptop-based system written in MS Access 2.0.  Every quarter, data is retrieved from an IBM Mainframe database, converted to MS Access readable file, and then loaded into an MS Access database on an NT Server.  Each field auditors will then download their specific files from the NT Server. Every quarter, a considerable amount of effort is expended to complete the whole process.   Automated various Management Reporting Systems using FTP, REXEC, MS IIS 3.0 and MS Access.  Automation reduced  the time required to download DB2 data into laptops from 5 days to 3 hours.  Increased data download frequency from Quarterly to monthly.  As a result, data used by field officers became more up-to-date.
1994 (Jan-May) SRI Burnaby, BC, Canada	Overview     Roles Systems Analysis, design, programming  Technical Environment IBM 3090, OS/MVS COBOL, CICS, TSO/ISPF,CLIST, VSAM EASYTRIEVE, ACCESS, WORD, EXCEL  Projects Billing System Project     Billing System Project   The western Canadian provinces Telcos decided to integrate their individual Billing Systems.   The following are my duties and responsibilities for the BC Billing System: Identify all the programs that contains hard-coded values and document the type, value, and purpose of these hard-coded values. Identify the files, databases that contains BC-specific values and document the type, value, and purpose of these BC-specific values. Design, present, and document alternative solutions to replace the hard-coded and BC-specific values.  These solutions should be able to accommodate the varying requirements of the participating Telcos.
1992(Nov) -1994(Dec)  ISM-BC Surrey, BC, Canada	Overview    Roles Technical Systems  programming, Analysis, and design  Technical Environment IBM 3090, OS/MVS COBOL, CICS, TSO/ISPF,CLIST, VSAM, ADABAS, NATURAL, ENDEAVOR EASYTRIEVE, ACCESS, WORD, EXCEL, VBA Projects Accounts Payable(Software AG ) Project   Accounts Payable(Software AG ) Project   The CLIENT recently purchased an A/P software package from Software AG. This is written in COBOL/NATURAL, ADABAS, and EASYTRIEVE.   My primary responsibility is to set up the A/P Job Schedule. Identify the tasks and group the tasks into daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly etc. as the case may be. Identify system dependencies: which task must run before/after a specific task. Identify file dependencies:  which file to accept from other systems and which files to create for other system Identify and estimate data storage requirements, processing time Design and setup backup and recovery procedures (daily, weekly, inter-job backups) Set up and test the Job Schedule, file interfaces, volume requirements Perform stress testing Provide analysis, programming, technical, and training support on a daily basis
1990(Mar) - 1992(Nov)  IBM Canada Toronto, Ontario, Canada	Overview    Roles Systems Analysis, design, Project Management, Technical Lead Programming, testing,debugging,implementation  Technical Environment IBM 3090, OS/MVS PL/1, CICS,  DB2, SQL, QMF,IMS/DB, TSO/ISPF,CLIST, VSAM  Projects EDI Project for the Supply/Demand and Distribution Systems Miscellaneious Accounting Systems (Inventory, Order Entry)     EDI Supply and Demand Distribution System Automation Project    The company wanted to shorten the order/delivery lifecycle from a few weeks to days.  In addition,the company wants to track orders from the time the order was placed to the time the goods are received at the warehouse.    Previously, orders were handled manually. Individual orders were entered into the company’s order entry system. These orders are then printed on hardcopy and then sent by priority mail to different suppliers.  The suppliers in turn enter the orders into their own order entry system, fills the order, and ship the goods.  They also send the invoice via regular mail. Upon receiving the invoice, the buyer enters the invoice details in their computerized system and prints Orders/Shipped Details Report.  By this time, a few weeks would have gone by.   The solution was to automate order submission and order feedback using DB2, batch QMF,  and Job Scheduler(JCL).   The following were some of my duties and responsibilities: Study the buyer’s and the suppliers’s order entry systems Prepare a Conceptual Design Document outlining the findings and confirming findings with users and technical staff Prepare a Technical Design Document outlining the proposed technical solution Create the required DB2 tables/views and batch QMF procedures Develop, test, and implement the proposed technical solution to update Supplier’s DB2 table with no manual intervention Develop, test, and implement the proposed technical solution to retrieve invoice data from the  Supplier’s DB2 table and update buyer’s shipped orders DB2 table directly with no manual intervention
1987(Apr) - 1990(Jan)  BC Hydro Vancouver, BC, Canada	Overview    Roles Systems Analysis, design, Project Management, Technical Lead Technical Systems  programming, Analysis, and design  Technical Environment IBM 3090, OS/MVS, IBM PC PL/1, COBOL, CICS,TSO/ISPF,CLIST,REXX DB2, SQL, QMF, IMS DB/DC, ORACLE, TELON  Projects Business Management System Corporate Financial Reporting System G/L Online Audit Trail System BC Hydro Dam Project Control System Westech Invoicing System   The following were some of my duties and responsibilities:   Played various roles in the above projects: Project leader, systems analyst,  programmer. Creation of a Prototype and the analysis, design, and development of the GL On-Line Audit Trail System Analysis, design, and Development of the GL Batch Reporting system Estimated the project resources required Prepared systems, data flow diagrams, program structure charts and documentation Present design walkthru’s of proposed systems design to end-users as well as to other technical IT staff (systems analyst, DBA’s and Systems Architects) Prepare test plans, test data, and test data bases as well as the optimization of DB2/SQL statements Design and optimized DB2 tables as well as designing CICS screens and batch reports
1980(Dec) - 1987(Feb)  Suncor OilSands Co. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada	Overview    Roles Programming, Analysis, design, testing, debugging  Technical Environment IBM 370 DOS/VS COBOL, TSO/ISPF,CLIST, VSAM,  Projects Payroll/HR (Cyborg Payroll/Personnel System) G/L, A/P  (General Electric)    Payroll/HR(Cyborg Payroll/Personnel System) Project   The company purchased a Payroll/HR  package from Cyborg Systems to replace a 10 year old in-house written package that can no longer reliably handle the rapid growth and the unionization of the employees.   My primary responsibility was to migrate the functionality, data, and outputs from the old payroll system to the new Cyborg Payroll System   Identify the files and reports currently produced by the old payroll system and confirm with users whether they are still required. Formulate strategies to reproduce the required files/reports. Plan the installation activities Develop implementation strategies Identify tasks and resources Estimate completion dates and schedule resource requirements Plan and conduct end-user training and mode of implementation Identify and estimate reports and master file conversion efforts   G/L & A/P Systems   Provide analysis, programming, technical, training, and system support on an on-going basis.