March 2010 — May 2014
Communication is challenging for organizations of any size, and digital signage provides an effective yet unobtrusive way of publicizing important announcements. The company had already proven this concept, but there were only a few, small displays and the system was labor intensive to manage. Human Resources charged IT with expanding the system and simplifying the update process. The solution I implemented met these requirements, and it was so economical that we added an additional location without increasing the project's budget.
Heat, dust, humidity, and a vast facility present significant challenges for maintaining desktop computers in harsh manufacturing environments. I offered a unique solution to these problems by introducing desktop virtualization, a relatively new technology at the time. While high upfront costs make these projects a tough sell, I successfully proved to senior management that reduced energy consumption alone would pay for the project in only a few years.
Traditional employee handbooks can comprise enormous binders full of easily lost and disorganized pages; they might be one of the least portable workplace accessories. Our HR team sought a better solution, in the form of a pocket sized, professionally printed booklet. Working with publishers can be tricky, but together we transformed their original design into a professional, ready-to-print Adobe InDesign® document, accounting for the correct margins, spot colors, and consistent styling appropriate for a printed book.
Improving the company's online presence was a high priority for senior management, because the website is one of a few, rare opportunities we had to interact with the general public. The new website would furnish more relevant product, career, and community involvement information.
Our manufacturing process was state-of-the-art, our process for internally communicating which orders to fill wasn't. The spreadsheet sharing method got the job done, but it was error prone due to files being saved locally or printed. To resolve these concerns, I developed an online scheduling system that continuously updated and used clever CSS media queries to resist printing.
The company offered employees a variety of traditional and non-traditional benefits. Allowing employees to borrow company equipment off-the-clock for personal use was one of these perks. Approving and tracking loaned equipment wasn't easy, so I developed an online system to simplify the process and also process silent auctions for equipment being retired.
Robust network access facilitated the company's growth by enabling real-time inventory tracking, production automation, and reliable communications. However, the network infrastructure was beginning to show its age through increased downtime and inadequate capacity. Troubleshooting issues was complicated by a lack of documentation, crude modifications, and stopgap solutions that had accumulated over decades. Our team worked to rethink the topology of the network, install a more robust fiber-optic backbone, and remove and replace all of the copper wiring while labeling and documenting changes to ensure maintainability.
NHK NASCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of NHK Spring Co., Ltd. of Yokohama, Japan, is North America's premier manufacturer of suspension coil spring, trunk lid torsion bars, electric motor cores, and disk springs for the automotive industry. If you drive a vehicle manufactured in North America, there is a good chance that NHK NASCO's products contribute to the safety and comfort of your journey.