Alan Merrick Email & Phone Number

Portland, Or, Us

Provide high intensity acoustic testing for spacecraft and subsystems. We bring a complete sound system to customers site to certify spacecraft will service the acoustic levels of a spacecraft launch, 147dB. Latest developments bring hte maximum level now to 152 dB.

Portland Oregon Testing All Over The Us

I provide expert advice in vibration control, fixturing and test processes. Root cause analysis skills help in discovering component failures of test units and test systems. Provide engineering supervision for facility upgrades and maintenance operations. Design installation and measurement configurations for accelerators, strain gages, laser vibrometers and displacement sensors.

San Jose, Ca

I provide expert help, training and root cause analysis for environmental testing needs. Having worked with aircraft, automobiles, spacecraft and submersibles, I have the skills to specify tests, design test setups, write test procedures and analyze data to quickly complete required testing to meet specifications. I have innate skills in troubleshooting and finding the root cause to the toughest vibration and mechanical problems with using my broad knowledge of materials, dynamics, structures and instrumentation. I have solved vibration and acoustic problems that have baffled engineers for years, saving huge manufacturing cost increases for GM and saving Airbus from being grounded by the FAA. I have saved thousands of dollars over the years by accurately specifying new facility requirements and holding the supplier to these commitments and avoid the cost of change orders. I have been the principle engineering manager on multiple test facility projects, ranging in cost from $1M to $55M, where I start with the requirements to develop the specification for the contract, down select the supplier, follow the design, installation and validation of performance. Each step in this process requires a full understanding the materials, manufacturing processes, equipment, safety and practicality of operating and maintaining the complete system.Since I have a capability to quickly learn new systems and technology combined with my skills with people, management and collaboration, I get to solutions that utilize engineering expertise with the hands on knowledge of the people working with the hardware fast. On top of the technical capabilities, I have managed a large group of engineers and technicians for nine years. I put together the complete integration and test proposal for two spacecraft, managing the cost accountability to the government and management, carrying vehicle management responsibilities from preliminary design review through starting of vehicle build.

Palo Alto

I have worked at SSL for five years now. During this time I have improved the factory flow saving cost and schedule of the satellite final assembly process with improved testing methods. The satellite vibration test has been reduced using better control strategies by 30%. The number of aborted runs has been reduced using my thorough knowledge of vibration control strategies. Added system checks has improved the reliability and life of the vibration system too. Initiated DFAT testing of satellites that become the only method accepted by the President of the company. After years of research in acoustics I managed to get SSL to accept using direct field acoustic testing with speakers. This has saved 5-7 days of schedule and eliminated the risks of transporting the spacecraft. Future projects include component level DFAN testing and modal correlation between test and finite element models.

Sunnyvale, California

I am working in the Quality group with the special knowledge I bring to the Integration and Test arena. I provide expert knowledge to root cause analysis, independent reivew teams for critical milestones, Pre-ship and general audits. lead numerous RCA teams for supplier process issues, manufacturing fialures and equipment problems. AS9100C Auditor certified. I also study the metrics to understand where issues start for each program and follow current program trends to nip problems in the bud before they become red programs. AS9100 also requires reviewing effectiveness of Corrective Action which is difficult for the individula program QE's, so my research sheds new perspective and insights to our current solutions and actions required to improve the results.

Managing assembly, integration and test of satellites for Global Communications Systems.(SBIRS GEO). Developed budgets and negotiate with the customer to improve the process through early itneraction with design.Vibration and Control Subject Matter Expert. Troubleshooting issues with instrumentation, controllers, shakers, slip tables and amplifiers.

Managed design and construction of the LOTIS Chamber with Chart. Our team of engineers provided oversight and validation of the design. interated with the contractor through design phases. Verified manufacturing actually produced the hardware correctly as well as assembled it corrrectly on site. Overcame many issues through the construction and final testing to verify the product met specifications for the company,

Managed all test facilities for Space Systems in Sunnyvale. Performed Value Stream Mapping for the lab processes. Reduced process times and improved exposure throughout the company. Held 6S event in box test to quickly bring the lab back into compliance with DOD requirements and reinvigorate the employee morale and pride in the area. Turned the lab into a company showplace where it was a liability. Provided presentations to executive management for the capital improvement needs with complete evaluation of costs, return on investments and evaluation of the criticality to the success of the product delivery.

Specialist and lead for the Desert Proving Grounds for GM Truck for all noise, vibration and harshness work. Worked with LMS, SDRC, Aachen Head systems. Solved two major vibration problems that plagued them for a couple of years along with numerous typical tests for trucks.

Worked NVH at Arizona Proving Grounds where I solved a major brake noise problem that was unresolved for 3 years. Resolved many noise issues with Head Acoustics, LMS, Polytec and other acquisition tools on driveline, a/c, exhaust and more. Validated dynamic FE models with modal testing for uni-body SUV development project.

My primary responsibility was the development of modal analysis capability and Rohr. Brought this tool from cute cartoons to required verification of design prior to flight. Performed many ground engine tests, developing tools to instrument quicker as welll as mastering the data anaylsis and bringing together multi-channel computer analysis capability. First to show the benifits of rotating machinery analysis on aircraft eninge structures which changed the ground rules for data analysis. Greatly reduced the time to get the answers from testing.

Bs, Engineering

Bs, Engineering