Linda Christopher Email and Phone Number

Founded EyECon Group LLC (Envision your Experience Consulting Group) - an IT consulting company dedicated to providing exemplary customer-focused service.

Recently completed a 6.5 year consulting assignment as an MES Designer. Provided functional design expertise. Worked closely with customers and assembly plants around the world.Performed high level business and technical analysis, including requirements gathering and gap analysis.Planned and estimated the design and technical effort required to implement new MES functions and revise existing functions.Developed detailed design specifications including prerequisites, inputs and outputs, normal and alternate flows (use cases), business process maps, user interfaces with mockups, business rules and special requirements, calculations, constraints, and installation / security considerations.Communicated complex topics clearly and concisely while tailoring communications to fit the audience; generated conceptual and functional design documents for non-technical customers and technical design documents for programmers.Created flowcharts and data flow diagrams to illustrate “as is” and “to be” business processes.Worked closely with programmers, database administrators, and customers to ensure technical feasibility, optimization of queries, acceptable response times, and overall user satisfaction.Managed and reported on project progress to schedule, adjustments to scope, and outstanding issues. Suggested and developed new ways to address business challenges by customizing logic and implementing plant-specific or product-specific configurations within the framework of the existing MES.Drove innovation and continuous improvement in design by refining solutions and implementing common design standards. Provided a strong focus on system usability and intuitive user interfaces.

Designed and developed an overall system of WCM (World Class Manufacturing) databases, applications, custom data analysis tools. Provided leadership on complex projects as a top level contributor/specialist.Analyzed manufacturing operations, existing IT applications, data needs, and business objectives. Recommended, planned, and built new relational databases and WCM applications, customized to meet the needs of the organization. Responsible for end-to-end application design, development, and testing across the entire software development life cycle.Defined, documented, and modeled physical database structures and functional capabilities. Created interfaces to legacy WCM applications. Evaluated and created migration methods for converting and loading existing data into new databases.Created schemas, tables, and views. Configured primary, unique, and foreign keys and database constraints. Created and used indexes to speed searches and queries and optimize table joins.Developed Visual Basic code to seamlessly integrate various Microsoft applications. Created modules to export data to Excel, populate automated reporting tools, and e-mail results to distribution lists, greatly reducing the need for manually-generated reports.Improved kpi metric accuracy and OEE visibility by automating routine tasks. Dramatically improved data analysis and reporting capabilities.Implemented data translation tables to promote common nomenclature and standard data hierarchy.

Developed award-winning Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) for food processing plants, dairies and cold storage customers throughout the United States.Created interactive operational graphics, navigation, and security login screens using Wonderware InTouch.Developed real-time trend analysis graphs to illustrate current operating conditions, temperatures, pressures, vessel liquid levels, and alarm statuses.Generated energy management data and runtime reports, enabling customers to identify opportunities to conserve energy and improve efficiency.

Developed relational database solutions and improved existing methods of gathering and reporting information for volume and revenue forecasting, capacity planning, floorspace and headcount studies, capital expense projections, and key organizational metrics tracking. Served as a liaison to the IT organization and consistently delivered scalable IT solutions to customers while minimizing cost and maximizing functionality.Led the effort to convert a rudimentary data collection process for tracking manufacturing metrics into an organized, scalable Oracle database. Expanded the scope of the project to include multiple competencies, organizations, and over 500 users at 15 locations in the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. Managed IT projects and directed EDS and HP programmers in the United States, Mexico, and India. Defined requirements and deliverables, established milestones, and documented required tasks. Conducted gate reviews and monitored third-party vendor progress to ensure that tasks were successfully completed on schedule and within budget.Wrote and presented Business Design Documents to obtain approval for system upgrades and enhancements. Performed user acceptance testing, verified that technical requirements were met, and monitored progress. Reported IT project details to senior management.Managed and improved reporting and presentation methods. Developed web-based scorecards to summarize global metrics data by manufacturing sites, regions, business and product lines.Created and managed a Sharepoint site to increase organizational effectiveness and facilitate information sharing.Concentrated efforts on automating time-consuming data acquisition, analysis, and reporting tasks to minimize user intervention, ensure accurate and consistent results, and improve productivity.Queried, manipulated, and analyzed diverse types of data to provide business intelligence and support corporate decision-making.

Recruited and promoted for in-depth understanding of relational database structure and design principles and the proven ability to apply IT methodologies in providing technical business solutions.Challenged with developing and implementing an incident report information system while managing and coaching a team of 16 employees and suppliers.Guided the team through a comprehensive analysis of business processes and needs, defined system scope, evaluated diverse technologies, and made recommendations to senior management regarding client-server workflow applications.Collaborated in monthly meetings with representatives from all company divisions to define and establish global IT strategy, standardize and document common business policies and procedures, and formulate plans to use common IT systems and analysis tools.Authored technical documentation and database training materials. Worked with interpreters to translate training materials into foreign languages.Prepared and managed the Information Technology budget for the entire Customer Satisfaction / Quality organization. Continually monitored expenses to avoid overspending on IT services. Provided monthly budget reports and forecasts.Served as an extended member of the Chief Information Officer’s staff and represented the Quality organization in executive IT staff meetings.

Hired to design, deploy, and manage a new database system for tracking customer return data and returned unit analyses. Responsible for entire project from needs assessment and procurement of equipment to testing, debugging, system deployment, and user training. Evaluated hardware and software options and recommended best overall IT solution.Wrote purchase orders and procured network server, backup drive, and client hardware.Worked with skilled trades employees to install equipment and assisted in establishing network and communication links between sites and departments.Created a database training manual and instructed users at multiple locations on methods of entering data and generating reports.Used SAS (Statistical Analysis Software) to revise and improve existing warranty reports.