| DATE OF BIRTH | MARITAL STATUS |
| Married - no children | |
| ADDRESS | TELEPHONE NUMBER |
| 14 Cow Lane | +44 (0)1929 551062 |
| Wareham | +44 (07710) 220998 (Mobile) |
| Dorset BH20 4RD |
| E-MAIL ADDRESS | apc@precisionproductions.com |
| WEBSITE | www.precisionproductions.com |
| 11 'O' Levels | English Language, English Literature, French, German, Latin |
| History, Geography, Mathematics, Additional Maths, Physics, Chemistry. | |
| 3 'A' Levels | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry. |
BSc Paper Science
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.
Graduated 1975.
Fellow of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
French - fairly fluent, spoken & written.
Some knowledge of Dutch and German.
Development of a software product that creates custom database reports as Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
Development of a set of database products based on the principles of the Associative Model of Data.
A great deal of Web-based development using PHP, HTML and MySQL often linked to desktop applications written in Delphi.
I have not been contracting for over two years but I will consider any suitable offers. These days I make my living mainly by developing systems and providing consultancy and support for local companies.
A Fellow of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers since 1991, I have more than 25 years experience in the computer industry and a wide range of skills.
While principally an Analyst and Designer, I also develop business applications.
Systems Analysis as a discipline was developed some years before modern computers and I find that the techniques are applicable in fields other than Information Technology.
I consider it to be vital that business software solutions are driven by business requirements rather than being provided solely by, and largely for the convenience of, IT departments. To this end I have developed some unusual approaches to software development. This included a fully distributed point-of-sale system based on a peer-to-peer network as long ago as the mid-1980's. This included features such as user interfaces linked to file server processes through a messaging system (using C-DOS with DR‑NET). It was extremely fast, even with early PC technology.
Since October 1980 I have mostly worked as a freelance consultant in many different types of business. These have included Civil Engineering, Accountants, Computer Manufacturers, Software Houses, Public Administration and Publishing. While concentrating on designing and building business applications, I have acquired an extremely unusual range of skills from Project Management to Systems Programming. I have been actively involved in all phases of system development from feasibility study to successful implementation, on time and within budget.
I have been solely responsible for the implementation of econometric data analysis in a major automotive industry residual values forecasting system. More recently I have had experience of highly successful and "not so successful" approaches to business migration projects. Any attempt to directly move data from legacy systems to new packages based on RDBMS's is potentially much more dangerous than it would at first appear...
Without following any particular specialisation, my main skills can be summarised as follows -
On my home PC I mainly use Delphi v 7.0 Enterprise edition with assorted databases including Interbase, DBase, Access, DB2 and MySQL. I also make use of a variety of publishing and graphics packages to build basic web-sites and fully fledged internet-based systems.
These include sailing, golf, cooking, music, digital photography (see my gallery at www.ppltd.plus.com/apc/gallery), current affairs and reading. I have taken the Royal Yachting Association's Day Skipper theory and VHF courses. I intend to follow these with further theory and practical courses with the aim of gaining a Yachtmaster qualification.
Normally at least £40 per hour for UK (But negotiable depending on role and location).
For current availability please contact me by e-mail
| July 2002 on | Running Precision Productions Ltd |
| Various projects, mostly for local businesses. I have established my own company as a local service, web application and software product provider. | |
| Software | Borland Delphi (various), PHP, HTML, Windows 9x to XP, Linux and various graphics packages. |
| Hardware | Desktop PC's and servers including a Linux server and dedicated firewall |
| May 2001 - July 2002 |
Personal Pension Management Ltd. Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK |
| CONTRACT | Analysis, support, redevelopment, maintenance and new development for a pension administration system. This was not just a technical role, but dealt with regulatory and data protection issues as well. Also provided assistance in data mapping/integrity/cleaning for migration to a new set of systems. |
| Software | Delphi 5 Enterprise, Windows NT 4/2000. |
| Hardware | Desktop PC's and NT servers |
|
November 2000 - January 2001 |
The McMillan Partnership Ltd. Wokingham, Berkshire, UK |
| CONTRACT | Troubleshooting, reverse engineering and reworking a web-based system that totally lacked documentation and version control. |
| Software | Delphi 4 Client/Server, Apache server, MS Frontpage, Interbase 5 & 6, Windows NT 4. |
| Hardware | PC's. |
| July 2000 - October 2000 |
Siemens Transportation Systems Ltd. Poole, Dorset, UK |
| CONTRACT | Development of a Windows 9x/NT/2000 compatible product to replace
an old DOS/Windows 3.1 compatible product. The software emulates a local
diagnostic facility used to check for faults in a cellular radio system. It
allows an engineer to dial into a management processor and run a series of
test without having to physically go to the site. There was also a requirement for copy protection and user level security so this was incorporated into the software package |
| Software | Delphi 5 Professional, Windows 95 & 98. |
| Hardware | PC's and specialised communications hardware. |
| December 1999 -May 2000 |
1Sea Ltd. Wandsworth, London, UK |
| CONTRACT | Troubleshooting and consultancy & some redevelopment for an e‑commerce
venture based on Delphi 5 using SMTP/POP3 e-mail and various COM servers.
Taking a component based approach to overcome some earlier
design/implementation problems. This included an SQL script creation module
that captured local database updates, generating SQL statements from table
updates. The SQL was then stored as a script that could be used directly to
update remote databases. This replaced a complex message handling system that
proved to be too unwieldy for the target environment. It was implemented
without ANY change to the existing code! Design and development of an innovative (basically keyless) data encryption system to circumvent possible legal problems with the use of RSA and/or DES encryption. Ships may have to visit Cuba, Iraq, Iran etc. where the USA prohibits the export of these specific technologies. The shipping lines still need a way of ensuring the confidentiality of their legitimate communications so I provided one! |
| Software | Delphi 5 Enterprise, Windows NT4 & 98. |
|
March 1999 - July 1999 |
Hewlett Packard Ltd. Bristol, UK |
| CONTRACT | Business Migration Consultant for a major international systems migration project. Providing 2nd level support and consultancy for migration of Order Management systems from legacy platforms to SAP R/3. |
| Software | SAP R/3 version 4, Lotus Notes, Windows NT4. |
| Hardware | PC's (including NT servers). |
| August 1998 - December 1998 |
Vodafone Distribution Ltd. Newbury, UK |
| CONTRACT | Data Analyst for a mobile phone billing conversion project. Defined the methods for extracting data from legacy systems into a set of common formats for import into one new system (Amdocs GEMINI). Became responsible for conversion software development and hardware requirements for the current and future conversions. |
| Software | Windows NT4, Delphi 3 client/server, Oracle |
| Hardware | PC's (including NT servers) Unix and Citrix servers. |
| December 1996 - June 1998 |
Glass's Information Services Ltd. eybridge, UK |
| CONTRACT | Formed part of a three-man team developing AutoProvision, a residual values forecasting product for the motor industry using Borland Delphi.The time-scales were extremely tight.We carried out all of the business, systems and data analysis, technical specification, design, implementation and documentation. I was responsible for the implementation of econometric forecasting within the product. Contract extended to re-develop the valuation and guide publishing system. This included OLE 2 automation (Word and Excel) and redesigning the systems architecture. Used Delphi 4 Client/Server during the following year (to June 1999) as part of a support contract. |
| Software | Windows 95, Delphi (1, 2 and 3 client/server), Paradox for Windows, ReportSmith, Database Desktop, Oracle 7.3 and TeeChart Pro. |
| Hardware | PC's (including NT servers) and HP Unix systems. |
| June 1996 - November 1996 |
Telxon (UK) Ltd. Poole, UK |
| CONTRACT | Consultancy, troubleshooting, maintenance and development of
software for use by Telxon customers. The company manufactured handheld terminals. These may be connected
via a radio network to a PC or used as standalone units, which are periodically
connected via a docking station to a host computer. The software department designed and produced software for both
terminals and host computers (usually Windows PC's). The company operated to BS 5750 quality standards. |
| Software | Delphi 1 & 2, ReportSmith, Microsoft Visual C++, Paradox for DOS |
| Hardware | Windows PC's and Telxon handheld terminals |
| January 1996 - February 1996 |
Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories Europe Ltd. Bracknell, UK |
| CONTRACT | Troubleshooting problems with reports based on Borland ReportSmith version 2.51 with Oracle v.7 in a client/server architecture. Deriving specifications from incomplete and/or incorrect documentation. Developing new reports. Dealing directly with customers at all levels. |
| Software | Windows 3ሃ, 95 and NT (server), ReportSmith, Oracle vǓ, Borland Delphi, Interbase and Database Desktop. |
| Hardware | PC's, Sun Sparc 2 & 20 Connected to Nortel Meridien PABX. |
| September 1994 - January 1995 |
Cray Systems Ltd, Brussels, Belgium. |
| CONTRACT | Quality Assurance for a system developed for use by the European Commission and
Customs Authorities within the European Union. The aim of the system was to
improve the collection of customs fraud intelligence and the exchange of
information between the Commission and Member States. Unfortunately I developed a serious eye infection which prevented me from completing the contract. Eventually I made a full recovery. |
| Software | UNIX, MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, Word for Windows 2.0, Microsoft Test, Paradox 5 for Windows. |
| Hardware | Olivetti & Dell UNIX systems and PC's. |
| October 1993 - September 1994 |
Holiday |
| A planned break originally intended to be for one year, to relax, travel and improve my golf handicap... |
| June 1990 - October 1993 |
European Commission, DG XXI (Customs and Indirect Taxation), Brussels |
| CONTRACT | Maintenance and further development of a UNIX based system, which forms the interface between the European Community standard Tariff database and systems operated by the Member States.The Tariff database resided on a Siemens mainframe and updates were transmitted to PC's in the Member States via an X25/X28 network using Kermit. The data formats were based on EDIFACT standards. Introduced new development standards and investigated development methods including Object Oriented design and programming. Among the tools used were a CASE system called Excelerator (which was later replaced by ORACLE*CASE tools) and the PMW project management system. The main programming language was 'C' on both UNIX and PC systems, also some Clipper. In addition, it involved consultancy for other projects, especially those, which required the use of multi‑lingual text, general support for users. A new system was being set-up, based on an ORACLE database using SQL*Plus and PRO*C as the primary development tools. I was involved in defining the architecture to support the new system. |
| Software | UNIX, MS-DOS, Windows 3.0 & 3.1, 'C', Borland C++, Q‑Office Word for Windows 2.0, Excel, Excelerator, PMW, Kermit. |
| Hardware | Olivetti 3B2, NCR Tower and PC's. |
| January 1990 - May 1990 |
Tecnodata Italia Srl, Frascati, Italy and Brussels, Belgium |
| CONTRACT | Based in Frascati near Rome for just over a month as acting Project Manager for all in-house development
work. This involved liaison with the European Space Research Institute (ESRIN) and overall control of two
projects. These were in the field of satellite image processing.
Tecnodata were developing some catalogues for existing data acquired from the Nimbus
satellites and some automatic processing systems for the Advanced Very High
Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). In addition liaised with other members of a consortium for the development of a Data Distribution Network Management Control system on behalf of the European Space Agency. Subsequently based in Brussels as the technical consultant for a study carried out on behalf of the European Commission. This involved an analysis of the data requirements, possible sources and security of data for the new Mergers and Acquisitions Task Force in the Competition Directorate, DG IV. |
| Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium | October 1989 to December 1989 |
| I.C.L. Retail Systems, Maidenhead, UK. | May 1989 to October 1989 |
| I.C.L. (Belgium), Brussels. | November 1987 to April 1989 |
| Prodata (Business Systems), Brussels. | November 1986 to July 1987 |
| HotelMaster Ltd, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middx. | June 1986 to November 1986 |
| Eurotest Ltd, Marlow Bottom, Bucks. | May 1986 to June 1986 |
| Deloitte, Haskins and Sells, London EC4. | February 1986 to April 1986 |
| Working from home on a point-of-sale system. | December 1985 to February 1986 |
| Imperial Brewing & Leisure Ltd., London NW3. | October 1985 to December 1985 |
| Scanvest Ring (UK.) Ltd., Guildford. | August 1985 to October 1985 |
| Sysgo Business Systems Ltd., Sunbury-on-Thames. | November 1984 to July 1985 |
| I.C.L. Retail Business Centre, Bracknell. | June 1983 to November 1984 |
| Mid-Southern Water Company, Frimley Green. | November 1982 to May 1983 |
| CMT Industrial Supplies (UK) Ltd., Dudley. | September 1982 to October 1982 |
| Costain (West Africa) Ltd., Lagos, Nigeria. | March 1981 to July 1982 |
| Richard Costain Ltd., Blackfriars Road, London | October 1980 to March 1981 |
| M H Whittaker & Son Ltd., Wetherby. | March 1979 to July 1980 |
| Seddon Atkinson Vehicles Ltd., Oldham. | July 1978 to March 1979 |
| Burroughs Machines Ltd., Manchester. | September 1977 to July 1978 |
| D Anderson & Son Ltd., Manchester. | Feb. 1976 to September 1977 |