Rockwell Collins PS, Engineer of the Year 2001
- 1. EOY Candidate: Daniel Lowe Sponsors: Configurable GUI Team John Carattini, Steve Clayton, Jack Sherbetdjian, Caryn Knapp LEAN
- 2. EOY Candidate: Daniel Lowe Background BS in Computer Engineering from California Polytechnic University. Has served 4.5 years with RCPS and is currently a Sr. Software Engineer in the Systems Architecture and Systems Software Groups. Prior Accomplishments at RCPS Boeing Standard Interface recovery: PESC team lead – Implemented interfacing technology for the Boeing Standard Interface effort that was in schedule and performance trouble. The end code was free from field bugs. Resolved multi year old problem of conflicting software GUI display fonts. Repaired initialization problems that existed in the core setup. Designed TES Orchestrated Load software which standardized and significantly improved the TES setup software. Resolved numerous Airline field problems including restoring confidence with China Air – the code was restructured in three months to eliminate inherent faulty architecture. Current Assignments eTES Command and Control Software Lead Architect Engineer – Currently laying out the migration and implementation plan for multi-phased bottoms up redesign of the system control software to a modular object oriented design.
- 3. EOY Candidate: Daniel Lowe Individual accomplishments Outstanding technical performance : Chief visionary and lead designer of an integrated database configurable Primary Access Terminal (PAT) Graphical User Interface (GUI). In addition to the successful GUI design, Daniel simultaneously designed and built the associated configuration tool. Together, these two designs have provided a major business paradigm change to increase RCPS’s competitiveness. In less than 1 year the Configurable GUI has become the company standard product offering and represents thousands of hours savings to each program relative to prior PAT GUI efforts (see summary at end of package). Outstanding technical leadership : Both development efforts were completed without IR&D funding using a part time student and a full time programmer only. Extraordinary circumstances : Since the effort was program initiated, Daniel managed to demonstrate capacity to management by generating a prototype in 2 weeks for PDR (Included early configuration tool) followed by a PAT Functional Prototype for Demo On IFE Test Rack within 3 weeks, then completing a 4 Month Full Scale Development for customer final Testing (including full configuration tool). Contribution to engineering profession : Created the tool and process that eliminates the need for software programming to activate customer functional desires within the PAT GUI.
- 4. EOY Candidate: Daniel Lowe Contributions to the company Contributions to Rockwell products and programs : Without IR&D funding, Daniel’s airline project-initiated effort is now the company’s standard product offering. Within 1 year of inception, the GUI is now used in 11 airline programs and continues to gain industry acceptance even with prior, “difficult” customers. (see list of airline projects and company savings at end of this package) Leadership role in development teams: Daniel is now the recognized technical leader for the primary command and control software backbone. His papers, analysis and technical leadership are shaping the eTES software architectural path to a modular, more streamlined and maintenance oriented design than TES. Technical reputation, quality, productivity: Has been recognized by the Qantas customer and nearly single handedly convinced Qantas to abandon request to develop a stand alone custom GUI thereby eliminating project multi development risks. The customer informed the Qantas team leadership of their confidence in Daniel’s GUI flexibility approach. With over seven months of field operation in numerous airlines there have been no reported flight failures (this represents a new quality baseline for RCPS). Customer presentations are now augmented by a real-time demonstration of the GUI in action (What You See Is What You Get) – This eliminates customer requirement capture ambiguity! In addition RCPS’s service manuals benefit from commonality.
- 5. EOY Candidate: Daniel Lowe Other technical and professional accomplishments Configurable GUI Customer Utilization Guide Primary Access Terminal Architecture Guide eTES High Speed Download Wight Paper Technical Lead & Mentor to GUI Team Recent Component Object Model Engineering Certification Systems Engineering Requirements Capture Training Personal Ham Radio Operator – FCC License Private Pilot’s License NAUI Scuba Diving License
- 6. EOY Candidate: Daniel Lowe AIRLINE PROGRAM BENEFITS Aer Lingus- Over 7 Months in field No Problems Reported! GECAS Kenya - (Shared CPG development cost & reduced planned cost by ~ 40%) SAS (Reduced Cost by ~ 1000 Hrs) JMC (Reduced Cost by ~ 1300 Hrs) GECAS RAM (Reduced Cost & Test Time by > 2500 Hrs & 5 weeks less of testing) Qantas 747 (Reduced rework Cost Using Common BAS Module) Airtours - Abandoned custom GUI thereby eliminating need to Work >50 PTRs & Risk of New PTRs Qantas A330 - Abandoned Request for Custom GUI & Adopted CPG after demo Lufthansa - Eliminated Risk of Custom GUI. TAM - Eliminated Risk of Custom GUI. Hawaiian Airlines - Bid reduced as Follows - Software Design From 2500 to 470 hrs - System Test From 5300 to 2400 hrs TOTAL New BID Reduction of 4900 Hrs !