IMLP Rotation Close-Up: Software Testing

During college many of us have probably had projects where we needed to run and document tests on an application we had created. Or we had to memorize different types of software testing to answer multiple-choice questions on an exam. In my current IMLP rotation, however, I have had the opportunity to lead testing for a new interface system, and begun to understand why this part of the software development life-cycle is so important.

The Project

The project I am working on is an interface between Oracle ERP and Proficy PMCS (Production Monitoring and Control System). The ERP keeps track of inventory and materials as well as production scheduling, while the PMCS communicates with the machines in the factory and tells them what to produce and when. Messages telling the PMCS what to produce need to come from

ERP, and PMCS needs to send information on what has been produced in return. Because the two systems can’t talk directly to each other, an interface has been created using Oracle Fusion Middleware. This interface runs transformations and basically “translates” the messages into the correct format for each system. The stakeholders for this project included the manufacturing team that runs the shop floor, as well as the supply chain team who schedules production and tracks materials. With such a direct impact on the manufacturing process, this project has played an essential in the start-up of the new Battery plant here in Schenectady.

Both the ERP and the PMCS had to make some changes in order to be able to send and receive messages from the interface. This meant that there were many places in the system that needed to be tested and a lot of possible failure modes. All three systems were tested individually first, and then we were ready for my part of the project: System Integration Testing (SIT) and User Acceptance Testing (UAT).

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4th Rotation - Finish Strong

Last Monday, I started my fourth and final rotation of IMLP. Last Wednesday, I received my GE iPhone.

Yes, you read that right. For the next six months, I'll be working in GE Aviation Services in an area known as Intelligent Services. This team looks for innovative ways to provide value to customers of our Aviation Services business - for instance, a shipping company with an engine being repaired in one of our service shops, or an airline needing to purchase spare parts.

The main product that we're looking to offer in this area is known as myEngines - a suite of mobile applications that can be accessed around the globe to receive and transmit Services data in real-time.

Along with several of GE Healthcare's initiatives and GE Energy's SmartGrid program, myEngines is part of a broader GE effort to move IT out of the back office (supporting our internal business processes) and offer IT products directly to our customers.

The myEngines suite will include lots of different application modules, each to provide certain information or functionality to our customers. My responsibility for this rotation will be to design and implement a strategy regarding user preferences and administration that will stretch across all the different modules. Another major responsibility will be to manage the development of a native Blackberry application for myEngines. This will be a great opportunity for me to really own an important project for this high-visibility, cutting edge area of our business!

Rotation Spotlight: Matthew Bellezza

Many wonder what it is we IMLP's actually do on program each rotation. And in light of that curiosity, I'd like to share some top secret information regarding what I currently do at NBCU for my first rotation.

Well, its not actually top secret per se, however what I am working on does deal with security, which is a very important part of every business. I'm not actually working on one project either - technically I have four, all of which fall within the Information Security and Governance category.

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Rotation Spotlight: Maurice Williams

For my first rotation, I've been placed in the role of Test Lead for a long-term project within GE Capital known as Project RedTail.

This project is an IT effort which aims to consolidate processes where possible and increase automation where appropriate in our Collateral COE located in MT.

But my piece of the pie revolves specifically around the testing efforts that will be executed during each release.

So far, the project has had 1 (out of 7 that are scheduled) releases. During the first release they realized that every group involved in this project does testing a little different, which made generating reports difficult since each group reported against different items at different points of the testing stage. This is where I come in.

My function is to analyze the testing processes currently being followed by each group during the second release, capture how each one does it and identify areas of improvement. Then from there, develop a standard testing procedure that will be used across groups for the other five releases and allow better, more reliable report generation.

While drawing process maps and reading story boards may not sound like the most thrilling of rotations, knowing that what I am doing will be used for at least the next 2 years is a great feeling. Not to mention all the awesome people I've met during interviews to gain more insight about the current testing processes - it has definitely gotten me a lot of exposure, which is important as a new member to any company.

Rotation Spotlight: Randy Askin

For my current rotation, I am working as a project manager in Aviation Systems, a sub-business of GE Aviation. While GE used to produce mainly aircraft engines, the acquisition of Systems allows us to offer products that go outside of the engine also, like avionics and flight control systems.

My assignment for the next six months is to implement a product data management tool for one of our sites on the east coast. A PDM tool allows the business to track the entire development lifecycle of its products, organize part drawings, track revisions and changes, and help keep our engineers [mostly] sane.

At the same time that I'm preparing to roll out this software to a new site, we're also upgrading the version of this PDM tool at our other sites that are already using it. I'm helping with that effort as well, especially with testing and training, to make sure that the upgrade is successful before my implementation is supposed to happen.

One of my favorite parts of this rotation so far has been the opportunity to travel. While I'm normally stationed at Aviation headquarters in Cincinnati, I spent the first two weeks of my rotation in Michigan meeting the rest of my team, and I just booked a trip to New Jersey for the first week of November. Definitely racking up the frequent flyer miles!