Frank Vipond
Business and IT Expertise - Summary of Engagements

Please contact me via email or my main company web site www.prosperoassociates.com.

 

Personal Summary | Business and IT Expertise | Executor | Interests

IT Consulting | Logistics | Finance | Internet | Engagements

Note: this emphasises the technical IT aspects rather than the management or functional aspects.

  • Developed and marketed the PSPSOCK ISeries sockets framework. Expert at sockets application development - See my Sockets Overview for ISeries IT managers
  • Owner of several valuable domain names. Ongoing tracking of 'domain monetisation' options.
  • Implemented inbound/outbound SMS service on both Windows and Linux using GSM modem and 3rd-party Java package.
  • Developed data transfer solution from mobile phone (Symbian OS) to Windows host using Java midlets.
  • Technical lead at international life assurance company for two projects on ISeries: 1) rebranding of main trading company to fit in with new international group identity, 2) ground-up rework of accounting and actuarial systems to meet new stricter financial reporting standards and deadlines.
  • Implementation of new ISeries direct on the Internet. Full range of IP services (HTTP, FTP, SMTP, IMAP). Development of Java-based (J2EE) applications for 6 businesses. Configuration of IBM HTTP Server and Websphere to support these Java applications using JDBC, servlets, EJBs, SSL, real-time credit card processing.
  • Migration of entire ISeries configuration above to RedHat Linux running on Dell server - using Apache HTTP server, Tomcat servlet engine, Jakarta Struts and PostgreSQL database.
  • Developed Internet-based web site monitoring service. TCP/IP sockets programming to support HTTP/HTTPS protocols. This Web site is very authoritative - Number 1 in most major search engines for HTTP error conditions.
  • Y2K project technical lead. Development of 'time travel' utilities to identify and age dates in large ISeries application databases to verify functionality over the Year 2000 boundary.
  • Senior consultant for new Internet-based global shipment tracking system for use by customers and staff of international freight-forwarder. Design and implementation of real-time solution based on Visual Basic and Web Server front-ends, local communication via TCP/IP sockets and ISeries server-series data repository. CGI programming in C++. Full project management responsibility.
  • Consultant for new supplier-focused EDI system at large consumer goods retailer. EDI software evaluation, selection and implementation. Support to business users and liaison with suppliers. Managed implementation projects with various suppliers.
  • Development and marketing of specialised JavaBean (certified 100% pure Java) for use in financial sector.
  • Senior analyst at international life assurance company. Support and clean-up of older systems. Development of new internal administrative systems (diary/post management) on ISeries using Advantage 2E (Cool:2E, Synon/2).
  • Senior technical analyst at large retailer (800 store, each 40,000 stock items). Advice to 15-person project team implementing and customising package solutions for logistics systems on new ISeries machines. Principal responsibility: security, integrity, recoverability and performance of ISeries modules and links to in-store systems. Joint project management responsibility.
  • Development of linkable C++ object libraries providing low-level emulation of ISeries RPG functions. Parallel development of linkage to proprietary server on AS/400 via APPC.
  • Systems development manager for fresh foods distribution company with 20 networked ISeries at 8 locations. Supervision of development efforts by 12 staff to rewrite core transaction systems from S/36 to native ISeries using Advantage 2E.
  • Senior Advantage 2E consultant to Canadian software house implementing new large securities trading back-office system on AS/400. Design of physical and logical database to replace two existing systems running on System/38 and IBM mainframe. Design and implementation of cross-platform data dictionary and software tools to support on-going systems integration requirements.
  • Development and marketing in S.E. Asia and Europe of new complete ISeries (Advantage 2E) property management application. Primary responsibility for on-going system development and documentation. Negotiation of joint marketing arrangements with local software houses.
  • Senior consultant to project team implementing Kapiti system at large Indonesian state bank on IBM 4300 in Jakarta. Project part of comprehensive consulting assignment by Booz Allen Hamilton.
  • Co-ordination of installation of System/38 and implementation of Kapiti banking system for new bank. Principal responsibility for conversion of one-half of the banks accounts and staff to new centralised system.
  • Review of compatibility of systems at two subsidiaries for management of holding company. Companies involved in manufacture and distribution of aluminium and plastic household wares and building industry supplies.
  • Systems planning exercise for distributor of automotive spares and accessories. Review of logistics and financial systems requirements and issue of a tender document. Proposal evaluation and contract negotiation.
  • Requirements review and detailed system design for life assurance company in government sector. System scope: Policy and policy-holder record maintenance; premium, bonus and loan accounting.
  • Implementation of large general ledger package to provide head office consolidated financial analysis and reporting for quoted company operating in chemicals and explosives industries.
  • Systems planning exercise for a distributor of pharmaceutical and allied products. Review of logistics and marketing information requirements. Evaluation of alternative data processing strategies and issue of a tender document. Proposal evaluation and vendor selection.
 

IBM rebranded the AS/400 - some users called it AS400 - to ISeries several years ago. All 3 names - ISeries, AS/400, AS400 - refer to exactly the same system.

Computer Associates now owns the development platform Advantage 2E, that at one time was branded Cool:2E and started life as Synon/2. All these names refer to exactly the same CASE tool.


Isle of Man computer consultant; Isle of Man IT consultant; Isle of Man computer advice; Isle of Man computer expert.