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Technical Advancement Case Studies
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Automated Scheduling and Billing
Company A provides an extensive array of non-mechanical
services for incoming flights worldwide to prepare them for the next
take-off. The challenge for Technical Advancement was to transform what was essentially a
paper-and-pencil, fax-intensive scheduling and billing system to a highly
automated, efficient operation. Technical Advancement designed and implemented a scalable
service planning and tracking system that processes the flight schedules
in advance for the airlines and airports served by the company;
distributes the schedules and required services to the airlines at each of
the airports; and automatically generates billing information for the
services performed on each plane for each flight.
Standard services are already programmed in the system, eliminating the
need to look up charges. Capability also exists for special cases or
schedule/service changes. This system allows the company to efficiently
plan inventory requirements, deploy personnel, log service completion and
accurately bill clients.
Three main modules make up the project:
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Data Entry - The data includes the flight
schedule, type of plane and other pertinent information regarding
each of the flights that the company will service, and the
services that each will require. |
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Program Component - Flight schedule and
service requirement data is distributed to each airport, where
crew chiefs can schedule the deployment of personnel that will
perform the services, and enter this information into the system.
Data on all flights is available to all company outposts, and can
also be accessed via the Internet. Password protection can be set
for various levels of security. |
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Database - The database is the backbone of
project, and is structured to keep a complete history of entries
and changes. |
The system is easily expandable to accommodate additional airports,
airlines and services. The application is written in Microsoft® Visual
Basic® and implemented globally within a Citrix® environment.
Internet-Based Research
Corporations require a high degree of security when dealing with sensitive
issues such as financial and organizational matters. Company B specializes
in providing comprehensive investigative services ranging from individual
background checks to corporate compliance programs.
An international concern with offices in the US and Europe, the company
needed an advanced research tool to scour the Internet for information on
a person or issue under investigation. Technical Advancement designed and implemented a
high-powered information-gathering system, which employs a wide variety of
Internet-based search engines to amass information on a subject, and
automatically tailors search strategies to perform more focused searches.
The resulting data is stored locally and compiled into password-protected
search reports.
This system has significantly cut Internet search time, and has eliminated
the need to manually create a search report based on results gathered from
each individual Internet resource. The application is written in Microsoft®
Visual Basic®.
Payroll Accounting
An international not-for-profit organization providing a wide range of
services for the disabled found it necessary to upgrade its database to
make it more easily accessible to a large accounting group. Technical Advancement
converted its existing Microsoft® Access-based payroll accounting system
to Microsoft® SQL Server to enable use by the 53-member accounting
department. Using payroll information provided by ADP, this application
allowed managers to produce customized reports and automatically update
the general ledger that is housed on an AS400. This system was implemented
in Microsoft® SQL Server.
Job Costing
Technical Advancement designed and implemented a job-costing system that allows the user
to automatically generate construction estimates. The user enters basic
client information (name, address, etc.), specifies items necessary to
fulfill the job along with their costs, including insurance required by
the job. The system then produces a Word document that can be presented to
the client. The system was implemented using Microsoft® Visual Basic®
for the user interface, and Microsoft® SQL Server for the back-end
database. |
Technical Advancement, Inc. was established in 1982
by Lawrence J. Wiener to help clients improve business performance through
the application of technology. Our mission is to partner with clients
and objectively evaluate the alternatives for applying technology solutions
to business problems and opportunities.
Technical Advancement, Inc. is a full service
technology firm that provides consulting and networking services centered
on Microsoft products.
Technical Advancement, Inc. offers customers a unique blend of technical
and business expertise and the proven ability to design and deploy a wide
range of superior business solutions. With over 21 years of experience,
Technical Advancement, Inc. has the skills and experience necessary to
help you solve your business technology challenges.
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