Jessica Narayan Kylee Lockwood Katherine Mears Jorden Acfalle Gary Eppinger March 22, 2020 University of San Diego
Interviewers: Requirements Team
Participants: Contract Electronics Manufacturer (CEM) Date: March 22, 2020 (1100 CST)
Location: University of San Diego
Q1. What will be your functional role in this new Tracker Analytics System?
CM: I manage and oversee the entire tracker analytics system to ensure that our products are delivered on time.
Q2. What are the system requirements to run the software?
CM: Our tracker analytics software can be installed on Windows OS and requires at least 3GB of free hard disk space for installation with a broadband or high speed internet connection (UPS, 2020).
Q3. Is the manufacturer working off of a Cloud based system and if so what company’s infrastructure is being utilized and how is it being defended?
CM: We use AWS Cloud security features including encryption, authentication, and secure connections for better data protection (Amazon, 2020). Additionally, only certain permissions are allowed regarding high level data.
Q4. How are the different sites communicating with each other to transmit when a shipment has reached a certain location for tracking purposes?
CM: When a shipment is scanned, a geo-location code is sent to the tracker software and a GPS monitoring system (GPS, 2020) tracks the package (USPS, 2020). All sites communicate through secure cloud communications with necessary security controls in place, and VPN services (USPS, 2020).
Q5. Is your tracking analytics system easy to use or is there a training program involved?
CM: Training will be required to make sure that all personnel use the system as intended. However, it is user-friendly.
Q6. Can your system pinpoint a red flag event in the supply chain geographically?
CM: Yes, it can. Frequent audits and continuous monitoring detect possible red flags. The system has special analytics features that track improper scans and wrong deliveries (USPS, 2020).
Q7. What are the redundancies set up for any natural disasters or power outages that could affect tracking or production, how much risk is acceptable for the company and by default its
if one server goes down, service will continue. Routine backups are performed to ensure complete data backups are available at all times. In our opinion, risk in the form of unavailable data to our customers is not acceptable.
Q8. Where are the distribution channels geographically located at the moment?
CM: Our main distribution centers are currently located in Northern California and Southern California.
Q9. Was the graphical user interface developed to work with multiple operating systems, if not is that a deficiency or was it done intentionally for security purposes?
CM: The graphical interface was made to work with Windows operating systems. The program was developed intentionally for this reason, because our main customer base runs mostly PCs with Windows operating systems.
Q10. Can your software provide 3-D landscape simulation of the various supply locations? CM: Yes, it can. GPS (GPS, 2020) is directly linked to simulate an interactive World topographical map.
Interviewers: Requirements Team Participants: Government End-User Date: March 22, 2020 (1300 CST) Location: University of San Diego
Q1. How dependent are you on one supplier?
GEU: We contract with multiple suppliers to ensure that we always maintain availability of products. We have multiple accounts and our sales team works strongly on finding prospects to help on a daily basis.
Q2. How much does manufacturing plant downtime cost your organization?
GEU: Our tracker analytic program is still functioning even during downtime, producing analytics information, geo-location status of any product in transmission, and time frames. In many ways, this information is critical to manufacturers that are down. Our product is used by multiple manufacturers and is operating constantly.
Q3. In your industry, how volatile is consumer demand?
GEU: Manufacturers and shipping companies need our product. There is always a need. Unless the planet somehow comes to a standstill. The goal is to reach large distribution
centers and partner with them for their business needs. In this way, consumer volatility is low (Pay, 2017).
Q4. What criteria is your company looking for in tracking analytics software?
GEU: Timely and accurate geo-location information. A way to keep track of changing conditions and information. Analytic information.
Q5. What does your company base its contract criteria on?
GEU: Our organization bases its criteria on the cost and quality of the product. Q6. Is the system user friendly and easy to interpret?
GEU: Yes, it's user friendly and easy to interpret for most users. Training programs are available for anyone needing help.
Q7. Are there metrics or data that are not included in the interface that other analytics software offers?
GEU: The current interface provides metrics and data that adheres to our organization’s standards. Other software may provide data that may be associated with other manufactures. Q8. What environmental risks may impact your manufacturing plant?
GEU: We have only encountered processes being interrupted a couple of times in the last 6 months.
Q10. Is there specific training employees are required to have before they can work with the systems, etc: security training, equipment specific training?
GEU: Yes, we do require our employees to enroll in training courses which involve various modules. Training is required before they can operate the system. Annual training is also required.
References
GPS. (2020). The Global Positioning System. Retrieved March 24, 2020, from https://www.gps.gov/ UPS. (2020). What are the minimum requirements to install WorldShip on my computer? Retrieved March 24, 2020, from
https://www.ups.com/lu/en/help-center/sri/worldship-installation-requirements.page
USPS. (2020). Package Delivery Scanning. Retrieved March 24, 2020, from https://www.uspsoig.gov/document/package-delivery-scanning-―-nationwide
Amazon. (2020). AWS Security. Retrieved March 26, 2020, from https://aws.amazon.com/security/ Pay, R. (2017, July 26). Managing Volatile Demand (and Increasing Profit). Retrieved March 24, 2020, from https://www.rpaycompany.com/managing-volatile-demand-and-increasing-profit/
