Computer Studies Proposal

Company Name: Metsec (Owned by Voestalpine Group)

http://www.metsec.com/about/

http://www.voestalpine.com/group/en/

History about the company (Taken from their website)

Voestalpine Metsec plc is the UK’s largest specialist cold roll-forming company providing products for the construction and manufacturing industries. We focus on adding value through expert design, precision manufacturing and on-time in full product delivery.

We combine excellent service and quality products to provide cost effective solutions for our customers throughout the world.

Established for over 80 years, Voestalpine’s Metsec plc is owned by the Voestalpine group, one of Europe’s leading specialist engineering companies. We are part of Metal Forming division, Voestalpine’s the world’s leading provider of high-quality metal processing solutions with production facilities all around the globe.

The Current System The current system that the workplace is using is Called “Maximo” Produced by IBM

The Program ProposalMy client (also Known as my dad) Graham Beckett, is the Supervisor of the Stores Department of Metsec, his department handles stock of supplies and parts for important machinery, or tools for workmen, and other admin products.

The system they have in place which is used to store all of the data and information is outdated and is need of an upgrade, which is where my program will come in to use and be implemented into the Department.

Program IdeasMy ideas for the program, are: that because there is a lot of stock data to be stored, and so many different items etc. I plan to use a specific set of SQL programming language to build a database through the Programming language called Python, I will then allow the user to input into the database to analyse and add new values of data to it.

The program will also need to output specific data from the database to the user if they need to check stock levels, or when to order new stock, how long before stock depletion etc.

The program also need a friendly GUI, which is not complicated to use, it will also require a user guide, that talks about how to fix the program if bugs, crashes, glitches are to occur, because I cannot be there to fix it for myself.

InvestigationThe current system they have implemented currently is outed, and is in need of upgrade, due to the constant bugs and crashes of the current system it is making it more difficult for the clients to use it, which has prompted for the upgrade.

The limitations of the current system are that it is very slow at analysing hundreds and hundreds of pieces of information and is not very good at multitasking efficiently when trying to analyse and search the database.

Purpose of the Project To implement a more up to date system.

Increase the size of the database and how many calculations it can do at a time.

Build a more ordered system of checking stock levels and analysing it.

When new stock is required for a certain object, it will inform the user and then prompt a Company or Provider of the item that was previously used so that it can be used again.

It should allow the user to add or remove anything from the database that’s old or new.

Proposed MethodTo begin with I’m going to need to learn about building the GUI and about how to use SQL in Python to build the database, also need to build the program to do all the other admin work, like analysing data and inform the user about problems or low levels of stock in the database. Once stock has reached a critical level and needs replenishing the program will prompt to the user that they need to order in more stock.

I plan to have the first prototype of the program built and operational either by Christmas or shortly after, and at that point regardless if it’s finished or not, I will take it to the client as it is and ask them for feedback and improvements. After receiving those comments I will then take the first prototype and copy it into a separate window of code, so I can show the developments I have made to the program as evidence, and build a Second Prototype.

Once this second Prototype has been built, I will again, take it to the client and ask them to thoroughly test it again to see if there are more improvements to be made or comments on how it works etc. if there are more improvements, I’ll go away and build another version of the program and do what I did before and keep the previous one for evidence and make a new version of it. If not, I’ll finalise the program and begin working on my documentation making sure it’s up to standard and making sure it contains everything I have done to build the program, and the websites I used and other resources.

I’ll then present the Finished Product to the Client, and Present my Program and documentation to my Teacher for a review of the overall content to make sure that everything is there before it gets marked.

Success Criteria Investigate functions and ways to begin building the program. Produce Criteria of resources that I can use to help build the

program. Build a few practice programs that do different tasks to implement

the knowledge I’ve just learnt. Once happy with my knowledge begin working on building the first

prototype. Begin my documentation of the program as I build it, explaining

what everything does and why I’ve added it. After a certain point in building the program, take it to the client for

feedback and improvements to the program. Being working on the Second Prototype Program, so taking the

first program and improving it with the ideas that the client has given me to make it more effective

Then after improvement and further testing and working on the program, take it back to the client for further feedback and improvements

If any new improvements arise, I will then work on them and get back to the client as a finished Product, the third Prototype