Who wouldn't like to become a successful SAP developer? It's a fantastic job to have that is not only intellectually rewarding but financially rewarding as well. However; bear in mind that you must have a certain level of intelligence and education before you even consider taking the necessary steps to becoming a SAP developer.
Know SAP Products
SAP employs a huge number of consultants that work in conjunction with SAP developers. This is because SAP is a consulting firm that in turn developers and sells the products that the consultants recommend. Of course this would also means that your knowledge of SAP products must be complete.
More Stuff to Know
Also, because SAP consultants serve a wide range of business genres, ranging from all areas of the chemical and petrochemical industries, as well as other industries including all types of manufacturing and wholesaling industries, it does help if you possess some level of expertise in some type of business or industry.
No Place for Wimps
However; you have to bear in mind that SAP developers and consultants work in world filled with ambitious type A personalities, so the stress level can be very high at times. What this means is that if you are not entirely up to the challenge then you may want to reconsider other career options.
Willing to Think Out of the Box
However; the pay and benefits for a good qualified SAP developer are among the best that you will find anywhere, so if you like good money then you will like being a SAP developer. So, if the bad economy has gotten you down, don't fret because there are still plenty of god job opportunities out there for people who are willing to think out of the box such as SAP developers do.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Welcome to the Linux Generation
With our economy having its, well, ups and downs lately, you might be thinking "Is now really a good time to think about purchasing a new computer?" Meanwhile, software applications that once needed robust hardware to run are now moving on to the Internet. The result is an upturn in the purchase of netbooks and low powered "Internet Appliances", most of which cost less than a really nice new shirt (well, not really, but you get the idea).
With the onslaught of relatively inexpensive PCs coming from every major manufacturer and aimed at the new "cloud" generation, many are running one flavor or another of Linux. Why? Because Linux can be a rock-stable, slim Operating System, making it a perfect choice for these "slimmed-down" machines. In short, Linux may be THE answer for lower-end hardware based computers.
When it comes to the rest of the computing world, generally you only see Windows Vista or Mac OS X - but when it comes to netbooks, low requirement PC's, and many other digital devices (routers, cell phones, televisions, PDA's and more), Linux is making some big headway. In short, Linux is an almost perfect fit for with lower CPU and power requirements.
For those pinching pennies (and who isn't these days?), a Linux-based PC may be the best of all worlds. Using Linux, one can resurrect a thought-to-be-obsolete desktop or laptop with an up to date, safe, and easy to use operating system. One example - our office currently houses six PC's being used for various tasks by our staff, all running Linux. They are all Dell GX150 PC's with Pentium 3 CPU's running at 933Mhz, with 256MB of ram and 20GB hard drive space each, as well as one "server" - a 2.4Ghz Compaq with 512MB of ram and two 500GB hard drives (running Linux, of course, and this is our NAS, print server, firewall/router, and more). Our entire network cost about $800. That's less than a lot of new workstation PC's.
The beauty of this OS is its stability, as any Linux user can attest to. Linux is stable. Like rock-solid stable. Linux machines don't crash, they boot quickly, and are far more reliable computers than their XP and Vista counterparts. However, there are still a few folks out there who are going to go with the XP option for familiarity's sake. Linux is new to most people, and people generally don't like having to learn something new unless they have to. Most don't realize all the software they're accustomed to can (generally) be replaced by a Linux alternative, and for far less cash outlay. They don't understand that the savings in computer repairs stemming from Windows' vulnerabilities to virus's and malware. They haven't been told about the huge increase in security Linux provides compared to Windows.
All that being said, the move to Linux computing is becoming more noticeable now than ever before. Without the economic crisis to factor in to people's spending decisions, people probably wouldn't have considered the Linux option as strongly as they're doing today. When every dollar saved counts, the decision to go Linux may be more about cost savings than anything else, but that might be what it takes to get people to try the OS computer geeks have been raving about for years. Give Linux a shot, and you might be surprised.
With the onslaught of relatively inexpensive PCs coming from every major manufacturer and aimed at the new "cloud" generation, many are running one flavor or another of Linux. Why? Because Linux can be a rock-stable, slim Operating System, making it a perfect choice for these "slimmed-down" machines. In short, Linux may be THE answer for lower-end hardware based computers.
When it comes to the rest of the computing world, generally you only see Windows Vista or Mac OS X - but when it comes to netbooks, low requirement PC's, and many other digital devices (routers, cell phones, televisions, PDA's and more), Linux is making some big headway. In short, Linux is an almost perfect fit for with lower CPU and power requirements.
For those pinching pennies (and who isn't these days?), a Linux-based PC may be the best of all worlds. Using Linux, one can resurrect a thought-to-be-obsolete desktop or laptop with an up to date, safe, and easy to use operating system. One example - our office currently houses six PC's being used for various tasks by our staff, all running Linux. They are all Dell GX150 PC's with Pentium 3 CPU's running at 933Mhz, with 256MB of ram and 20GB hard drive space each, as well as one "server" - a 2.4Ghz Compaq with 512MB of ram and two 500GB hard drives (running Linux, of course, and this is our NAS, print server, firewall/router, and more). Our entire network cost about $800. That's less than a lot of new workstation PC's.
The beauty of this OS is its stability, as any Linux user can attest to. Linux is stable. Like rock-solid stable. Linux machines don't crash, they boot quickly, and are far more reliable computers than their XP and Vista counterparts. However, there are still a few folks out there who are going to go with the XP option for familiarity's sake. Linux is new to most people, and people generally don't like having to learn something new unless they have to. Most don't realize all the software they're accustomed to can (generally) be replaced by a Linux alternative, and for far less cash outlay. They don't understand that the savings in computer repairs stemming from Windows' vulnerabilities to virus's and malware. They haven't been told about the huge increase in security Linux provides compared to Windows.
All that being said, the move to Linux computing is becoming more noticeable now than ever before. Without the economic crisis to factor in to people's spending decisions, people probably wouldn't have considered the Linux option as strongly as they're doing today. When every dollar saved counts, the decision to go Linux may be more about cost savings than anything else, but that might be what it takes to get people to try the OS computer geeks have been raving about for years. Give Linux a shot, and you might be surprised.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
How to Spot a Good Registry Cleaner Review
It must have been stressing to figure out what registry cleaner to use so this article is going to give you tips and tricks on spotting what a good registry cleaner review should be like. You can't just go around and randomly pick a software program for your computer without even researching about it. Getting products without reading reviews from professionals and even comments from users is risky and you are exposing your computer to harm. A good product review also means you are getting a product that has been used by several people and that these testimonies are real. As much as possible, avoid reading reviews from the manufacturer itself.
Check the Contents of the Review
A sample of a good registry cleaner review can be found in websites offering registry cleaners. As you can see, reviews have the complete description, convenience ratings, support functions, and the product's safety and its summary. These kinds of things should be enough to answer your questions about the product but of course, it doesn't limit you from exploring more sites that offer just about the same function. Keep in mind that the review should be unbiased and it should not sound like it is promoting its own product. The review should give you a fair opinion of how satisfactory a product is and it should also provide facts.
Check the Rating Scale of the Review
Many reviews basically describe the product as bad or good. When reading reviews, there should be a standard scale of rating and the rating should be justified based on the functionality of the product. Rating scales should give you a clear idea how the product matches against others. Generally speaking, the product review rating should be no more than a scale of 5. If the rating scale reaches to 10, it would be more difficult for users and even potential buyers to make a decision.
Check the Contents of the Review
A sample of a good registry cleaner review can be found in websites offering registry cleaners. As you can see, reviews have the complete description, convenience ratings, support functions, and the product's safety and its summary. These kinds of things should be enough to answer your questions about the product but of course, it doesn't limit you from exploring more sites that offer just about the same function. Keep in mind that the review should be unbiased and it should not sound like it is promoting its own product. The review should give you a fair opinion of how satisfactory a product is and it should also provide facts.
Check the Rating Scale of the Review
Many reviews basically describe the product as bad or good. When reading reviews, there should be a standard scale of rating and the rating should be justified based on the functionality of the product. Rating scales should give you a clear idea how the product matches against others. Generally speaking, the product review rating should be no more than a scale of 5. If the rating scale reaches to 10, it would be more difficult for users and even potential buyers to make a decision.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Cycle Time in Manufacturing - Improving the Speed of Sales to Shipping
From the moment a purchase order is made by a customer, the clock starts ticking for the producer of the product they desire. For the customer, there is an expectation of delivery based upon criteria such as the importance of the need and a prior history of delivery time. On the other hand, for the manufacturer there is another expectation of delivery based upon completely different criteria such as the lead time given by the customer, materials inventory, and present/future work loads. Herein lies the friction that is often encountered between manufacturers and their clients when it comes to the concept of cycle time--the time it takes for a job to move from the sales order taken to a product shipped out the door. That is to say, in a world of shortened lead times and unforgiving expectations of on-time delivery and production perfection, how does a manufacturer reduce order-to-delivery cycle times while also maintaining quality?
Just take a look around job shops or make-to-order manufacturers that have not streamlined their production processes and you'll see one of the reasons why, for them, on-time deliveries, much less quick ones, are rare. What you'll see is that much of the order-to-delivery cycle time in non-streamlined operations is stretched out by waiting. Indeed, shop floors are often filled with personnel waiting for set-ups or break-downs to be finished, waiting for bottlenecks to be cleared, waiting for design alterations, and/or waiting for production problems to be fixed. The result is poor cycle time: low throughput, poor finished piece quality, too much inventory, and an abundance of non-value added activity. The critical results, though, are missed delivery dates and dissatisfied customers.
To overcome waiting in the manufacturing environment and to compress cycle time, streamlining through enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a best and necessary solution. According to the AberdeenGroup's 2007 study of ERP in globalization, "Companies that automate and streamline workflows...produced 66% more improvement in reducing total time from order to delivery". For example, in an ERP operation, just-in-time purchasing will automatically buy to the job and interface with sales and inventory to ensure on-hand material when it is needed. Furthermore, ERP scheduling systems use real-time data to anticipate bottle-necks before they occur. In short, the better the on-time delivery, the more satisfied your customers and the more orders they place. And, the more orders your customers place, the more utilized is your capacity to produce and profit.
Cycle time is one of those overlooked areas in the manufacturing process where even minor improvements in compression along the system flow result in exponential savings of production and on-time delivery down the line. To reduce cycle time is merely to undertake a process of self-examination to find where savings of production time can best be made--in short, streamlined. For the customer, this means on-time delivery. For the manufacturer, this means a satisfied customer.
Just take a look around job shops or make-to-order manufacturers that have not streamlined their production processes and you'll see one of the reasons why, for them, on-time deliveries, much less quick ones, are rare. What you'll see is that much of the order-to-delivery cycle time in non-streamlined operations is stretched out by waiting. Indeed, shop floors are often filled with personnel waiting for set-ups or break-downs to be finished, waiting for bottlenecks to be cleared, waiting for design alterations, and/or waiting for production problems to be fixed. The result is poor cycle time: low throughput, poor finished piece quality, too much inventory, and an abundance of non-value added activity. The critical results, though, are missed delivery dates and dissatisfied customers.
To overcome waiting in the manufacturing environment and to compress cycle time, streamlining through enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a best and necessary solution. According to the AberdeenGroup's 2007 study of ERP in globalization, "Companies that automate and streamline workflows...produced 66% more improvement in reducing total time from order to delivery". For example, in an ERP operation, just-in-time purchasing will automatically buy to the job and interface with sales and inventory to ensure on-hand material when it is needed. Furthermore, ERP scheduling systems use real-time data to anticipate bottle-necks before they occur. In short, the better the on-time delivery, the more satisfied your customers and the more orders they place. And, the more orders your customers place, the more utilized is your capacity to produce and profit.
Cycle time is one of those overlooked areas in the manufacturing process where even minor improvements in compression along the system flow result in exponential savings of production and on-time delivery down the line. To reduce cycle time is merely to undertake a process of self-examination to find where savings of production time can best be made--in short, streamlined. For the customer, this means on-time delivery. For the manufacturer, this means a satisfied customer.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Little Known Tips to Help Your Computer Run Faster With a Register Cleaner
These days the internet is full of, viruses, malware, junk mail, and additional files your computer does not need. It is very easy for your computer to get cluttered up, thus causing a decrease in performance. Crashing, .dll errors, and freezing are all signs that show your computer is having trouble deciding which files are necessary to make it work properly.
The general consensus is that when this happens, the only option is to purchase a new computer, instead of cleaning up your current one. Since we are in a recession, buying a new PC may not be an option for everyone. The good news is, there is a way to restore your computer to it's peak performance without buying a new computer.
Most people think they are careful with their computer and how they use it. It makes them wonder how it is possible that their registry got corrupt in the first place. Well, the answer is quite simple; every piece of software you install comes with a large amount of information that is stored in your registry. The more you install, the more cluttered it gets, thus the decrease in performance. Another thing that doesn't help your computers cause is that most times when you uninstall a program, you don't really remove all of the information from your computer, thus more clutter.
Thankfully there is a solution, a registry cleaner. The way a registry cleaner works is by finding, removing, or repairing data in your computer that is corrupt. The best registry cleaner will increase performance in all areas of your computer, especially while using the internet.
One thing to remember is that all registry cleaners are not the same quality. You must resist the urge to get a free registry cleaner. While most free registry cleaners promise you the world, the truth is that they will often do more harm to your computer than help. Usually if it looks too good to be true, it is.
In short, having the best registry cleaner will allow you to be able to protect your computer from problems before they happen.
The general consensus is that when this happens, the only option is to purchase a new computer, instead of cleaning up your current one. Since we are in a recession, buying a new PC may not be an option for everyone. The good news is, there is a way to restore your computer to it's peak performance without buying a new computer.
Most people think they are careful with their computer and how they use it. It makes them wonder how it is possible that their registry got corrupt in the first place. Well, the answer is quite simple; every piece of software you install comes with a large amount of information that is stored in your registry. The more you install, the more cluttered it gets, thus the decrease in performance. Another thing that doesn't help your computers cause is that most times when you uninstall a program, you don't really remove all of the information from your computer, thus more clutter.
Thankfully there is a solution, a registry cleaner. The way a registry cleaner works is by finding, removing, or repairing data in your computer that is corrupt. The best registry cleaner will increase performance in all areas of your computer, especially while using the internet.
One thing to remember is that all registry cleaners are not the same quality. You must resist the urge to get a free registry cleaner. While most free registry cleaners promise you the world, the truth is that they will often do more harm to your computer than help. Usually if it looks too good to be true, it is.
In short, having the best registry cleaner will allow you to be able to protect your computer from problems before they happen.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
A Quality System that Collaborates With Technology
"I have always thought that the best way to find out what is right and what is not right, what should be done and what should not be done, is not to give a sermon, but to talk and discuss, and out of discussion sometimes a little bit of truth comes out."
---Nehru, Jawaharlal Indian statesman (1889-1964)
Purposeful discussion with the purpose of eventual action has long been viewed by the wisest of the wise as a process that results in better products or ideas than would have originally been conceived by one person.
This combined "effort of the minds" is often referred to as collaboration.
Technology as a Catalyst for Collaboration
Technology is the great advocate of collaboration since technology shrinks communication gaps and speeds essential communication.
Technology and Collaboration
For life science and high tech companies managing a quality system is one of the most essential, if not the most essential, aspect of product development and since the essence of managing a quality system lies in communication (i.e. documentation and training people to adhere to that documentation) collaboration capabilities should be one of the main features that a life science or high tech company implements within a quality system. A quality system with collaboration isn't enough however. The ever developing element of technology must be included for better and faster collaboration.
Collaborative Technology for Quality Systems
The benefits of investing in collaborative technology for quality systems are many.
Listed below are just a few:
Benefit #1 of Collaborative Technology for a Quality System: Not just for People
Concepts of collaboration don't just connect people. With technology, processes can also "collaborate" automatically. Take for example the many processes that make up a quality system:
o Deviations Identification
o Nonconformance Identification
o Customer Complaints Management
o CAPA (Corrective and Preventative Action)
o Internal Audits
o Equipment Calibration
o Change Control
o Employee Training
Many of these processes are currently handled sufficiently by life science and high tech companies but when information is transferred from one process to another, information has a tendency to get lost (communication gaps), delayed or even misinterpreted. With the right collaborative technology however, communication gaps shrink by automating process-to-process transitions (i.e. a customer complaint to a CAPA) and by allowing people to collaborate and confer as to whether process information is accurate. Misinterpreted information will also be less likely to occur if life science and high tech professionals search for a quality system that allows for the appropriate personnel to track process-to-process audit trails and approve those procedures when necessary.
Benefit #2: Documentation
The lifeblood of quality and compliance are the documents that control quality and compliance. In fact, it is often by documents that the FDA or any other regulatory organization will judge whether or not a life science company is adhering to a sound quality system. Life science and high tech professionals can search for an electronic quality system that will allow for the integration of document control. Document control systems (with collaborative features) can allow experts to collaborate together without meeting in the same physical location. A document control system can also provide version control, safety features, a centralized archive, web-based technology, reporting features and perhaps even additional features determined by a client's URS (user requirement specifications) and by the software company's ability to provide customized configuration.
Benefit #3: Saves People Time
Most importantly, the right quality system (with collaborative features) will save company employees time by providing document control, process connection features and the right kinds of services.
Conclusion
With collaboration catalyzed by technology, a life science company can more effectively manage a quality system.
---Nehru, Jawaharlal Indian statesman (1889-1964)
Purposeful discussion with the purpose of eventual action has long been viewed by the wisest of the wise as a process that results in better products or ideas than would have originally been conceived by one person.
This combined "effort of the minds" is often referred to as collaboration.
Technology as a Catalyst for Collaboration
Technology is the great advocate of collaboration since technology shrinks communication gaps and speeds essential communication.
Technology and Collaboration
For life science and high tech companies managing a quality system is one of the most essential, if not the most essential, aspect of product development and since the essence of managing a quality system lies in communication (i.e. documentation and training people to adhere to that documentation) collaboration capabilities should be one of the main features that a life science or high tech company implements within a quality system. A quality system with collaboration isn't enough however. The ever developing element of technology must be included for better and faster collaboration.
Collaborative Technology for Quality Systems
The benefits of investing in collaborative technology for quality systems are many.
Listed below are just a few:
Benefit #1 of Collaborative Technology for a Quality System: Not just for People
Concepts of collaboration don't just connect people. With technology, processes can also "collaborate" automatically. Take for example the many processes that make up a quality system:
o Deviations Identification
o Nonconformance Identification
o Customer Complaints Management
o CAPA (Corrective and Preventative Action)
o Internal Audits
o Equipment Calibration
o Change Control
o Employee Training
Many of these processes are currently handled sufficiently by life science and high tech companies but when information is transferred from one process to another, information has a tendency to get lost (communication gaps), delayed or even misinterpreted. With the right collaborative technology however, communication gaps shrink by automating process-to-process transitions (i.e. a customer complaint to a CAPA) and by allowing people to collaborate and confer as to whether process information is accurate. Misinterpreted information will also be less likely to occur if life science and high tech professionals search for a quality system that allows for the appropriate personnel to track process-to-process audit trails and approve those procedures when necessary.
Benefit #2: Documentation
The lifeblood of quality and compliance are the documents that control quality and compliance. In fact, it is often by documents that the FDA or any other regulatory organization will judge whether or not a life science company is adhering to a sound quality system. Life science and high tech professionals can search for an electronic quality system that will allow for the integration of document control. Document control systems (with collaborative features) can allow experts to collaborate together without meeting in the same physical location. A document control system can also provide version control, safety features, a centralized archive, web-based technology, reporting features and perhaps even additional features determined by a client's URS (user requirement specifications) and by the software company's ability to provide customized configuration.
Benefit #3: Saves People Time
Most importantly, the right quality system (with collaborative features) will save company employees time by providing document control, process connection features and the right kinds of services.
Conclusion
With collaboration catalyzed by technology, a life science company can more effectively manage a quality system.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Data Conversion Software - Solutions For A Complex World
All that talk about how the world has become a global village does not really give light to the massive requirements that goes to maintaining and expanding that global village.
So what is the world's global village consisted of? In one word: data. Lots and lots of data. Data in this case can be in different formats. If you've ever used the computer as much as the computer programmers have, you will know that there are many, many types of data files. You can identify them by their different file extensions. The most common file extensions are for those data created in MS office: .doc, .xls, .ppt, .dbs.
But there are certainly other types of data. Companies all over the world store their most important data safely on their computers as to run their businesses. However, each year technology changes and upgrades and more types of data are created. (The depth of an organization actually rests in keeping software and hardware updated.)
What this means is that from old computers, a company's data has to be transferred to new computers and, more often than not, to new systems.
Data Transfer
Transferring data from old to new machines is not as easy as it sounds. More often, in the process of moving data, especially if it was stored in an obsolete machine, the extracted information are often not accurate. Some loss of data might happen, that is, specifically if the data on the old machine did not go through a data conversion software.
Data conversion is defined as the process of importing and exporting data from one computer to another. In most cases, data conversion includes recording and transformation of data, especially if you're moving data from one application to another. Out on the Internet there are around 700 data conversion tools and between them, there are versions for MS Windows, Unix, Linux, Novell and other operating systems.
Majority of data conversion software aim at converting data form old operating systems and transferring them to new operating systems with nary, if at all, loss of data.
Good Conversion: A Good Software
A good data conversion software allows you to convert data and migrate that data from an old machine to a new machine without taking up too much of your technological resources. If the statement sounds a tad convoluted, here a few questions to help you spot a data conversion software.
- Will you be able to deploy new applications at a fast rate whilst dedicating few of your resources to converting data and migrating that data to a new machine?
- Does your data conversion software combine user-friendly data conversion tools with over a hundred data and application connectors, flat files, relational databases, web data, XML, legacy data, among others?
- What are my company's needs? Do we need to transfer data one-time only or is it going to be a daily and continuous effort of transferring database records?
Answer these questions and it will be easier for you to find the data conversion that's right for you.
Copyright (c) 2008 Bryant Anderson
So what is the world's global village consisted of? In one word: data. Lots and lots of data. Data in this case can be in different formats. If you've ever used the computer as much as the computer programmers have, you will know that there are many, many types of data files. You can identify them by their different file extensions. The most common file extensions are for those data created in MS office: .doc, .xls, .ppt, .dbs.
But there are certainly other types of data. Companies all over the world store their most important data safely on their computers as to run their businesses. However, each year technology changes and upgrades and more types of data are created. (The depth of an organization actually rests in keeping software and hardware updated.)
What this means is that from old computers, a company's data has to be transferred to new computers and, more often than not, to new systems.
Data Transfer
Transferring data from old to new machines is not as easy as it sounds. More often, in the process of moving data, especially if it was stored in an obsolete machine, the extracted information are often not accurate. Some loss of data might happen, that is, specifically if the data on the old machine did not go through a data conversion software.
Data conversion is defined as the process of importing and exporting data from one computer to another. In most cases, data conversion includes recording and transformation of data, especially if you're moving data from one application to another. Out on the Internet there are around 700 data conversion tools and between them, there are versions for MS Windows, Unix, Linux, Novell and other operating systems.
Majority of data conversion software aim at converting data form old operating systems and transferring them to new operating systems with nary, if at all, loss of data.
Good Conversion: A Good Software
A good data conversion software allows you to convert data and migrate that data from an old machine to a new machine without taking up too much of your technological resources. If the statement sounds a tad convoluted, here a few questions to help you spot a data conversion software.
- Will you be able to deploy new applications at a fast rate whilst dedicating few of your resources to converting data and migrating that data to a new machine?
- Does your data conversion software combine user-friendly data conversion tools with over a hundred data and application connectors, flat files, relational databases, web data, XML, legacy data, among others?
- What are my company's needs? Do we need to transfer data one-time only or is it going to be a daily and continuous effort of transferring database records?
Answer these questions and it will be easier for you to find the data conversion that's right for you.
Copyright (c) 2008 Bryant Anderson
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