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May 2006
Byers Engineering is consistently
focused on providing the highest
quality products and services
to our customers, but we recognize
that there is always room for
improvement. In October 2004,
we entered into an agreement
with the Georgia State University,
J. Mack Robinson College of
Business, Center for Process
Innovation (CEPRIN) to collaborate
on a joint project to improve
our software management and
practices. The result of that
agreement is an ongoing initiative
that encompasses all aspects
of the software process.
During the initial phase of
this collaboration, researchers
from CEPRIN randomly selected
several of Byers’ customers
and conducted a series of interviews
to assess their perspective
on Byers’ software management
practices. In addition, an extensive
self-evaluation was conducted
within the Byers Software Group.
These results are being used
as a key component of the software
improvement initiative. As a
current or prospective client
of Byers, we want to give you
an overview of our initiative.
Using the interview feedback
and self-evaluation results,
areas for improvement and action
items were identified. Each
of these improvement areas was
assigned a team comprised of
individuals within the Software
group and, where required, members
from other departments in Byers’
organization. A Software Coordination
Group, composed of key members
from Byers management, was established
to monitor and manage progress
of the teams. Representatives
from CEPRIN serve as facilitators
for each of these groups. The
designations for the teams are:
- Customer Relations Management
- Software Requirements Management
- Software Configuration
Management
- Software Quality Management
These teams have established
an agenda identifying specific
action items with defined delivery
dates. We have begun to implement
some of these items and have
already realized benefits to
our operation. An initial result
of this project is the refinement
and publication of our Software
Group’s Charter which
contains the Division’s
Reason for Being, Software Strategy,
and Policies for Software Operations.
I have included a copy of this
document for your information.
Byers Engineering Company recently
celebrated its 35th Anniversary
of serving the telecommunications
and utility industries. Our
ability to attain this milestone
is a direct result of attracting
and retaining quality clients
who value our products and services.
We are constantly working to
ensure a continuation and expansion
of these relationships. Our
process improvement project
is one example of these efforts.
If we can ever be of assistance,
please give us a call at 404.497.1550
or email us at info@byers.com.
Respectfully,
N. Allen Robertson
President – SpatialAge
Solutions Division
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