Author Archive for Charles Moore

Asset Management in Industrial Machinery and M2M Smart Condition Monitoring

With M2M wireless data radios, industries are replacing traditional SCADA and electronic meters with condition based monitoring systems that are able to track data and flow, cause triggers based on data and algorithms, and protect industrial asset management for machinery.

Advanced Algorithms in Industrial Asset Management Monitoring

The trick of course is developing algorithms that are very specific within the enterprise applications software.  For instance, when it comes to water plants and wastewater management, the plant will use smart meters and software applications that monitor the treatment and sewage systems in valve controls for flow, master meter controls, and chemical injections.  But sustainability is also an issue as one needs to monitor those industrial assets for rotation, wear and tear, and maintenance.   This is where the importance of asset management in industrial environments is so important.

Industrial Asset Management Solutions NextGen Global Executive SearchWhether you are an electric utility, mining company, automotive manufacturer, semiconductor manufacturer, chemical plant, or manufacturer or end user of large industrial machinery including motors, rotors, turbines, compressors, pumps, processors, filters, or any number of industrial machines, the lack of proper asset monitoring and asset management protection can be very costly.

Industrial machinery can have all sorts of issues to track including environmental, health and safety regulations, vibration, corrosion, strength, displacement, and process interruptions.

As our society moves toward less workers and more automation, a cost effective means of combining monitoring, triggering, maintenance, and detection of potential faults and failures is by developing enterprise level asset management software applications.

The machine to machine networks in asset management also need to have M2M2P applications so that decision makers can not only know about changes and causes but render immediate solutions no matter where the decision maker is physically located.    These M2M wireless data radios also need to be secure on their own private spectrum with a secure network and not tied into the public networks.   With the growing computer and mobile network hackers and terrorism threats, every industrial manufacturer needs to be concerned about asset monitoring and asset management.

Intelligent Condition Monitoring  in Enterprise Asset Management

Intelligent condition monitoring must be in real-time which requires algorithms that analyze data and trigger actions as well as provide early warning of impending or potential problems and hazards.    These systems also aid in scheduling of employees and management reporting/decision making to lower cost in asset management and business operations.

Enterprise M2M Software for Industrial Machinery Asset Management and Condition Monitoring NextGen Global Executive SearchWith smart power distribution and power management, utility companies, cold storage and food processing facilities, and smart energy vendors are able to conduct field trials for embedded and standalone enterprise asset management software applications.

Field trails are necessary to develop and make changes to the algorithms in condition monitoring, scheduling, and industrial machinery asset management protection.

The use of smart meters, smart power, and enterprise asset management applications carried over secure M2M wireless networks are used in a variety of industrial settings including:

  • Agriculture – moisture and temperature sensors, pump power usage
  • Energy & Utilities – asset management, condition monitoring DMS, SSA, SCADA, EMS, AMR, AMI
  • Environmental – monitoring volcanic, seismic, hazardous materials, fugitive emissions
  • Smart Home – smart meter, smart HAN, Mobile device M2M2P apps
  • Oil & Gas –asset management and monitoring temp, pump and flow lines, tank levels, ESD, cathodic protection
  • Industrial – asset management and monitoring vibration, stress, cycling, performance
  • Solar & Wind –condition monitoring, alarms, productivity

Maintenance now means that entire production lines can avoid shutdowns with early warning self-assessment.  And condition monitoring and data triggers protect the components in industrial machinery asset management so that they produce better and have a longer life span, cutting down the expenditure of unnecessary capital investments.

Future Trends in Asset Management Protection

The aerospace and defense industry has long used M2M based asset management monitoring applications.  The new applications the 21st century industries need are secure networks, the ability to track data and monitor, cause triggers/actions, make predictive analysis and decisions, and be tied directly into overall business operations IT.    Based on traditional data, a company already knows which critical systems and components need to be part of asset management condition monitoring.

Power distribution and power management systems in smart grids require a load of new smart meters, sensors, and devices.  These complexities and new regulations means that the old way of asset management will not work as reliability and performance of the assets become the most important factors in capital expenditures.

In many ways, asset management condition monitoring and asset protection are like what NextGen Global Executive Search has done in retained search.  And that is the enterprise application must be performance based to determine the health and performance of specific assets as a function of system condition monitoring for asset management systems.

 

Mobile Payments | Executive Vice President | Case Study Retained Search | Boston

This was a very interesting search from the start.  We initially contacted the CEO of this mobile payments vendor on a referral and were rejected as she wanted a firm based in Boston.  Four months later after going through 3 contingency and 1 retained recruiting firm with no results, we were brought in to handle the search for an Executive Vice President.

Engaging the Mobile Payments Executive Decision Makers

Working with the Americas CEO and a SVP from the parent company, we developed the Candidate Profile based on the Performance Objectives of the role rather than a job description.   We focused the search strategy on what the candidate needs to do to be successful in mobile payments business development and product management, not just the responsibilities.

Mobile Payments EVP Search Strategy

Mobile Payments retained search for EVP in Boston NextGen Global Executive SearchOur task was to identify and recruit a seasoned executive with a solid track record in  Business Development and Product Management for a mobile payments processer or mobile banking platform vendor.   The objectives for this role in mobile payments included engaging with smartphone OEM and ODM plus MVNO in both North America and LATAM.

Ensure both smartphone vendor and mobile network operator acceptance of the future strategy, negotiate all commercial and contractual elements, and recruitment of a solid staff to build the Americas mobile payments business.

Unlike most retained search firms who are paid the full fee regardless of whether the position is filled, our performance based retained search model was welcomed by the client.  After the deposit, we get paid the 2nd portion when the client approves the Short List (with complete dossiers).  After acceptance, the final internal interview and assessment by our team is performed.  Final payment occurs upon the hire of our candidate as EVP for Mobile Payments.

Results of the Mobile Payments EVP Retained Search

Within 3 weeks we delivered a short list of 3 candidates.  One was knocked out right away when a new VP of Software Engineering revealed he had worked with the candidate before and did not recommend moving forward.  The two remaining candidates for the EVP Mobile Payments were given a situational scenario and hypothetical mini project, the answers videotaped for the final interview, and assessment by a Managing Partner.   After a series of two interviews for both at the mobile payments client facility, an offer was negotiated accepted by the candidate that NextGen Global preferred.

Managed Services for Enterprise expands rapidly into Mobile Cloud Computing, SaaS

Many IT, managed services, and hosted services vendors are changing their business strategy to mobile cloud computing – and for a very good reason.  Their customers who are in digital media, healthcare, hospitality, distribution, and financial services; or have needs for procurement/ordering, field force or sales force automation now demand lower cost and mobility.

Managed Services for IT and Enterprise Data Centers

It’s all about managed services for their customers who prefer to downsize their IT departments and outsource these costs.  With the rapid growth of touch screen smart phones and Smart TVs, both commercial customer who are B2B and companies in the B2C market realize the generational change.  These smartphones and tablets are the most significant reason for the growth of mobile cloud computing for managed services IT vendors.

Managed Services via Mobile Cloud Computing

Managed Services Mobile Cloud Computing Enterprise IT SaaSWith mobile applications and cloud data centers, the potential revenue for managed services vendors has not been seen by the IT industry since the dotcom boom of the 90s.  And it promises to be an even larger market with unlimited growth.

Gartner research According to Gartner, the global cloud computing services market could reach $150 billion by 2014 and software-as-a-service (SaaS) revenue is expected to reach $22 billion by 2015 as more companies invest in cloud technology.  The growth in mobile devices brings about several challenges to data centers and managed services.

For managed services vendors, the processing time on the wireless network and has improved with advanced LTE networks like Verizon has and AT&T shortly.  Managed services vendors and enterprise hosted services vendors have to deal with the overabundance of users on wireless operator networks who clog the system with all sorts of streaming data (reducing the speed) and intermittence caused by RF interference in the network and gaps in coverage.

Mobile App Testing for Menu Driven Managed Services 

On top of all that is the smartphone battery life.  It amazes me how often I see mobile apps developed by enterprise data centers and IT managed services that fail to test BOTH the mobile device and app for power performance profiling. Functional UX, usability, and the OS be it Android or iOS or Windows needs to be tested.

Managed Services as a Commodity

The offloading of data and computer applications onto the cloud has become a commodity of services.  And it is in those managed services that the IT vendor with win large scale contracts.  It is now menu driven where email, CRM, supply chain, and data have to be secure, scaled, and managed from a price per menu point of view.    Regional data centers and SaaS are required to bring the content to reliable broadband and wireless operator networks.    The delivery of the applications have to have guaranteed Quality of Service using mobile cloud computing.   The SaaS side of managed services in the cloud is very attractive to IT managers in the leaner economy.

Smart Meters Recruiting Director Product Portfolio Management, Boston

The Company had a background in building telecom and wireless RF components.  Two years prior to this retained recruiting search, this publicly traded company in the Northeast opened a new division to penetrate the smart energy and smart meters market with M2M communications modules for Automated Metering Infrastructure.

Smart Meters recruiting  a retained search case study

They had added several partners in manufacturing and systems integration, but felt the vendor relationships needed a primary management role in order to deliver on the smart meters business strategy into the highly competitive smart grids marketplace and needed a Director of Product Portfolio Management for their growing business.

Smart Meters Director Retained Search Strategy

Smart Meters recruiting for AMI Smart Grid M2M Wireless Data Radios

The Director of Portfolio Product Management would be tasked with developing relationships and projects that would define and lead the integration of the company’s smart meters products into a diverse and broad range of domestic and international smart energy and smart grid 3.0 M2M, communications, utilities regulatory bodies, and metering systems and subsystems partners’ platforms.

In order to meet the Performance Objectives as defined, the ideal candidate needed a background in the utilities metering markets and wireless data radios, preferably M2M for power management and remote monitoring.

The candidate also needed relationships with smart meters and energy vendors and regulatory bodies in North America and Europe.  A proven track record in growing product portfolios and increasing market share against strong competition was essential.

Result of Retained Search for Smart Meters Director

Within 4 months of the candidate hired from NextGen Global Executive Search, the new Director for smart meters had strengthened 3 existing partnerships resulting in contract bids of $184M and grew the team by adding a KEY Senior Solutions Engineer to work directly on customer requirements and defining smart meters strategies for the customers.  The client has initiated a new retained search assignment with us for a VP role.

Hiring Manager can learn Recruiting Mindset of Venture Capitalists

Venture Capitalists, who are more interested in Top Talent than they are in just “filling a position”.  I have made more placements with these guys by simply bringing them Top Talent.  Not often does a Hiring Manager think of strategy in recruiting, focusing primarily on what they need today.

Hiring Manager Recruiting Mindset

Executive Hiring Manager can learn from Venture CapitalistsVenture capitalists in the Hiring Manager recruiting mindset know that putting off a key hire that comes from a direct competitor who has the expertise to positively impact your bottom line often results in another company hiring the person.  The old adage that a Hiring Manager wants the candidate when budget allows tomorrow is a failure to be creative and forward thinking.

Even when the budget for a permanent hire is not there, many times we will place such a candidate in an EIR role or as a Consultant with the VC acting as a Hiring Manager as he/she knows that as the leader can have an impact now on your strategy and consulting fees are easier for to digest in a budget.

Hiring Manager can learn from Venture Capitalists

Smart VCs know talent when they see it and they will look to put a candidate they really like in a role; sometimes right away – sometimes 6 months from now. VCs got to be where they are at by in essence being a hiring manager in identifying with top talent.

Charles Moore is a Managing Partner and Practice Lead for NextGen Global Executive Search.  With over 22 years as an executive search consultant in mobile wireless systems and smart energy working with numerous Hiring Manager executives, Charles Moore has successfully placed CXO, SVP, and VP level candidates due the  close relationship as a trusted adviser to the client.

Hiring manager and CXO that work for VCs/BoDs fail to recognize this and often just don’t get that.

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Chief Systems Engineer | Airborne Power Distribution | Retained Search | Seattle

The Chief Systems Engineer is a an entrepreneurial leadership role in building new product lines in aircraft electrical power distribution systems for business jets and military aircraft.  This company has been listed as one of the top employers on the West Coast 3 years in a row.

Aerospace Chief Systems Engineer Airborne Power Generation NextGen Global Executive Search The Chief Systems Engineer has the opportunity to roadmap a new product line based on the expertise that you bring to the table. This $100M division of an Aerospace vendor is an airborne power generation leader provides innovative power distribution systems.

Their revenues have grown at more than 40% over the last 5 years and are in need of a Chief Systems Engineer to transition them to a world-recognized leader in airborne power (aircraft electrical power systems) for small to mid-sized business jets, UAV and rotorcraft.

Chief Systems Engineer Performance Objectives

  •  Act as a trusted technical advisor to the customers, the Chief Systems Engineer for Airborne Power will  ultimately win new long term business exceeding $25M in revenue.
  • Grow customer relationships that build credibility as a leading expert in the design and certification of aircraft electrical power systems.
  • The Chief Systems Engineer will take multiple customer requirements and guide the customer to choose the best technical approach from a systems engineering perspective.
  • Airborne Power Chief Systems Engineer will provide guidance into strategic planning and help set the technical direction of the business.

Candidate Profile of Chief Systems Engineer in Airborne Power

Airborne Power Generation Retained Search in Aerospace for Chief Systems EngineerSubject Matter Expert in airborne power electrical systems so requires  a MS or PhD engineering degree with at least 12+ years of experience in this field.

The candidate for Chief Systems Engineer is currently in s similar role as a Director or VP with a proven track record in discussing design and solutions with CXO and VP decision maker levels at business jet vendors and military aircraft manufacturers and defense contractors.

The ideal candidate for the Chief Systems Engineer Airborne Power Systems comes from Sundstrand, Honeywell, Bombardier, or similar with strong solid relationships within the large military or business jet class manufacturers.

There is no upper limit to where the successful candidate can go within this organization.   Candidates for the Chief Systems Engineer are from the USA or NATO countries who are US citizens, Canadian citizen, or eligible for H1B VISA will be considered.