After shadowing at several departments for a month, I’ll summarise the job descriptions in each department to my understanding and make short comments on them.

Following by the project lifecycle, I’ll start with pre-sales. At first, I was a little bit confused between sales and pre-sales, which I thought it was a department that is mainly aiming for numbers. But it covers both direct client communication and technical supports, which can be seen as the early stage design for each project. Producing job calc and proposal for the project is also one of their main job. I have also been into the clients’ site meeting and manufacturer’s launch event that I got a chance to see some new displays and processors, which I think it is quite fascinating and you always got a chance to approach the latest technology. 

I have got another day in project management as well, which I got to understand the entire project workflow and process clearly. Project management covers the projects from workload distribution, financial control to technical supports. However, I think a stronger technology background and management experience is essential so I wouldn’t say starting from project management will works out with me, but it was worth to clarify the project process for sure.

Then PE department where is I spent the most time with, also the most heavily technical related department since PE oversees every technology prospect. Schematic and rack design for the project are the main contents which every part must considered by their feasibility. Detailed designs from cables, connectors to routings are all included. Constant communication and direction to rack build team and onsite commissioner is also important. I would say having a chance to stay in the PE department can strengthen my technology background in terms of routing design and devices features. 

CAD will be directed by the PE while doing their design, which is the department that in charge of creating elevation for M&E, mechanical and electricity and AV, audio vision solution. From what I come across so far when shadowed in CAD, the design they made was kinda like interior design but in a more specific approach in AV systems. Less in-depth technical background is needed in that case. 

After the schematic has been published, it will then be sent to rack build to construct the AV rack. I have done quite a lot of cable termination and soldering; it is always fun to have some hands-on practical and the time flies while I was in there too. However, I think it is a little bit repetitive in rack build and less opportunities to obtain new knowledges as well.

As in rack test sometimes programming techniques and background is needed. Problem shooting and raise up technical faulty and giving feedbacks to PE is the key throughout the whole testing process. But there won’t be any control over the design stage.

Onsite commissioning

There are two main areas in service department including desk and onsite. Although there is a technical team which deal with every technical issue on the desk, most of their work will be focus on arrangements for engineers or replacement, repairment of kits and manage digital signage. Which I think this is not what I was intended to do in the first place. But after being onsite, the onsite service or manage engineers are directly dealing with the system for problem solving or operating, which I think it is very interesting and you got to see how one system that has been designed to be used and operate in the end users’ side. From the troubleshooting process and coming out with solutions can review the whole system over again.

Throughout my placement year with AVMI, what I really want to emphasis myself with is the technical background and experience in operating or designing with the latest technology. Which I have picks these three departments for my first three months and get more detailed work experience in, which are PE, Pre-sales and Manage on-site. I have also listed out the skills I would like to obtain in the future in each department. In pre-sales, I wish to be able to produce a proposal according to the clients’ requirements and make the initial design, along with getting the chances to see the developing new technology at the same time. As in PE, I would like to enhance my understanding in technical prospects including detailed system and routing design. On the other hand, I think workflow and time management is another key that I want to improve as well. While manage on-site is a slightly different approach to pre-sales and PE which are involved in the design stage. Working in event management can allow me to actually operate the system that has been implementation, I think to get to know the whole system isn’t just building it but knowing how to operate it in the real life is also important. At the same time, unexpected issues will always occur on-site which I could learn about troubleshooting and decision making.

I will see you with my new position update next week!

Mandy xx