The CCI Data Formatting project was large and complex, and was the main task I completed at Carson that summer.
I worked alone, under the supervision of the IT manager. The project involved accepting data from customers in a number of varying formats, and taking that data and massaging it and checking it for consistency before passing it on to a computer system in Montreal that would hold the data in preparation of release to Canada Customs (CCRA). Major tasks included; Understanding enough about the business so that the program wouldn't violate any laws, and so that the program would do what Carson needed. Understanding what was likely to be consistent in the incoming customer data, so that the data could be processed correctly. Parsing the customer data so that its validity could be checked, and formatting it to the specifications of the company that looked after the custom's database. Transferring that data to the customs database over the frame relay using 3rd party software. Verifying and correcting the integrity of classification data stored in the custom's database. Verifying and correcting classification data that belonged to Carson, and Verifying and correcting data provided by the customers. Developing a standard format for information exchange, that smaller companies could adhere to in order to receive the benefits of the system.

Benefits.

The program freed employees from repetitive data entry, allowing them to do more interesting work. The amount of time to process customer data was reduced dramatically. The accuracy of the information processing was increased by reducing the possibility of user error. Company databases are kept more current than they were previously. Customer shipments are processed quickly, in as little as 10 minutes from receipt to release. Rather than those shipments waiting in a queue to be manually entered and verified.

Conclusion (Carson)