Transportation data analyst
I worked as a transportation data analyst in a small manufacturing and transporting company in South Korea. My major responsibilities were collecting data and monitoring the transportation process of our products using SQL databases and YULGOC (율곡), a Korean information system developed for efficient manufacturing and distribution. I checked whether our customers get our products and whether they paid for them or not. Moreover, if there was any inaccurate information in the process, it was detected and correctly modified. In other words, I monitored the data corresponding to each step in the process, from receiving shipments to the transportation of finished products to their destination. I maintained the automatic email transmission system and upgraded the company’s website, all with the aim of improving business efficiency and productivity.
Our main customers were Chinese and Korean corporations. When we received the raw materials from the Chinese companies, they usually came as 10 to 20 ton shipments, which were shipped using F.O.B. prices. I tracked the data regarding amounts of the materials and prices. When we received the materials, I verified that the shipment matched our records. Then, after our company’s own products were manufactured, I marked which products should be sent where, and added those shipments to our database. Additionally, I would verify that our customers received their orders. On one occasion, I caught a discrepancy between the actual material quantity and the quantity we were supposed to receive. Correcting the error required me visiting a few companies in China to get the missing materials as soon as possible. Personal meetings are necessary for important deals and expedited orders, since emails and phone calls are unfortunately often not given significant care. Therefore, in this situation, we decided to visit each company and discuss our needs. We got promises to receive more materials for the next order. I would label this my greatest accomplishment and learning experience while working for the company. I was able to discover the problem and solve it using a combination of the tools from my education, working knowledge of the industry, problem solving skills, and communication experience.
I learned many things through working in a real company. First, I learned how the company operates. When they do business with other companies, there are a lot of procedures and obstacles. I think information system is a necessary part of managing the difficulties of ordering, manufacturing, and fulfilling orders, and making the whole processes much easier and more efficient. For these reasons, I think information technology is essential to do efficient and accurate business in the modern day.