Andy Smith

Current

Consultant at RCI Qualico
Membership Leader at Software Testing Club

Past

Test Team Builder and Empathiser at Solid Consulting
Commercial Director at Solid Consulting
Project Leader at Newkite

Senior Test Analyst/Automation Consultant at EDS DWP
Testing Tools Coordinator at Boots
Test Tools Consultant at Leeds & Holbeck Building Society
Senior Test Analyst & Tools Consultant at Lloyds TSB Registrars
Senior Test Analyst & Test Team Leader at EDS DWP
Test Consultant at Compuware
Test Analyst at ITSA

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7 more...

Recommended

20 people have recommended Andy

Connections

284 connections

Industry

Information Technology and Services

Websites

Andy Smith’s Summary

As a successful hands-on tester and test project consultant, I have shared a beneficial mix of 'testing' and 'people' experience with scores of clients for over a decade or more.

Consequently, I have made the acquaintance of hundreds of fellow test professionals, whose levels of influence, breadth of knowledge and depth of delivery capacity have helped these projects succeed and prosper. These are my testingpeople.

I have always been keen to explore innovative, progressive and collaborative solutions to the timeless business conundrum: how can we do this better?

Andy Smith’s Experience

Consultant

RCI Qualico

(Information Technology and Services industry)

August 2009 — Present (8 months)

I'm a graduate of the School of Real-Life Testing. In my experience, too many projects suffer from under-utilised tools & knowledge and under-motivated people. Missed targets and poor coverage are inevitable, and once the team's belief is lost then their manager's objective turns from achievement to containment.

I am especially interested in the utilisation of resources...human, commercial and technical...to cut cost, waste and bureaucracy from any testing project and to motivate its people to excel.

I can help consultancies, vendors and service-providers to identify the right skills and assets required to fulfil project requirements and thus deliver testing on time and in budget; laying firm foundations for continued repeat business and building lasting relationships with their clients based on professional integrity and commercial acumen.

They say: "People buy from people". They're right.
I've seen the unlikeliest partnerships succeed and prosper because people took the time to 're-engage' with other people.
We're in the service sector...in the end, it's all about the service!
Membership Leader

Software Testing Club

(Information Technology and Services industry)

December 2008 — Present (1 year 4 months)

The Software Testing Club was founded in 2007 after a clear need for a community for software testers with a *quality approach*.

It started out as an experiment without high expectations. It is now a leading and thriving community for software testers.
Test Team Builder and Empathiser

Solid Consulting

(Privately Held; Information Technology and Services industry)

January 2007 — August 2009 (2 years 8 months)

As an experienced test consultant, and having served a varied apprenticeship at all levels, my 'solid' grounding allowed me to offer guidance and support in all manner of ways for the benefit of Solid's clients and contractors alike.

Analysing the client's predicament accurately and independently, I was able to advise both the hirer and the deliverer on areas of risk and requirement, ensuring the engagement between parties was correctly sold, specced and monitored.

At Solid, we measured success by the impact our work had on a client’s performance. This blend of people-management and test delivery knowledge set us apart.

I continue to work as a Solid associate, aligning the needs of their clients (active and prospective) with the capabilities on offer from Solid's ranks of experienced professionals.
Commercial Director

Solid Consulting

(Information Technology and Services industry)

January 2007 — April 2009 (2 years 4 months)

Interim/contractor resourcing specialist for software testers. Business development & commercial relationship management and project-specific consultancy.
Project Leader

Newkite

(Information Technology and Services industry)

November 2000 — November 2008 (8 years 1 month)

Principal Consultant and business development manager for independent QA and software testing contractors.
Commercial and client relationship management, resource management, project co-ordination, contractor support and mentoring, strategic planning...and hands-on test consultancy.
Senior Test Analyst/Automation Consultant

EDS DWP

(Information Technology and Services industry)

February 2004 — January 2006 (2 years )

Hired to implement and configure an IBM Rational-based tools package for automated regression testing, devise and develop a data-driven model and advise on ongoing best practice.
Provided general hands-on testing services and strategic planning advice on a range of project deliverables.
Testing Tools Coordinator

Boots

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Retail industry)

September 2003 — January 2004 (5 months)

Hired to administer a Compuware-based tools package for test artefact management and defect tracking.
Provided ongoing hands-on and remote tools support for a large multi-site project.
Devised and published 'how-to' guides on tools use and lifecycle management.
Test Tools Consultant

Leeds & Holbeck Building Society

(Banking industry)

September 2003 — October 2003 (2 months)

Hired to implement and configure a Compuware-based tools package for automated regression testing, devise and develop a data-driven model and advise on ongoing best practice.
Senior Test Analyst & Tools Consultant

Lloyds TSB Registrars

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Financial Services industry)

November 2002 — September 2003 (11 months)

Hired to provide technical direction for the conversion to Compuware of a mature Mercury-based tools package, including requirements capture and mapping, manual script and data management, a data-driven automation model and incident and release management trackers.

Provided support and guidance on procurement, licensing, implementation, configuration and ongoing best practice, consulting with a wide demographic of internal stakeholders and external providers.

Provided general hands-on testing services and strategic planning advice on a range of project deliverables.
Senior Test Analyst & Test Team Leader

EDS DWP

(Information Technology and Services industry)

November 2000 — November 2002 (2 years 1 month)

Hired to provide team leadership and professional direction and reporting on several project streams, general hands-on test analysis and execution, planning and supervision on a range of technical and commercial deliverables.
Test Consultant

Compuware

(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; CPWR; Computer Software industry)

November 1998 — November 2000 (2 years 1 month)

Hired to provided general hands-on testing services, tools expertise and training and client-side consultancy on a range of client project deliverables.
Key engagements included EDS, DVLA, BT and British Gas.
Test Analyst

ITSA

(Government Agency; 10,001 or more employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

September 1997 — November 1998 (1 year 3 months)

Provided general hands-on testing services and strategic planning advice on a range of Government systems.