Investigate one local firm that employs electrical or computer engineers - Essay Example

College: Super Micro Computer, Inc Super micro Computer, is a major player in provision of server technology and innovation, data storage center, embedded systems and computing solutions. Some of its products include: motherboards, networking systems, servers, storage technologies and power supply. The company’s headquarters are in San Jose, California though it has operations centers in the Netherland and a technology center in Thailand. Apart from the traditional functional areas of finance/accounting, Human resources, the companies Engineering, Production, Logistics and support, technical sales form a critical section in the company.

Organization structure or the functional areas determines how the various departments and the employees interact in order to achieve organization goals (Feigenbaum, E. 2012).At Super micro Computer, Inc, the structure is mainly focused on achieving leadership in its products as clearly defined by its First-to-market, quality and customer satisfaction principles. The organization ensures that it achieves leadership and excellent customer tailored solutions through cross functional groups, supplier partnerships, and continuous improvement programs such as internationally recognized standards (ISO9001 & ISO14001).

Under engineering department, Computer Systems Engineers are involved in among other things: Monitoring and running tests on the products, develop software and hardware solutions to meet customer needs, trouble shoot and solve computer systems related problems, create, record and review design processes, test processes and quality benchmarks. Engineers are also involved in: Inspecting, rating, upgrading and adjusting systems. They also perform tests on systems for use in new areas and maintenance of all necessary information records on activities.

In the Server Production/Test Engineers sections some of their duties include: Run testing and repair specification needs of servers in the production design, ensure quality maintenance on all application frameworks (ECO) and that any repeat work is done to meet market benchmarks. In addition, Engineers follow laid down procedures in testing and overseeing work, maintain and facilitate secure and conducive work arrangements, meet all daily and monthly set orders and assemble all accessory parts such as sockets, DVD drives and wire/cable.

Beside these duties, an engineer could be called to perform system maintenance and may act as a technical resource person for infrastructure form time to time.Super micro Computer, Inc has been in operation for about eighteen years and all this time it has strived to meet customer expectation through fast and timely product propositions and along the way its employees have acquired vast knowledge experience. The technology industry is characterized by fast passed technical innovations/inventions and if a company is not proactive, it may lose its competitive edge that may result to market share decline.

Super Micro Computers, inc runs an elaborate system of distribution outlets across major market segments of the world that include Europe and Asia that ensures customers get their products in any location. The technology center in Thailand plays a crucial role in designing and productions of its product to the markets in that region. The organization has been awarded certifications ((ISO9001 & ISO14001) on quality and environmental management systems. This system emphasizes on the full participation of all employees and teams in continuously improving the organization of products.

Super Micro Computers, runs a more horizontal structure where Engineers and other functional areas employees such as sales, marketing and research participate in cross functional teams to enable the company to consistently meets customer expectation and achieve its goals.Works CitedFeigenbaum, Eric. 2012.The Role of Organizational Structure in an Organization.Retrievd 9th November 2012. < http://smallbusiness.chron.com/role-organizational-structure- Organization-3794.htm>.