Automation Factory:
Automating infrastructure design tools
to improve safety, quality, and delivery speed
Leveraging AI for the built environment
Summary
I joined AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure and technology pioneer for the built environment, in summer 2023 as the first digital hire to spearhead an enterprise technology team - the Automation Factory. The Automation Factory is a process, methodology and team dedicated to developing and deploying digital automation solutions globally that streamline delivery and improve quality of work at AECOM.
Under my guidance, a process for product development was defined from ideation to implementation through to maintenance and evolution to establish a competitive edge for responding to needs across the business by developing capabilities for innovating rapidly in the automation technology space. Ultimately, Automation Factory will scale to realize opportunities and deliver automation solutions across business lines and disciplines that improve workflow and cost efficiency, and serve as a model for enterprise development and digital delivery best practices.
PRODUCT INNOVATION RESEARCH STRATEGY
Scope & role:
Process, staffing, scaling, and culture building to support Automation Factory development work, operations, and scalability
Conducting discovery research and developing POCs to test and refine
Collaborating with engineers, SMEs, and business line leaders to design, validate, test, and ship automation tools
Owning, managing, prioritizing and reporting on backlog & OKRs
Key achievements:
Shipped 12 tools
Reduced manual effort by 80,000 hours (175%) for 2023, equating to a cost savings of over $3.5M
Adoption of agile and UX methodologies improved velocity, product quality, consistency, and stakeholder relationships
CASE STUDY COMING SOON