Who is Andrew Black ...
What I Bring to Your Data Challenges
Data Quality and Governance Expertise
I understand that good data quality starts with solid foundations - clear metadata, well-defined data models, and systematic governance. Having worked through data migrations, master data management projects, and quality improvement initiatives, I know what works in practice.
Standards and Integration Experience
My experience includes development of EDI standards at Philips Electronics and contributions to international EDIFACT standards for high-tech supply chains. This taught me the critical importance of good metadata that defines the meaning of data in a systematic way - knowledge I apply to current data quality challenges.
Practical Implementation Focus
Whether it's migrating from legacy systems to SAP, implementing master data management, or building data dictionaries for customers' digitisation projects, I've learned that success comes from understanding both the business context and the technical environment.
My Background
My early career was in accountancy and auditing. The foundation of my approach to data management was built at Philips Electronics and NXP Semiconductors where I gained expertise in metadata standards, data modelling, and cross-industry collaboration. At Philips Corporate IT, I worked on building a corporate data dictionary and represented the company in international standards development.
Later, at NXP Semiconductors, I applied these principles across various practical scenarios - from system migrations to product data management and EAI infrastructure. This experience highlighted both the power of good data governance and the challenges organisations face when implementing it consistently.
As an independent consultant, I appreciate the direct focus on client results rather than having to navigate corporate structures. Working on specific assignments allows me to apply my experience where it can have the most immediate impact.
Later, at NXP Semiconductors, I applied these principles across various practical scenarios - from system migrations to product data management and EAI infrastructure. This experience highlighted both the power of good data governance and the challenges organisations face when implementing it consistently.
As an independent consultant, I appreciate the direct focus on client results rather than having to navigate corporate structures. Working on specific assignments allows me to apply my experience where it can have the most immediate impact.
Continuous Learning
Staying current with evolving best practices is essential in data management:
| DAMA Certified Data Management Professional, Associate | 2016 |
| Professional Scrum Master I, Scrum.org | 2018 |
| DAMA CDMP Data Governance Practitioner | 2020 |
| Data Science Specialisation, Johns Hopkins University, Coursera | 2014-2015 |
| MDM Summit and Data Governance Conference Europe | 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Advanced Data Modelling, IRM UK, Alec Sharp | 2018 |
| Nicola Askham The Data Governance Coach | 2019 |
| Python3 Specialization, University of Michigan, Coursera | 2021 |
| IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate Coursera | 2022 |
| IBM DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate Coursera | in progress 8 of 15 courses |
Open to freelance assignments in aspects of Data Management:
- Data Governance
- Data Quality
- Metadata development such as
- Data Models
- Business Glossaries
- Data Dictionaries
- Master Data Management
- Data mapping on interfaces