About the Work at DAF Trucks

At DAF Trucks, we worked in the Industrial Automation Systems department, building software for the three factories in Eindhoven. What makes this work special is that you directly see what your software does: the applications we wrote are used daily by operators on the factory floor. If something doesn't work, you hear about it within minutes.

Desktop Applications

We developed desktop applications in C# using WinForms and WPF for the user interface. For database interaction, we used Entity Framework or plain SQL, depending on query complexity. The applications ranged from simple data entry tools to complex systems that control entire production processes and controlling multiple PLCs.

PLC Integration

A significant part of the work involved integrating with industrial equipment. Via OPC UA and the Kepware server, we could control and read PLCs. We built applications that scrape production data from machines for analysis, but also applications that actively control processes. We also worked with CAN-bus and Open Protocol for communication with tools like EHS pumps and torque wrenches.

Legacy Migration

Besides building new applications, we also migrated legacy code from .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.5 to .NET 8. This meant not just updating dependencies, but often rewriting code that depended on outdated libraries. It's not glamorous work, but essential to keep the codebase maintainable and allow adding new features.

Data Analysis

For data analysis and optimizing application performance, I used Python with Pandas and Matplotlib. This helped me identify bottlenecks and make data-driven decisions about where improvements were needed.

Project Management & Collaboration

About 30% of the time went to project management: guiding projects from inception to delivery, communicating with different departments and stakeholders, and managing deadlines. We worked closely with production engineers, operators, and external vendors to ensure the software meets the factory's needs. Sometimes that meant standing on the factory floor to see how operators use the software.

Tools & Workflow

For development, we used Visual Studio, with Git and Azure DevOps for version control and code reviews. I implemented Git Flow to improve the development workflow and make releases more predictable. For data analysis and proof of concepts, I worked with Python in Visual Studio Code.