Keith Bowers

Technical Writer @Lionbridge

Corvallis, OR, US

I work at HP Inc. in Corvallis via Lionbridge as a contingent worker, supporting additional HP locations including San Diego and Singapore. I compose, revise, edit and update documents including operating and maintenance manuals, troubleshooting guides, on-tool instructional references, and various procedural manuals. I work closely with engineers and technicians in various fabrication facilities, shooting video demos and still photos for manuals. This role is the latest of many I\'ve held that involves making complex material clear and understandable for people who rely on it. The machines whose documentation I help maintain include tools that assemble and test cartridges for large-format inkjet printers, testing devices associated with 3D-metal printing, machines that subject products to environmental-testing rigors, tools that create electrical circuit boards, precision scales and cameras, robotic devices, and machines that coordinate the loading and unloading of other devices. Software instructions are often part of the manuals. Most templates are in Microsoft Word, while some are in PowerPoint. I use a proprietary document management system known internally as “The Vault.” My ultimate responsibility is to the engineers and techs who depend on these documents to use machines that, if used improperly, can cause material damage, chemical spills, radiation leaks, physical injury or death. I aim for editorial and visual clarity, logical organization and keeping all data as up to date and accurate as possible. I also update links within manuals to related documents, making sure all external materials are also up to date.

San Francisco State University

Certificate, Paralegal Studies

San Francisco State University

Bachelor of Arts - BA, Journalism

San Francisco State University

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Journalism