diff --git a/jjb/pipeline/voltha/voltha-2.12/bbsim-tests.groovy b/jjb/pipeline/voltha/voltha-2.12/bbsim-tests.groovy
index 34bf472..900e1e1 100644
--- a/jjb/pipeline/voltha/voltha-2.12/bbsim-tests.groovy
+++ b/jjb/pipeline/voltha/voltha-2.12/bbsim-tests.groovy
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@
 //------------------//
 //---]  GLOBAL  [---//
 //------------------//
-def clusterName = 'kind-ci'
+String clusterName = 'kind-ci' // was def
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Intent:
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-String getBranchName() {
+String branchName() {
     String name = 'voltha-2.12'
 
     // [TODO] Sanity check the target branch
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@
 //         Jenkins will re-write the call stack for serialization.
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 String getIam(String func) {
-    String branch_name = getBranchName()
+    String branchName = branchName()
     String src = [
         'ci-management',
         'jjb',
         'pipeline',
         'voltha',
-        branch_name,
+        branchName,
         'bbsim-tests.groovy'
     ].join('/')
 
@@ -64,30 +64,30 @@
 Boolean isReleaseBranch(String name)
 {
     // List modifiers = ['-dev', '-pre', 'voltha-x.y.z-pre']
-    // if branch_name in modifiers
-    return(name != 'master') // OR branch_name.contains('-')
+    // if branchName in modifiers
+    return(name != 'master') // OR branchName.contains('-')
 }
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Intent:
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-def execute_test(testTarget, workflow, testLogging, teardown, testSpecificHelmFlags = "")
+void execute_test(testTarget, workflow, testLogging, teardown, testSpecificHelmFlags='')
 {
-    def infraNamespace = "default"
-    def volthaNamespace = "voltha"
-    def logsDir = "$WORKSPACE/${testTarget}"
+    String infraNamespace  = 'default'
+    String volthaNamespace = 'voltha'
+    String logsDir = "$WORKSPACE/${testTarget}"
 
     stage('IAM')
     {
         script
         {
             // Announce ourselves for log usability
-            String iam = getIam('execute_test')
+            String iam = getIam('execute_test') 
             println("${iam}: ENTER")
             println("${iam}: LEAVE")
         }
     }
-    
+
     // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     stage('Cleanup')
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
         if (teardown) {
             timeout(15) {
                 script {
-                    helmTeardown(["default", infraNamespace, volthaNamespace])
+                    helmTeardown(['default', infraNamespace, volthaNamespace])
                 }
             timeout(1) {
                     sh returnStdout: false, script: '''
@@ -135,61 +135,78 @@
           _TAG=kail-startup kail -n ${infraNamespace} -n ${volthaNamespace} > ${logsDir}/onos-voltha-startup-combined.log &
           """
 
-          // if we're downloading a voltha-helm-charts patch, then install from a local copy of the charts
-          def localCharts = false
+		    // if we're downloading a voltha-helm-charts patch, then install from a local copy of the charts
+		    Boolean localCharts = false
+		    
+		    if (volthaHelmChartsChange != ''
+			|| gerritProject == 'voltha-helm-charts'
+			|| isReleaseBranch(branch) // branch != 'master'
+		    ) {
+			localCharts = true
+		    }
+		    
+		    String branchName = branchName()
+		    Boolean is_release = isReleaseBranch(branch)
+		    println([
+			" ** localCharts=${localCharts}",
+			"branchName=${branchName}",
+			"branch=${branch}",
+			"branch=isReleaseBranch=${is_release}",
+		    ].join(', '))
 
-          if (volthaHelmChartsChange != ""
-              || gerritProject == "voltha-helm-charts"
-              || isReleaseBranch(branch) // branch != 'master'
-          ) {
-            localCharts = true
-          }
-          String branch_name = getBranchName()
-          Boolean is_release = isReleaseBranch(branch)
-                    println([
-                        " ** localCharts=${localCharts}",
-                        "branch_name=${branch_name}",
-                        "branch=${branch}",
-                        "branch=isReleaseBranch=${is_release}",
-                    ].join(', '))
+		    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+		    // Rewrite localHelmFlags using array join, moving code around and
+		    // refactoring into standalone functions 
+		    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+		    // hudson.remoting.ProxyException: groovy.lang.MissingMethodException:
+		    // No signature of method: java.lang.String.positive() is applicable for argument types: () values: []
+		    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+		    // NOTE temporary workaround expose ONOS node ports
+		    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+		    String localHelmFlags = [
+			extraHelmFlags.trim(),
+			"--set global.log_level=${logLevel.toUpperCase()}",
+			'--set onos-classic.onosSshPort=30115',
+			'--set onos-classic.onosApiPort=30120',
+			'--set onos-classic.onosOfPort=31653',
+			'--set onos-classic.individualOpenFlowNodePorts=true',
+			testSpecificHelmFlags
+		    ].join(' ')
 
-          // NOTE temporary workaround expose ONOS node ports
-          def localHelmFlags = extraHelmFlags.trim()
-                  + " --set global.log_level=${logLevel.toUpperCase()} "
-                  + " --set onos-classic.onosSshPort=30115 "
-                  + " --set onos-classic.onosApiPort=30120 "
-                  + " --set onos-classic.onosOfPort=31653 "
-                  + " --set onos-classic.individualOpenFlowNodePorts=true "
-                  + testSpecificHelmFlags
+		    println("** localHelmFlags = ${localHelmFlags}")
 
-          if (gerritProject != "") {
-            localHelmFlags = "${localHelmFlags} " + getVolthaImageFlags("${gerritProject}")
-          }
+		    if (gerritProject != '') {
+			localHelmFlags = "${localHelmFlags} " + getVolthaImageFlags("${gerritProject}")
+		    }
 
-          volthaDeploy([
-            infraNamespace: infraNamespace,
-            volthaNamespace: volthaNamespace,
-            workflow: workflow.toLowerCase(),
-            withMacLearning: enableMacLearning.toBoolean(),
-            extraHelmFlags: localHelmFlags,
-            localCharts: localCharts,
-            bbsimReplica: olts.toInteger(),
-            dockerRegistry: registry,
-            ])
-        }
+		    println('volthaDeploy: ENTER')
+		    volthaDeploy([
+			infraNamespace: infraNamespace,
+			volthaNamespace: volthaNamespace,
+			workflow: workflow.toLowerCase(),
+			withMacLearning: enableMacLearning.toBoolean(),
+			extraHelmFlags: localHelmFlags,
+			localCharts: localCharts,
+			bbsimReplica: olts.toInteger(),
+			dockerRegistry: registry,
+		    ])
+		    println('volthaDeploy: LEAVE')
+		} // script
 
         // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
         // Intent: Replacing P_IDS with pgrep/pkill is a step forward.
         // Why not simply use a pid file, capture _TAG=kail-startup above
         // Grep runs the risk of terminating stray commands (??-good <=> bad-??)
-        // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-	echo 'Try out pgrep/pkill commands'
-        def stream = sh(
-            returnStatus:false,
-            returnStdout:true,
-            script: '''pgrep --list-full kail-startup || true'''
-        )
-        println("** pgrep output: ${stream}")
+	// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+	script {
+	    println('Try out pgrep/pkill commands')
+            def stream = sh(
+                returnStatus:false,
+                returnStdout:true,
+                script: '''pgrep --list-full kail-startup || true'''
+            )
+	    println("** pgrep output: ${stream}")
+	}
 
         // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
         // stop logging
@@ -225,8 +242,9 @@
 
             // setting ONOS log level
             script
-            {
-                setOnosLogLevels([
+            { 
+		println('** setOnosLogLevels: ENTER')
+		setOnosLogLevels([
                     onosNamespace: infraNamespace,
                     apps: [
                         'org.opencord.dhcpl2relay',
@@ -238,13 +256,15 @@
                     ],
                     logLevel: logLevel
                 ])
+		println('** setOnosLogLevels: LEAVE')
             } // script
         } // if (teardown)
     } // stage('Deploy Voltha')
 
-    stage('Run test ' + testTarget + ' on ' + workflow + ' workFlow')
+    stage("Run test ${testTarget} on workflow ${workFlow}")
     {
         sh """
+        echo -e "\n** Monitor using mem_consumption.py ?"
     if [ ${withMonitoring} = true ] ; then
       mkdir -p "$WORKSPACE/voltha-pods-mem-consumption-${workflow}"
       cd "$WORKSPACE/voltha-system-tests"
@@ -256,6 +276,7 @@
     """
 
         sh """
+        echo -e "\n** make testTarget=[${testTarget}]"
     mkdir -p ${logsDir}
     export ROBOT_MISC_ARGS="-d ${logsDir} ${params.extraRobotArgs} "
     ROBOT_MISC_ARGS+="-v ONOS_SSH_PORT:30115 -v ONOS_REST_PORT:30120 -v NAMESPACE:${volthaNamespace} -v INFRA_NAMESPACE:${infraNamespace} -v container_log_dir:${logsDir} -v logging:${testLogging}"
@@ -267,14 +288,18 @@
         getPodsInfo("${logsDir}")
 
         sh """
+      echo -e '\n** Gather robot Framework logs: ENTER'
       # set +e
       # collect logs collected in the Robot Framework StartLogging keyword
       cd ${logsDir}
       gzip *-combined.log
       rm -f *-combined.log
+
+      echo -e '** Gather robot Framework logs: LEAVE\n'
     """
 
     sh """
+    echo -e '** Monitor pod-mem-consumption: ENTER'
     if [ ${withMonitoring} = true ] ; then
       cd "$WORKSPACE/voltha-system-tests"
       make venv-activate-script
@@ -282,14 +307,16 @@
       # Collect memory consumption of voltha pods once all the tests are complete
       python scripts/mem_consumption.py -o $WORKSPACE/voltha-pods-mem-consumption-${workflow} -a 0.0.0.0:31301 -n ${volthaNamespace}
     fi
+    echo -e '** Monitor pod-mem-consumption: LEAVE\n'
     """
     } // stage
+
+    return
 } // execute_test()
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-def collectArtifacts(exitStatus)
-{
+def collectArtifacts(exitStatus) {
     echo '''
 
 ** -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -308,22 +335,23 @@
   sh '''
     sync
     [[ $(pgrep --count kail) -gt 0 ]] && pkill --echo kail
-    which voltctl
-    md5sum $(which voltctl)
   '''
 
   step([$class: 'RobotPublisher',
     disableArchiveOutput: false,
-    logFileName: "**/*/log*.html",
+    logFileName: '**/*/log*.html',
     otherFiles: '',
-    outputFileName: "**/*/output*.xml",
+    outputFileName: '**/*/output*.xml',
     outputPath: '.',
     passThreshold: 100,
-    reportFileName: "**/*/report*.html",
+    reportFileName: '**/*/report*.html',
     unstableThreshold: 0,
     onlyCritical: true]);
 }
 
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Intent: main
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 pipeline {
 
   /* no label, executor is determined by JJB */
@@ -337,8 +365,8 @@
     KUBECONFIG="$HOME/.kube/kind-${clusterName}"
     VOLTCONFIG="$HOME/.volt/config"
     PATH="$PATH:$WORKSPACE/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
-    DIAGS_PROFILE="VOLTHA_PROFILE"
-    SSHPASS="karaf"
+    DIAGS_PROFILE='VOLTHA_PROFILE'
+    SSHPASS='karaf'
   }
   stages {
     stage('Download Code') {
@@ -429,7 +457,7 @@
                     returnStdout: true,
                     script: """kind get clusters | grep "${clusterName}" | wc -l""")
 
-                if (clusterExists.trim() == "0")
+                if (clusterExists.trim() == '0')
                 {
                     createKubernetesCluster([nodes: 3, name: clusterName])
                 }
@@ -444,7 +472,7 @@
         // if the project is voltctl, override the downloaded one with the built one
         when {
             expression {
-                return gerritProject == "voltctl"
+                return gerritProject == 'voltctl'
             }
         }
 
@@ -475,26 +503,28 @@
     // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     stage('Parse and execute tests')
     {
-            steps {
-                script {
-                    def tests = readYaml text: testTargets
+        steps {
+	    script {
+                def tests = readYaml text: testTargets
 
-                    for(int i = 0;i<tests.size();i++) {
-                        def test = tests[i]
-                        def target = test["target"]
-                        def workflow = test["workflow"]
-                        def flags = test["flags"]
-                        def teardown = test["teardown"].toBoolean()
-                        def logging = test["logging"].toBoolean()
+                for(int i = 0;i<tests.size();i++) {
+                    def test = tests[i]
+                        def target = test['target']
+                        def workflow = test['workflow']
+                        def flags = test['flags']
+                        def teardown = test['teardown'].toBoolean()
+                        def logging = test['logging'].toBoolean()
                         def testLogging = 'False'
                         if (logging) {
                             testLogging = 'True'
                         }
                         println "Executing test ${target} on workflow ${workflow} with logging ${testLogging} and extra flags ${flags}"
+                        println "Executing test ${target}: ENTER"
                         execute_test(target, workflow, testLogging, teardown, flags)
-                    }
-                }
-            }
+                        println "Executing test ${target}: LEAVE"
+                    } // for
+                } // script
+            } // steps
         } // stage
     } // stages