This document discusses ways that cable installers can save time and increase profits during cable installation projects. It finds that reducing time spent on testing, reporting, re-work and troubleshooting through the use of advanced testing systems can significantly improve productivity and profits. Installers who used systems that reduced testing inefficiencies reported up to a 10% increase in profit margins on average cable installation jobs.
1. White Paper
These advances have reduced the time
to certify each cable link to just a few
seconds. Faster testers have certainly
shaved costs required for cable installers
to test and certify their work. Still, there
are additional steps in any installation
that consume valuable time, which
ultimately translate to additional costs.
Savvy business owners and test device
providers now realize there are more
opportunities to reduce time spent for many
test-related functions, helping cable operators to
reap new profits in the process.
The old adage,
“Time is Money” applies in
a big way to cable testing.
Over the last 20 years,
the enterprise cabling
installation industry has
benefitted from advances
in testing and certification
tools and technologies.
HOW TO
INCREASE
PROFITS IN CABLE
INSTALLATIONS?
SAVE TIME.
2. Fluke Networks www.flukenetworks.com2
White Paper
To identify, quantify, and confirm ways to make testing and certification more efficient, Fluke Networks recently asked cable installers
about the time they spent performing various test-related functions. The surveys yielded some surprising results. One big take-away:
effectively dealing with problems and inefficiencies during the testing process definitely improves profit margins. In fact, some companies
reported as much as ten percent profit added to their bottom line! They did this by using systems that reduce testing time wasters. This
additional profit means more revenues for cable installers, or if they choose to pass along their savings to prospective customers, it means
more competitive bids.
In one survey, US installers reported that 63 percent of their time was spent actually installing cable. After the installation was complete,
fourteen percent of their typical project time involved tasks related to testing, six percent went to reporting, eight percent was spent on
re-work, and nine percent was dedicated to contingencies and other activities. The non-installation parts of the job – testing, reporting,
re-working and troubleshooting – represent ripe opportunities for cutting costs by deploying test systems with expanded capabilities.
Reducing errors during planning and setup, eliminating testing mistakes caused by inexperienced workers, avoiding delays caused when
less experienced installers are idle and waiting for more help from experienced managers, condensing time on troubleshooting, reducing
the need for retesting, streamlining inefficient reporting processes, and avoiding unnecessary travel time were all actions companies cited
that can reduce costs and increase profits.
Advanced testers improve productivity
Cable installers using standard testers reported an average of 20 hours spent addressing problems in the course of completing an average
1000-link job. They reduced the average number of hours troubleshooting problems to just seven hours when they used advanced testing
systems. This represents a whopping 65% productivity gain!
Improved planning and setup is an essential first step to reduce time and costs. A test system that offers a single job management
function to track all job requirements at the outset can pay big dividends during the course of the job. Such a system can efficiently set
the job requirements and progress from setup to systems acceptance, making sure that all tests are completed accurately.
When test parameters can be set up in one central point and transmitted using the cloud by both technicians and administrative staff,
it saves time and reduces errors. Advanced testing systems eliminate travel to and from the office for test reporting, resulting in more
accurate reporting and faster project closeout.
Shortage of skilled workers requires new methods for cable testing
In the field, installers definitely don’t want mistakes and employ a number of approaches to minimize them. One method is to hire more
skilled employees. However, there is a shortage of workers with an understanding of the nuances of cable and fiber testing. Seventy-eight
percent of the global installation company owners Fluke surveyed report that finding good workers is a challenge.
More training for inexperienced staff members can certainly help to eliminate time-wasting mistakes – Fluke Networks trains thousands
of technicians in their Certified Cabling Test Technician (CCTT) program. Unfortunately, training can be expensive. Classes require a small
tuition charge, and two days away from the jobsite, plus travel if local classes aren’t conveniently available, adds up. Then there is a
turnover issue. Not only do cabling contractors see the typical turnover issues of any business, but its job-driven nature means a steady
inflow and outflow of temporary workers. Making a significant investment in training a worker who in all likelihood will be working for a
competitor next month is not smart business.
Highly experienced project managers at cable installation firms have the knowledge to make sure that mistakes are avoided. Indeed, more
than 80% of installer owners report that their project managers ensure that things are done right. Unfortunately, the very nature of today’s
cable installation business makes this tough to do. Most contractors work on multiple jobs at the same time, and at a single job, installers
have to move from floor to floor and wait for construction teams to finish other parts of the job. Seventy percent of installers report
moving a tester from one job to another and then back at least once every month. Given that a majority of project managers report being
stretched too thin, it’s unlikely that they would be able to successfully chase their testers around making sure they’re always set up and
used properly.
3. Fluke Networks www.flukenetworks.com3
White Paper
Since training is costly, and hiring more experienced workers plus more project managers to supervise them takes a big bite out of the
bottom line, a better approach is to design testing systems so that there is less room for error.
Cleverly designing and automating some of the testing functions to avoid errors is a key way to make the testing process more efficient.
More than 800 installers worldwide were questioned and almost half reported having to retest links because they were tested to the wrong
limits. Thirty-seven percent reported dealing with negative loss fiber measurements. (A negative loss in a fiber is like recording a negative
time in a 100-meter dash – something obviously is incorrect.)
Fixing the root cause of many test problems: improper set-up
The root cause of negative fiber loss readings is improper reference set-up in the instrument. Setting fiber reference levels properly is
critical to good measurements, but it is a relatively complex process. If any of the steps are performed improperly, every reading made
from that point with the tester will be incorrect. The testing device itself can eliminate errors by leading the operator through the set-up
process step by step and checking that it has been done right. The sequence of Fluke Networks device screens below shows some of the
steps in the process. As each is completed, the user taps “NEXT” and the tester verifies that the step was completed and presents the next
step. Note the use of color coding on the cabling further reduces the chances of error.
Of course, there are many places in the cable certification where mistakes can occur. Each of these can be examined and the poka-yoke
approach can be used to prevent or call attention to the mistakes. By eliminating these mistakes, contractors can reduce costs, increase
profitability, and reduce the time to systems acceptance and therefore payment.
According to Fluke Networks customers, another step in the cable certification process that requires more time than necessary is
troubleshooting when problems crop up. According to more than 300 contractors who participated in a US survey, one of the biggest time
wasters in the testing process is the time teams have to wait for a lead technician to troubleshoot: this averages 4.6 hours a month for
copper, and 3.8 hours a month for fiber.
For example, our research found that only 30% of technicians were able to set up custom fiber testing limits; and 64% of firms reported
delays in the prior six months while waiting for a tech to set up custom fiber limits.
Making reporting more efficient
Another big time waster is inefficient reporting. One big problem for many firms is the time they spend each month to transport testers
to a PC so results can be downloaded to create required reports. They report that 4.4 hours a month is spent just getting the information
to the right place. A test system that manages all of the results from multiple testers using one cloud-based PC software application can
seamlessly access tester data to track progress and generate reports. Overall reporting costs were halved for companies that used test
systems with advanced reporting capabilities – from 4% overall project cost to 2% for a 1000-link average job.
4. Fluke Networks www.flukenetworks.com4
White Paper
Fluke Networks engineers designed the Versiv cable testing system to efficiently complete all tasks associated with testing cable
installations, from planning and setup, through project management, testing troubleshooting and reporting. Its ProjX™ System manages
job requirements and progress from setup to systems acceptance, making sure all tests are completed correctly. The Taptive™ User Interface
simplifies set up, eliminates errors and speeds troubleshooting. The LinkWare Live cloud service gives control of the whole process: testers
can be set up and tracked and results can be inspected from any mobile device while the job is in process. Installers can upload and
integrate results from multiple testers at multiple jobsites to quickly generate reports with the de-facto industry standard LinkWare PC.
Fluke Networks interviewed companies that used 100% Versiv systems, companies that deployed some percentage of Versiv devices, and
those that had no Versiv products. Fluke Networks compared the efficiency of Versiv cable testing system users against shops with a
mixture of devices and no Versiv systems. Overall, Versiv owners spend up to 66% less time on testing and reporting issues. The findings
show that total spend on testing and reporting goes down from 15% to 8% to 5%, adding 7% and 10% to the overall profit margin, as
Versiv penetration increases from 0% to 50% to 100%. Saving time saves money and that’s good news for the bottom line.
About Fluke Networks
Fluke Networks is the worldwide leader in certification, troubleshooting, and installation tools for professionals who install and maintain
critical network cabling infrastructure. From installing the most advanced data centers to restoring service in the worst weather, our
combination of legendary reliability and unmatched performance ensure jobs are done efficiently.
For more information, visit www.flukenetworks.com/versiv
