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If the jack don’t fit, you must quit!

Here’s another story to tell or explain “the why”.

Think Modular, as a team, has developed relationships with many companies that include direct clients, builders, developers and electrical contractors.

In a recent project, we were asked to participate in only the terminations and testing of an already installed cabling infrastructure. Usually, I do not like taking on this type of request because picking up where someone left off can be a daunting task, especially if they don’t do what you do every day. But, since this particular company lacked the professional skillset that our team possesses, and was time-bound, we accepted their invite.

Knowing this, going into the project we uncovered how important it is to send the right person/people/company with the right skills to deploy a proper cabling infrastructure. Installing cabling infrastructure is an architectural work of art.

The planning that goes into a successful deployment is very necessary. Everything must be accounted for: where the cabling starts to where it finishes, how it gets installed, and what tools are needed to install it; implementing a labeling sequence from workstations to MDF/IDFs, as well as picking the type of cable, and using an end to end cabling solution.

In communications cabling, standards define cabling types, distances, connections, cabling topologies, performance parameters, testing requirements, and more.

When this company was in a jam, they decided to cut corners to reduce costs, by having inexperienced labour install the cabling infrastructure. Plus, they replaced one type of wall plate with a different type for the jack to connect to.

When these issues were uncovered during our on-site visit, not only did it cause a slowdown and an eventual halt to the project, we had to inspect their work to ensure the right jack and wall plate fitments, because they were not from the same brand of cabling manufacturer. This, in turn, cost more than what they thought it would save them, plus it wouldn’t pass inspection.

If you ask us to do a job in a week’s time and we get it done in less time and without hiccups, it’s because we’ve spent 20 years perfecting our craft, you owe us for the experience. Hence, it’s important to pick an experienced team for the installation, who will ensure same components from the same cabling manufacturer.

If you didn’t know, now you know.

Steve Duguay
Thinker & Managing Partner
Think Modular