Latin America. Standards are created to define a model, a criterion, a rule or minimum requirements for the operation of certain processes.
In the Professional Audiovisual Industry, InfoComm International®, accredited by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), has developed Standards for the areas of audio, video, control, documentation and sustainability, which seek to deliver performance guidelines to those who work with the different systems.
Bradley A. Malone, a senior instructor at InfoComm University™, PMP and president of Twin Star Consulting, says many people don't understand why others don't seem interested in knowing how to do things the right way, seeming more important to them to do things "their way" rather than following a standard method that delivers the defined results.
Why are standards important, and how do we get our people to implement and improve them? Bradley explains that standards allow you to establish, measure and ensure a level of quality to customers and others, either to measure performance, functionality, reliability, service, etc.
Generally people working in the AV Industry are taught how to do or perform, but based on someone else's experience, without truly showing them why, how and which method to use. And it is in this process that the standards must be applied, because they are the key to providing the necessary information and giving meaning to the person involved in the work, Bradley says.
For example, telling an installation technician that by doing his job well by pulling the cable you are increasing profits, without him or her understanding what the benefits are for a company, will not motivate you; but if it is explained to you that by pulling and finishing the cables well and testing them according to the standard allow us to perform integrations or installations with best practices, it reduces/eliminates the chances that he/she or another technician will have to return to the job site and do it again; In addition, the system works in optimal conditions and that the client gains in quality, the reasoning will work better, because it provides a context, so that the technician will understand and relate it to his work and work.
The standards are immersed in the different functions of the Industry and "showing what these standards are in a visible way will be essential to visualize the level of quality. Having a set of laminated cards that feature finishes, labels, etc., provides clarity and creates uniformity across all teams," says Bradley A. Malone, while ensuring that providing hands-on training on how to meet standards is critical and by doing so with everyone involved in the processes builds camaraderie and accountability.
To learn more about InfoComm standards, visit www.infocomm.org/standards
We thank Bradley A. Malone for giving us his input on this issue.
Text written by InfoComm International.
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