Information Technology – A lack of Accreditation!

In a recent article in the NCN (*), it reports that “Siemon announces support for the FIA’s (Fibreoptic Industry Association) Accredited Installer Scheme (AIS)". As such, this will form a step in the right direction to a framework for installers UK wide, and for some like ONA, this will be good news. ONA are supporters of training and accreditation for businesses.

The Information Technology industry is fairly unregulated, especially for installation services, be it for Fibre Optics or Data cabling.

At ONA we are continually amazed about installation process and procedures that others adopt, as often we have had to pick up the pieces of ‘BAD’ installations (Example shown). In truth an 'End User' may not know that they are 'on the end' of a BAD installation until they start to experience 'system' problems.

So we relish the opportunity to be part of a series of recognised standards within this generally unregulated industry.  But we do recognise that for some of our more professional competitors, like ourselves, the approach of best practice, is providing best practice! 

For ONA, like others, working within a very competitive commercial marketplace, and for many 'End Users', pricing can still be a keen consideration in selecting what is believed to be the RIGHT installer. But the opportunity of an accredited installer adds another dimension to the selection process.

That said, industry specific training and accreditation need to work to support those that are the ‘End User’, ensuring that accepted installation processes, materials and service are adhered to. Providing reassurance that what you are buying into with an accredited supplier, is that they are working to an industry specific standard. For the 'End User', there is of course a potential fiscal premium to pay for those recognised as supplying this, but this is weighed against the ‘reassurance factor'.

For each type of accreditation, there will be specific working criteria/ controls that suppliers will work to/ within. In the case of the FIA, installers are assessed against these criteria/ controls and must also commit to a code of conduct, have appropriate commercial insurance, and the appropriate health & safety policies in place. For installers, it creates a recognised framework/ code of practice, which ensures a 'best practice premium service', and creates a benchmark for the required service levels to ensure that the whole industry can work with professionalism.

At ONA we are supporters of the process. We believe in ensuring that we can be the best at what we do through development. What we do want to see though is accreditations that provide the benefits for all concerned. We know to give credence to industry accreditations it takes for all to ‘buy into it’ and we know this is not a quick and easy process. The industry needs to provide support to ensure that this is developed, and it will need more organisations like Siemon to create the right environment. 

As adopters of training and accreditation, ONA are part of various accredited schemes with certain ‘premium manufacturer' installation codes of practice; Nexans, Molex and Brand-Rex for example and the Safe Contractor Registration.

So for ONA we approve of accreditations.

Connect with ONA

Mob: 07799 628927
Email: roy@onaltd.co.uk
Web: www.onaltd.co.uk

*NCN – Network Communication News

Other BAD installation practices

Other BAD installation practices