Point of View:
Best Practices and Industry Quality
Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D.
InfoComm International
Welcome to Point of View Series
Highlights information about issues impacting
the audiovisual industry and provides a forum
for InfoComm to share the association’s
viewpoints.
With You Today
Scott Walker, CTS-D

Principal, Waveguide
Consulting, Inc.
POV Overview

Maturing AV industry is taking a hard look at
quality and ways to maintain, improve and
expand client awareness of why it’s important
to hire audiovisual professionals.

InfoComm’s role:

Industry Outreach Campaigns

Education and Certification

AV Best Practices Book

Project Management Courses

New Programs Coming Soon
Questions this POV Will Answer
Best Practices

What are Industry Best Practices and why are
they important?

What are some Best Practices identified by
industry experts?

How will InfoComm continue to establish best
practices as the industry and technologies
change?
What are Industry Best Practices?
Best Practices are a concept which asserts that
there is a technique, method, process, activity,
incentive or reward that is more effective at
delivering a particular outcome than any other
technique, method, process, etc. With proper
processes, checks, and testing, a project can be
rolled out and completed with fewer problems and
unforeseen complications.
How Were the Best Practices Developed?


Design and Integration Best Practices were
developed by a dedicated team of AV systems
integrators, independent consultants and the
technology managers/end-users who
recognized the need for a definitive
explanation of the business of AV.
Their InfoComm councils — the Sound,
AudioVisual and Video Integrators (SAVVI),
the Independent Consultants in Audiovisual
Technology (ICAT) and the Technology
Managers/End-Users — made suggestions
that were refined and expanded by the Best
Practices Committee.
Result: AV Best Practices Guide





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
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The design and construction process
Selecting and contracting the project
team
Explanation of the program, design and
construction phases
Information about system commissioning
and training
Sample contract forms and checklists
Questions to ask during the program and
construction phases of AV projects
Sample user guide
Sample technical manual
AV glossary
Impact of Audiovisual Best Practices Guide

How is it used?

What has been its impact?
Project Management

Audiovisual Best Practices book highlights importance
of project management skills and knowledge for quality
outcome

Members asked InfoComm to provide expertise in
project management

InfoComm now offers project management courses,
taught by a PMI® Registered Education Provider®, using
the PMI A Guide to the Project Management Body of
Knowledge (PMBOK®Guide) as its basis and
customized for the audiovisual industry

Using the PMI materials aligns the audiovisual industry
with internationally recognized project management
best practices to reinforce the client’s image of quality
for the industry
Project Management for Executives

How does Project Management
professionalize the industry?

Why should AV industry executives be
interested in project management ?

What is the advantage for industry leaders
attending InfoComm’s Project Management for
Executives?
InfoComm Executive Business Conference




September 22 and 23
(golf on 21)
Marriott Lincolnshire,
Chicago
Audience:
commercial
audiovisual business
owners, principals,
executives and their
direct reports only
Project management
and human resource
focus
Industry Technical Best Practices
Best Practices Next Steps

Business Best Practices now documented in
Audiovisual Best Practices book

Project Management Best Practices taught in
course using PMBOK®Guide as basis

What about Installation and Design technical
best practices?
Document Installation Best Practices

InfoComm has taught
installation best practices
to hundreds of installers
over the past 10 years
through its classroom and
online courses

Installation best practices
have been established by
industry experts who
taught on a volunteer
basis and who actively
review curriculum

In recent years,
documented curriculum
has highlighted “best
practices”
Installation Best Practices Reference

Compilation of
curriculum best
practices

Many photos added

Released as training
material and discussion
encouraged

Final copy in ‘07
InfoComm Audiovisual Installation
Program
Situation Analysis – Industry Needs Installers
While hundreds of students take InfoComm's
Installation Online course each year, limited availability
of classroom space for InfoComm’s Installation School
has students requesting additional options. Many are
also seeking to achieve the Certified Technology
Specialist in Installation (CTS-I) designation.
In a recent survey of 6,465 North American Systems
Integrators (184 responses), 59% of the respondents
stated that they were not aware of InfoComm
soldering practices and 63% do not have
documentation for soldering practices.
Addressing the Need for Installers

InfoComm Board of Governors
(BOG), SAVVI and ICAT members
initiated discussions with the
Professional Education and
Training (PETC) Steering
Committee regarding the critical
need in the industry for more
installation technicians and for
improvement in the quality of
installations industry-wide.

PETC was charged to work with
SAVVI and ICAT members to
develop ways to take existing
InfoComm Academy curriculum
content and make it more available
to train more installers.
New Program Goals

Train several hundred individuals at the
installation basics level as quickly as
possible.
 Remove distance barriers to current
training
 Maintain reasonable costs
 Expand the use of InfoComm Academy’s
installation “best practices” content by
making it more available for discussion,
use and acceptance throughout the
industry.
 Provide a way to recognize the student’s
achievement while still maintaining the
integrity of CTS-I designation.
Audience for New Class
Entry level AV installers
in their first year of hire.
Refresher for current
installers who are not
using best practices.
Materials

Installation Best Practices Reference Guide

5 Modules


Introduction to Audiovisual Installation

Basic Mounting

Cable Pulling

Terminations

Rack Building
Blended learning materials made available:
online, streamed, instructor guides, skill
assessment checklists, etc.
Implementation Timeline


Materials will be provided for the first 5
modules starting in Fall 2006 to help
companies train their employees on site.
Phase 2 modules will be developed thereafter
 Audio Systems Installation
 Visual Systems Installation
 Control Systems Installation
Taking CTS-I Prep On the Road

Plans are under development

The hands-on component of the Installation
certification (CTS-I) requires a great deal of
equipment and consumables

InfoComm is currently investigating ways to
maintain a hands-on component to
demonstrate skills that is more accessible,
while still maintaining the rigorous testing of its
specialized programs. More information will
be provided on this initiative by the end of
2006.
Design Technical Best Practices

Basics of Audio and
Visual Systems Design
already in print.

AV Design Reference
Manual (with BICSI) due
out shortly. Will be able
to order from online
store at
www.infocomm.org or by
calling customer service
at 703-273-7200.
Future Point of View Webinars

Look for more in the late Fall.