01/09/2016
We have been very busy here at Apollos during this past week. We've started a "Relay Rack Pre-Assembly" experiment. We have a route to do, this week, where we'll be installing nearly 20 relay racks, fiber guide and power. So instead of picking up the materials at a couple of centralized locations, taking them to the sites, putting everything together and installing them.....We are "Pre-Assembling" the relay racks with the fiber guide attached and assembling as much of the over head fiber guide fittings that we can here in our warehouse. I have been timing each step during this process, and I can tell you right now that the process goes a lot faster within a controlled environment where there is plenty of room to work and an assembly line method is used. I did these myself, but I believe by using local labor to do the assemblies on jigs, where everything can be controled and maintained (ie racks being square) of the major components I can get a better quality assembly which in turn will speed the installation segment. Think "MODULAR HOMES", everything is pre-assembled in a factory where jigs make sure all the components fit perfectly and precisely, shipped to the site and installed like a puzzel and at a much faster pace, rather than shipping the materials directly to the site and begin the assembly process there where a myriad of factors to go wrong are in play such as weather, skilled labor, vendors, etc., did I say weather? Anyway, I will be putting the time clock on us when we deliver these to the site to see just how much smoother and faster the installation goes. Then, I'll be able to do a cost analisys on whether it's more cost effective to do pre-assembly or not, because lets face it, it's all about that bottom line isn't it? Either way, it will be better for the Apollos team(s) doing this type of infrastructure installations because it will mean a more timely installation, aesthetically the same in every site and not as much time on the road, which is a WIN WIN situation for Apollos and our customers. Here are a few pics of some of the racks we're getting ready to deliver and install.