Anyone know of a good resource/site that has a well organized library of implementation best practices and system design patterns for CE Pros?  I mean for the whole project lifecycle, from gathering requirements through design, deployment, training and support.  The IT industry is full of stuff like this so people don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but I haven’t seen much out there for CE Pros.

Cliff

cmr - 17 July 2009 08:44 PM

Anyone know of a good resource/site for discovering and sharing implementation best practices for CE Pros?  I mean for the whole project lifecycle, from gathering requirements through design, deployment, training and support.  The IT industry is full of stuff like this so people don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but I haven’t seen much out there for CE Pros.

Cliff

Cliff,
You an start with: ” http://www.cedia.net/” , you can become a member and get certified, also check out ” http://www.remotecentral.com/ ” Hope this helps.
Ovi

ovi_a - 20 July 2009 10:26 PM

Cliff,
You an start with: ” http://www.cedia.net/” , you can become a member and get certified, also check out ” http://www.remotecentral.com/ ” Hope this helps.
Ovi

Hi Ovi,

Thanks for the response.  I know CEDIA University has good training for spot technical issues but have not been able to find much in the way of online resources for project lifecycle best practices and system architecture design patterns.  Might you be able to point me to this?

(remotecentral.com seems good for ad hoc chat, but not so much for access to a well organized library, which is what I’m looking for.  I realize my initial post didn’t clarify this preference, so just made an edit to reflect that.)

Thanks,

Cliff

Thank you for the Response. Thank you for sharing.

Cliff, I think what you are discovering is that our industry is unique.  You can find a lot of information about designing systems and best practices in the documentation from manufacturers, but it often is focused on their products and gets vague on how to integrate with other products.  The other aspect of custom installation is that there are so many sub-systems that can possibly come into play.  It sounds like you’re looking for a recipe for how you can approach every project.  That’s the core of any CI business.  That will be hard to come by since it represents some of the heart of what we’re all trying to develope as a unique and effecient way to do this business.

But I will echo Ovi’s suggestion.  You need to get plugged into Cedia.  In fact, go to the Expo in Atlanta.  You will find what you’re looking for, but you’ll probably have to compile the information into the format you want.  The first time I ran across something similar to what you’re asking about was from Helen Heneveld from Bedrock Learning.  She was teaching a course on project management and had the entire process broken down into flow charts.  I still flip through the binder from that class.  Oh, and yes I’ll be going to Atlanta to continue to research and compile my own version of a best practices manual.

Keep learning,

Morgan - thanks for the response.  I’m not so much looking for a recipe to precisely follow as I am a codification of “current best knowledge” that one can draw from as appropriate. 

For example, I’m currently doing a project that involves whole home (multi-zone) audio and to ensure proper design, implementation and support of this sub-system a number of items have come into play, including:

1. An architectural drawing that shows the location of all speakers
2. Spreadsheets (and diagrams) that map audio sources to switch inputs, switch outputs to amplifier inputs, amplifier outputs to zones/speakers, etc.
3. A document that describes music “scenes” (i.e. mapping of sources to zones for various pre-defined scenarios)
4. Various checklists to verify that the configuration represented in the above is properly implemented
5. ... and so on

I know that thousands of CI’s have done similar projects and would imagine many have used some variation of what I’m trying to pull together to help manage the effort.  While no one system would work for everyone, I have to think there is quite a bit of overlap regardless of the specific products used or other project details.  So, it seems there is much to be gained from the codification of the best of these practices developed over time as well as documented agreement on conventions for representing this information in a somewhat common format.  That’s what I’m looking for.

I will be at CEDIA Expo and am looking forward to seeing what I can learn there.

Here’s something to keep an eye out for. http://www.choatesystems.com

I noticed this company in the courses list.  It looks like they are developing a fanchise model for custom installation.  Might be exactly what you’re looking for. Like what Theater Xtreme was all about.  Here’s another North Carolina based version: audiovideohandyman.com

See you in Atlanta!

Morgan - I can see why this would come to mind and appreciate the thought, though what I’m looking for is rather different.  I’m not looking for an exact methodology or set of processes to adopt.  Rather, I’m looking for resources from which I could cherry pick as appropraite to nourish my own process and method development. 

Following a formula or a recipe does not seem like a good road for me (I often find unconventional approaches work best for me.)  At the same time I do not want to reinvent the wheel and I do want to benefit from the hard won lessons of others and to abide by conventions when appropriate.  I hope I’m being clear - I realize from this dicussion that this is a somewhat nuanced topic.

Understood.  In fact, I understand so well, that I can even say I can relate.  Let me make one other suggestion.  Your next step is to focus.  Something that doesn’t come easily when starting a business, particularly in this industry.  But you need to now focus.

Start with a clear mission statement.  Let that statement determine what exactly you are going to focus on.  Then start nailing down exactly what products you are going to work with to target your starting point.

Example 1: Security you can count on!

With Honeywell Ademco security systems.  Begin to target homes and businesses with competitive installation offers.  Gather everything you can from Honeywell that will support you and your team in knowing their product inside and out.

Example 2: Creative Home Theaters

Decide what level of the market you want to go after.  Without any momentum, it’s probably easiest to go after the lower end of the custom theaters starting at about $5k.  Find a local distributor so you don’t have to carry inventory.  That will determine what brands you need to become intimate with and allow you to build package deals.

Example 3: Bring green into the home!

Energy management solutions, with HAI at the core.  Get trained on the HAI products and begin to get familiar with the other systems you will be interfacing with, lilghting, HVAC, solar, shades…

Then, as you get your business rolling you can add services and products to achieve your ultimate goal: Custom Installer of the Universe!

Shoot for the stars - but build schematics for the rocket ship first.

Thank you, Morgan, I appreciate your thoughts.  I could not agree with you more about the need to focus and to properly line up your ducks!

Hi CM,

Sounds like you and I are in the same predicament. I started up late last year and I’m finding difficulty not “reinventing the wheel”. The thing is, I think that’s exactly what you have to do to an extent. Each job is unique and the components, cables and crap that can come with each job is different. Not to mention some products and services have lovers and haters.

Focus, as Morgan says, is difficult to come by: You know the end result you want, but there’s so much stuff you would like to follow a well-trodden path to get there. Unfortunately I’m finding you have to tread your own path. The advice from Morgan and others on here (and other forums ) are the roadsigns that help you along but, for the most part it’s you who you needs to write the manual.

Right now, because of the slow economy,  I’m using the time to focus on one aspect at a time until I get it (for me this means buying a lot of the pieces I will be recommending to clients and learning them inside out; even integrating them into my own home). In theory anything I buy to train and teach myself with can be re-sold as a demo model to clients (it’s win-win: they get a good price and you get the traninig).

Anyway, just thought you should know you’re not alone.

J