Optical Connections Magazine Industry Focus 2023-2024

SIMON GREENACRE SPLICE SPEED

With network upgrades progressing rapidly across the UK and Europe, the pressure on fibre engineers to swiftly complete their tasks and move on to the next job or project stage, remains high. This is being driven by a demand for faster network speeds and improved connectivity right across the UK and Europe. In this article, Simon Greenacre , marketing manager at Fujikura Europe, explores ways in which engineers can make inroads on their time on site. HOW TO REDUCE YOUR SITE TIME SPLICE SPEED:

EQUIPMENT PLANNING, PREPARATION, AND MAINTENANCE: Efficiency begins with detailed planning and preparation. Having a thorough understanding of the project requirements, including the scope, specific tasks, and timeline ahead of time, will save delays on the day and help to mitigate against challenges that might arise. Thoroughly cleaning your splicer and getting equipment regularly serviced and calibrated is a key part of ensuring optimal performance on site. Splicing, test and inspection equipment has a number of critical applications that demand top performance. Properly maintained equipment sets the foundation for efficient network installations; increasing the lifespan of your hardware and minimising the need for re-work - helping to reduce overall costs. Additionally, having a backup plan for equipment failure or malfunction is crucial to minimising downtime and keeping the project on schedule. COLLABORATIVE APPROACH: Effective communication and coordination with other team members, including project managers and fellow engineers, are crucial for streamlining network installation. Engineers should work in partnership with other stakeholders to ensure seamless workflow and to avoid delays or rework. By fostering a collaborative environment, engineers can identify and address any issues or complications in a timely manner to avoid extended time on site and disruption to schedules. ADVANCED SPLICING EQUIPMENT AND INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE: Investing in high-quality fusion splicing equipment is crucial for achieving efficient results in fibre engineering projects. This is especially important for engineers new to the field who may lack experience in working on network projects.

This training aims to address the resource pool available for maintaining network deployment speed and completing more customer connections. Through its collaborations with training schools, Fujikura seeks to ensure that engineers receive the highest quality training to meet the industry’s evolving needs and contribute to the advancement of communication networks and digital infrastructure. EFFICIENT DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING: Accurate documentation and reporting play a significant role in improving performance and managing customer expectations. Test and instrumentation reporting is an integral part of the process. Engineers should maintain comprehensive records of completed tasks, including splicing details, measurements, and test results. Timely reporting to project managers and clients ensures transparency and helps set realistic expectations regarding project timelines. Recording network test data and splice records provides assurances to network owners about network performance. All of these things together guarantee a flawless delivery of work. In the fast-paced world of fibre engineering, it is critical to prioritise equipment maintenance, foster collaboration, leverage advanced technology, invest in training, and maintain proper documentation. By implementing these strategies, engineers can achieve efficiency while meeting customer expectations.

When it comes to manufacturing telecoms equipment, engineers are at the forefront of consideration. Research and development investments lead to the creation of splicers and test equipment that are user-friendly and intuitive. Automation and proprietary technology should be incorporated to effectively manage fibre fusion and cleaver blade operation. This way, engineers can rely on consistent and exceptional results. The inclusion of intelligent software in splicers is crucial for enhancing capability and productivity. These software solutions offer accurate mapping, loss estimation, and automatic alignment capabilities. By reducing the manual effort required for splicing tasks, these software solutions facilitate faster and more precise splicing. CONTINUOUS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT: Proper training and development are essential for engineers to keep up with industry developments, processes, and equipment. It also ensures you are confident, capable, and properly equipped to negotiate difficulties on a job. Initial introductions to fibre optics should come from a trustworthy source and further, formal, and structured training should be delivered by a specialist. Fujikura Europe offers the first step in a career in fibre optics to complement the subsequent further continuous professional development that enables engineers to work confidently and proficiently, saving time on site and facilitating faster completion of projects. Fujikura’s free Introduction to Fibre Optics training day covers an introduction to fibre optic communications and includes workshops on fibre optic transmission, installations, testing procedures and equipment. The training includes theory-based sessions covering fibre optic transmission, installation, testing procedures and equipment, and hands- on sessions on fibre preparation, fusion splicing, fault finding, and inspection tests.

Fujikura Europe’s commitment to providing cutting-edge fibre optic solutions enables engineers to complete their tasks swiftly and effectively, paving the way for improved network connectivity and uptime.

Simon Greenacre Marketing Manager, Fujikura Europe.

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INDUSTRY FOCUS 2023/2024

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