After a burglary at RNE Pumps in Edenvale in December last year, owner Adrian Griffiths lost faith in traditional guarding methods and opted for a sophisticated digital surveillance system. However, in adopting this route, not only has Griffiths been able to stop the criminal element, but the system supplied by Frank Street and installed by Digital Management Systems (DMS) has also been useful from a business management perspective.
The equipment used for manufacturing purposes at the company is expensive and incidents of petty theft are a major financial setback for Griffiths. The open area that surrounds the plant also lends itself to nefarious activities. In order to combat this, Griffiths employed a security guard, however, this route proved to be unsuccessful resulting in a burglary over the 2000 Christmas period. After the burglary, Griffiths contacted Alan Walker of DMS in order to beef up security at the plant.
DMS is a company that specialises in the installation and integration of security products, which includes surveillance. In order to determine what Griffith's requirements were, Walker did a thorough assessment of the plant taking into consideration the number of areas that the surveillance system had to cover. These included areas outside as well as in the production area itself.
Once the project was authorised and payment method agreed upon, Walker then went about choosing equipment. DMS offers three options of financing a project: a monthly rental option on a standard contract of 60 months; a lease option arranged by the client with a finance company; or the outright purchase option. RNE Pumps chose the latter. Walker also has demo stock at his disposal so that a trial period can be arranged before the client decides on the kind of system required.
Equipment
When deciding on the type of system required, Walker worked closely with Abie Ali of Frank Street in order to determine the best option for RNE Pumps. After consultation, which included Griffiths, it was decided that the system comprises two Diginet 3000 Digital Video Recorders (DVR) and 32 colour cameras. The Diginet DVR's is a Windows based, 16 channel input recorder that offers high-speed recording. Other features include remote surveillance, auto dial and search mode by camera or date/time.
Furthermore, software is upgraded on a regular basis. These upgrades are offered to the client free of charge. In addition to the supply of equipment, Frank Street also offers to train the client in the use of equipment and will assist installers and end user with any problems or difficulties that pertain to the equipment. This policy of going the extra mile has helped the company earn a reputation of offering quality pre and after-sales service.
Installation
Once the equipment and the specifications had been decided on, DMS began the installation process, the first stage being the measuring and planning of routes for cables and conduits. An interesting observation that one makes when inspecting the installation of the system, is the neat and tidy manner in which the cables and conduits have been laid out.
Once this process is completed, the brackets and camera housings are mounted. Factors that needed to be taken into account when positioning the cameras included determining whether artificial lighting was required and obstructions in the line of sight. The cameras and head-end equipment followed. Before the final handover to RNE Pumps, DMS ensured that Griffiths was adequately trained in the use of the system. The entire installation process from planning to handover took approximately 10 days to complete, with DMS experiencing no problems during this time.
Business management tool
Since the implementation of the new security measure, there have been no incidents of petty crime at the plant. In addition, there is no longer a need for a guard to be employed on the premises as the cameras cover the plant sufficiently. As mentioned earlier, the surveillance system at RNE Pumps has also become an important business management tool.
According to Griffiths, since the implementation of the new security measure, productivity at the plant has increased from 35-75%. The system has also:
* Ensured a decrease in stock control.
* Eradicated certain incidents of staff intimidation by other employees.
* Ensured that all issues are resolved accurately and without prejudice.
Whenever a dispute arises, Griffiths simply has to enter the date, time and camera number, view the incident and take the necessary measures. A case in point is when an employee injured himself while working with high-risk machinery. Ordinarily there would be a lengthy process to determine the cause of the accident. Now by using the surveillance system, the matter was resolved by simply reviewing the incident on camera and taking the appropriate action.
* Ensured that the company is gaining maximum productivity from all employees. This is due to the fact that all employees are aware that their performance is being monitored, thereby resulting in improved consistency and attitude towards the company and fellow employees.
Often the 'Big Brother' approach does not appeal to employees, however, Griffiths points out that there have been no objections from his staff because they have realised that the system will also benefit them when it comes to resolving issues and disputes.
Griffiths is certain that the new surveillance has placed him in control of his business, and as Alan Walker states, answers five of the six questions that follow any incident: who, where, what, when and how. The only question remaining is how, states Walker.
From what was a decision to use digital surveillance techniques to combat crime at RNE Pumps, the system has quickly become a resourceful business management tool, thereby strengthening the argument that the implementation of security should be looked at from a business perspective.
For details regarding DMS contact Alan Walker on tel: (011) 452 7772.
For details regarding Frank Street, contact Abie Ali on tel: (011) 838 4515.
For details regarding RNE Pumps contact Adrian Griffiths on tel: (011) 452 3528.
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.
printer friendly version