Ian Fowler, Technical Training Manager at distributor Norbain SD, is an invited speaker at the BSIA Conference at IFSEC 2005.
The subject: "Quality versus Cost: Does it have to be an either/or situation?" The presentation is scheduled for 3.35pm on Tuesday, May 17. Norbain are exhibiting at at stand L110 at IFSEC from May 16-19.
What they say
Ian Fowler says: "Cost and quality are inextricably linked in terms of low light capability, resolution, signal clarity, search facilities, integration options and storage capacity. However we sometimes over complicate or expand the size of a system in areas where there is little return for that investment and often allow intuitive thoughts to guide us instead of logic. Subsequently high kit costs may not necessarily produce a tangible benefit, and although I may be able to source an image from my system quickly, the quality of the image or its content may not allow me to progress my investigation further."
Ian will look at the idea that a higher up front investment in system design will result in a more effective system possibly at a lower overall cost where equipment is utilised in a more carefully targeted way. "Understandably installers use their experience to guide them in their selection of products although this can develop into a narrow preference based on unit familiarity rather than appropriateness to the end purpose", says Ian Fowler. "For their part the end user may have opinions on product but not demand quality in the technical skills applied to the product at installation or at the design stages."
He cautions against the installation of low cost equipment for the sake of low cost however: "Another issue here is that if you chose a low cost product approach it is wise to look at the pedigree of the offering. The low purchase cost of a poorly supported product, even if the output quality is good, may be costly if the equipment is not supported for the next 5 years and the only way out is replacement."
Ian Fowler heads Norbain’s Technical Training Department. He has 14 years experience in the CCTV industry and regularly runs training courses for the police and prison authorities plus installers. He is also the Security Systems Advisor on the Special Interest Group for Security and Business Continuity within the British Institute of Facilities Management and represents Norbain on Prof Martin Gill’s Security Research Initiative.
