Building a New Factory's IT from the Ground Up

Executive summary

When a new garment factory was being built, I was in IT support. I set up the factory’s IT from the start: network cabling, the network, two servers, around 70 CCTV cameras, PCs and laptops. Most of it I did on my own, over about six months, working around the construction until the first users could start work.

Context

A new factory needs its IT in place before people can work there. At the start the factory had around 20 users, two servers and around 70 CCTV cameras to connect.

The building was still under construction, so IT work could only go ahead in areas that were finished.

My role

• Cabling: ran the network cabling myself, area by area. For CCTV, a vendor helped with the cabling.
• Network and servers: set up the network and the two servers.
• CCTV: installed and connected around 70 cameras.
• End users: prepared PCs and laptops so each user could sit down and work.
• Coordination: asked the maintenance team for help with cabling when one person was not enough.

Project journey

1. 01
   Factory under construction

   IT had to be ready for the first users.

2. 02
   Cabling, area by area

   Only in finished areas; the rest had to wait for construction.

3. 03
   Network and servers

   The network and two servers set up.

4. 04
   CCTV

   Around 70 cameras, with vendor help on the cabling.

5. 05
   PCs and laptops

   Each user's equipment prepared and connected.

6. 06
   Ready to work

   Around 20 users able to sit down and start work.

Challenges & risks

• Working around construction: cabling could only be done in finished areas. Unfinished areas meant waiting, which is why the work took about six months.
• One person, a whole site: I did most of the work alone. The maintenance team helped with cabling when needed, and a vendor helped with the CCTV cabling.

Results

• IT in place for around 20 users at the start.
• Two servers and around 70 CCTV cameras installed and connected.
• A working network across the factory, built up as construction finished.

Lessons learned

• Understand the whole system. Doing everything myself, from the cabling design upwards, taught me how the whole system fits together when a company starts from nothing.
• Plan IT around the building. On a new site, IT work follows construction; planning for that avoids surprises.