Fiber Installation Quality Assurance: How AEP Avoided Seal Failures with Proactive Grommet Checks

Customer

AEP

Location

Sardinia, Ohio

Highlights

  • Prevented Fiber Seal Failures Before They Happened
  • Improved Crew Efficiency Through Material Organization
  • Now a Model for QA in Routine Utility Work

How Our Field Team Prevented Fiber Seal Failures Through Proactive Grommet Verification

The Challenge

During a fiber installation project, it was observed that grommet sizes were difficult to read due to small lettering, and variations in fiber cable outer diameters (OD) introduced the risk of using incorrect grommets. Improper grommet selection could lead to imprecise seals, affecting installation integrity, violating manufacturer specifications, and compromising the customer’s communication and security infrastructure.

The Solution

 The crew took proactive steps before installation:
  • Verified each grommet’s size against cable OD.
  • Reiterated the importance of double-checking size matches before installing.
  • Recommended organizing and labeling grommets by size to minimize confusion and reduce human error in high-paced environments.

Key Benefits

  • Improved Installation Accuracy: Ensured precise fit of grommets to fiber cable OD, reducing long-term maintenance risk.
  • Material Organization: Implemented on-site practices that streamlined installation efficiency and reduced cognitive load on the crew.
  • Specification Compliance: Maintained adherence to both manufacturer and customer requirements, ensuring system performance and durability.
  • Issue Prevention: Eliminated potential installation failures before they occurred, protecting downstream project timelines and quality.

The Results

  • No rework or installation failures occurred due to incorrect grommets.
  • Enhanced field crew awareness of subtle material fitment issues.
  • Practices established during this event are now being considered for standardization on future fiber installation jobs.
  • Reinforced a culture of proactive quality assurance even in low-risk installation steps.

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