Purpose Of Having A Tour Guide System At Your Facility?
There are many factors to consider when buying or renting a tour guide system. The purpose of the tour or training, noise conditions where the event will take place, distance needed between group members, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, number of people who will participate, budget and frequency of the tours and training are all very important factors to consider during the decision making process.
Purpose of the tour or training
The purpose for needing a communication system will help identify the type of communication system you will need. If you are conducting a large tour you will most likely need a one way audio guide since the tour guide will be speaking to the tour group the majority of the time. If the purpose is a small tour, training, orientation or onboarding then the need for two way functionality will be important. This way all members of small factory tours, manager walking tours or company training events will be able to interact with each other and provide real time feedback when needed.
Conditions where the tours are being conducted?
Knowing where the tour or training event will take place is another key factor to consider when selecting a high-quality communication system. If the tour is taking place on the manufacturing floor it is important to consider the noise level that will be in the background. Knowing the decibel level would be ideal but at a minimum having an approximation of low, moderate or high background noise would be helpful in selecting the headset communication system that would be the best fit for the application.
Distance
Depending on the tour or training there may be certain requirements for social distancing or other practical needs that may be put in place. With covid there must be at least 6 feet of distance between participants. If you add in background noise while guided tours or training is taking place there must be an assistive listening device to make sure the audio quality is acceptable for the group. During other tours and trainings, participants may have to stand at machines or other specific places on the manufacturing floor that are a considerable distance apart. Tour guide systems will provide high quality audio for group members in these situations as well.
Budget
First time buyers or renters may think audio systems are out of their budget but with Plant-Tours that is not the case. Very affordable for the quality, durability and ease of use, Plant-Tours provides the very best value in the industry. Other brands often promote tour guide systems that are not the best fit for industrial applications including those that sell uhf headsets and others such as Listentalk who promote wireless tour guide system solutions. For high noise background settings this is not necessarily the best option. Plant-tours uses a small, user-friendly wire attachment to connect the headset to the receiver/transmitter to ensure a stable connection. This allows audio to be received and transmitted without any interference. A hands-free option without a stable connection is prone to more potential audio problems due to the chaotic nature of the high noise environment. Transmission systems that are hard wired tend to perform better in these environments.
Choosing a Tour Guide System? (wifi, amplified sound, radio transmission)
There are many different options when it comes to delivering a message during walking tours, training, or any other kind of meeting. Speaking with no amplification works in instances where background noise and distance requirements are negligible. Amplified sound such as a bullhorn or similar devices can work in low to moderate noise environments but audio transmission can still be lost and hard to decipher. Select apps that require users to bring their own device (BYOD) and earphones are also an option when wi-fi is available and all participants have phones with the app downloaded and their own earphones. This is a great solution for small group applications such as city tour guiding, courtrooms, libraries but for rugged, more industrial settings this is often not feasible. The time to set up every participant with the app and relying on the user to bring their own device and earphones is time consuming and often not followed through with. Wi-fi can also be spotty on the manufacturing floor which can disrupt the presentation of the information. Radio transmission is the ideal solution in low, moderate and high background noise settings since the speaker talks directly into a microphone and the audio is transmitted into the listener’s headphone providing the highest audio quality. Plant-tours uses noise-reducing headphones so the listener can still hear safety alerts such as alarms and forklifts keeping all participants attentive to their surroundings. It is important to note that Plant-tours offers a free demo kit to potential customers so they can test all the equipment prior to the tour or training so that they can be assured that they will have the right equipment and be familiar with the set up prior to the event.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
When in a manufacturing facility safety has always been a top priority for companies, specifically EH&S managers. It’s common to see safety scores posted on LCD screens in many company break rooms throughout the United States and other countries around the world. Lanyards with employee credentials, safety glasses, earplugs and hard hats have commonly been required to walk the manufacturing floor. Plant-tours headset communications systems are fully compatible with safety glasses and hard hats. Conveniently, the noise reducing headset can serve as a replacement for earplugs reducing the need for additional PPE supplies. Safety concerns have increased dramatically over the past year due to covid. Masks and gloves are also compatible with Plant-tours communication systems. Easy to use set up with minimal use of the hands makes the headsets a perfect complement for all kinds of PPE.
Translation Systems
Occasionally tour groups will include individuals who do not speak the language that the tour is given in. In these situations interpretation equipment is necessary so that all members of the tour will be able to participate and have the same high level experience as the rest of the group. When it comes to translation equipment, a common solution is to have a translator walk with the group and provide a simultaneous interpretation of the tour by speaking in real-time the language interpretation into a microphone that is transmitted to the appropriate tour group members. If there are multiple languages that need to be translated, translators may be located in various locations near the tour or training site such as an office where the simultaneous translation will be performed. Whatever strategy is chosen, Plant-Tours communication systems multiple channel capability is the ideal solution.
Battery
Plant-tours tour guide systems all come with rechargeable batteries so you don’t have to worry about buying additional batteries sold separately. The nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries are engineered and manufactured for rugged use, perfect for industrial settings. NiMH batteries are superior to lithium batteries in manufacturing settings due to lithium batteries potentially being a fire hazard if damaged or not operated safely. Conveniently the Plant-Tours tour guide systems carrying case is also a charging station. Designed and manufactured for heavy duty use, the transport/carrying case has a foam interior perfect for keeping headsets and transceivers safe and secure while doubling as a charger for the headset equipment.
There are many factors to consider when purchasing a high quality tour guide system for manufacturing and other high background noise environments. Purpose of the tour or training, background noise levels, distance requirements, available budget, amplified sound options, personal protective equipment (PPE) compatibility, translations system options, and battery options as well as other requirements needed on a case by case basis. Plant-Tours offers proprietary headsets that are easy to set up, simple to use, and durable for use in industrial environments. Each system comes with a limited time warranty that gives you peace of mind when making a rental or purchase. With all the benefits included when buying or renting a Plant-Tours audio system many customers are surprised at the affordability of the products. Please contact us today to get a free demo kit to see for yourself!
