QA Graphics has been a leader in building automation control graphics for nearly two decades. We provide essential resources for companies seeking to outsource their graphics services. Our primary focus is on system integrators (SIs) representing key manufacturers’ control products. By dedicating 100% of our resources to graphics services, we complement the core business of SIs, offering immediate ROI and noticeable results for integrators and end users.
Practicing What We Preach
At QA Graphics, we believe in focusing on our core competencies—just as we advise our clients to do. We outsource our HR, payroll, IT, and marketing functions to specialized partners. This strategic approach allows us to concentrate fully on delivering exceptional graphics services without diluting our efforts. By entrusting these essential but peripheral tasks to experts, we maintain a large staff of dedicated professionals who are laser-focused on what we do best. We never outsource our core services, ensuring quality and consistency in every project we undertake.
Addressing Industry Challenges
In recent years, the industry has faced a significant shortage of skilled field service control technicians. This scarcity has led to increased demand across all aspects of our core business. Companies willing to outsource areas better left to specialists like QA Graphics discover that our services are a hidden gem. By partnering with us, SIs can streamline their operations and focus on their primary competencies.
A Success Story: Streamlining Graphics for a Growing Company
Last year, a long-standing customer who previously utilized only our floor plan services approached us with a new challenge. Experiencing growth both organically and through acquisitions, they needed a consistent look and feel for their floor plan graphics across all locations. Having already established a floor plan standard for them, we were well-equipped to meet this need. Learn more about our floor plans.
As we delved deeper, the customer revealed another pressing issue: their control technicians struggled to produce consistent system graphics on time, often working on laptops in less-than-ideal field conditions. This scenario is common among our clients.
Our solution was straightforward—outsource their system graphics to our expert team. However, their leadership expressed concern that control technicians feared losing paid hours. Recognizing this internal challenge (one we’ve encountered before), we shared similar client experiences and detailed our proven processes for developing and delivering system graphics. We provided an estimated cost for a sample project to help them assess the potential ROI financially and free technicians to focus on installations rather than graphics.
After conducting an ROI study, the results were astonishing. Technicians spent three times the hours on graphics compared to our in-house averages. The cost savings and efficiency gains from outsourcing were substantial. Consequently, the ownership and management team decided to entrust their system graphics development to QA Graphics. Learn more about our system graphics.
Our Proven Process and Advanced Tools
QA Graphics has honed its processes over the past two decades, delivering consistent, high-quality results. For this customer, whose preferred control system is Tridium Niagara 4, we expanded upon the existing floor plan standard to develop a comprehensive graphic standard tailored to their needs. Unless project-specific changes are requested, the user interface maintains a consistent look and feel. Read more about our long-term customer relationships and brand standards.
They also standardized on our BAS Symbol Library v5—which includes PNGs and animated GIFs—discover the Symbol Library here and our Vector Library. The Vector Library offers a fully scalable UI that is adaptable to any screen size or type. Learn about our Vector Library. This standardization ensures a cohesive brand experience, with all graphics and floor plans presented uniformly. We pride ourselves on offering the latest design options in the BAS market.
Transformative Results
Nearly a year into our partnership, the customer has shared remarkable success stories resulting from outsourcing their graphics services:
Enhanced Technician Roles: Control technicians can now focus on their core responsibilities, improving overall efficiency.
Positive End-User Feedback: The high-quality appearance of 3D floor plans and system graphics has been well-received.
Improved Startup Timing: Projects are completed more promptly, benefiting both the company and its clients.
This is just one of many success stories we’ve cultivated over the past two decades in the building automation industry.
Why Outsourcing Works
Our own business model underscores the benefits of outsourcing. By delegating our HR, payroll, IT, and marketing functions to specialized partners, we eliminate distractions and maintain a sharp focus on our core services. This approach enhances our efficiency and ensures that we deliver the highest quality products to our clients. We retain full control over our primary offerings, never outsourcing our core services, and our large team of professionals is dedicated exclusively to excelling in the graphics domain.
Discover the Benefits of Outsourcing with QA Graphics
We invite control system integrators to consider partnering with QA Graphics. A thorough examination of business practices and ROI often reveals that outsourcing graphics services is a strategic move that offers substantial benefits. By focusing on your core competencies and entrusting specialized tasks to experts, you can enhance your operations, delight your clients, and drive growth. Explore our turnkey graphic solutions.
Please contact us directly for more information about our services and how we can tailor solutions to your needs. Let’s work together to unlock your company’s full potential.
Building Automation Systems (BAS) are essential for managing energy, security, and overall building performance. A critical factor in the success of these systems is a well-designed and functional user interface (UI). QA Graphics provides premier drafting services to ensure your BAS UI control system operates efficiently and meets all project demands.
Why Choose QA Graphics for Your BAS UI Projects?
With 18 years of industry experience, QA Graphics is a trusted partner in building automation. Based in Ankeny, Iowa, our dedicated drafting department operates under one roof, ensuring consistent service on projects of any size. Our team is Autodesk Revit certified, giving you cutting-edge solutions for your BAS needs.
Here’s why QA Graphics is the best choice for your BAS UI projects:
1. Streamlined Collaboration
Our entire team works together in a single location, allowing seamless communication and collaboration. You won’t face the delays and miscommunications that can come from working with remote teams across different time zones. This centralized approach ensures faster response times and a more unified workflow, making your project run smoothly.
2. Handling Projects of Any Size or Complexity
Whether you’re working on a small office or a large corporate campus, our drafting department is equipped to manage projects of any scale or complexity. We’ve done everything from basic floor plans to intricate multi-system BAS integrations. We adapt our services to meet the unique demands of each project, ensuring precision at every stage.
3. 18 Years of Expertise
With nearly two decades in the business, QA Graphics has earned a reputation for reliability and excellence. Our long-standing presence in the industry demonstrates clients’ trust in our services, and we continue to evolve our offerings to meet the latest industry trends.
4. Comprehensive, End-to-End Solutions
When you work with QA Graphics, you gain more than just a drafting service—you gain a partner. We support you from the initial design phase through project completion, providing ongoing assistance even after the project is finished. Every project is unique, and we customize our services to match your specific requirements.
Explore Our Full Suite of Drafting Services
At QA Graphics, we offer a comprehensive range of drafting services designed to enhance your BAS UI systems. Our expertise includes:
Detailed 2D and 3D floor plans
Custom system graphics
Equipment schedules
Whether you need a system update or a complete BAS UI overhaul, we have the tools and expertise to get the job done efficiently.
Let’s Collaborate
Precision and reliability are critical in the building automation industry. QA Graphics is dedicated to providing drafting services that deliver intuitive, user-friendly BAS interfaces. With our extensive BAS graphics experience and commitment to innovation, we can help you elevate your BAS UI control system.
Contact us today to learn more about our drafting services or to discuss your next BAS project!
Is your Building Automation System (BAS) still relying on outdated 2D graphics? QA Graphics offers a powerful upgrade with photo-realistic 3D graphics that bring your equipment visuals to life. Our custom 3D solutions transform standard images into high-quality representations that improve functionality and visual appeal. Let’s explore how these graphics can enhance your BAS and keep you ahead in the industry.
Why 3D Graphics for BAS?
Building Automation Systems are crucial for managing facilities, from HVAC control to energy monitoring. However, many still use flat 2D visuals, making understanding and managing complex operations difficult. That’s where we come in. QA Graphics specializes in creating 3D equipment graphics that enhance user experience and system functionality.
Upgrading your BAS with 3D BAS graphics does more than improve looks—it makes your system more intuitive, allowing for easier monitoring, operation, and maintenance.
Custom 3D Designs for Your BAS
We offer a range of custom 3D BAS graphics designed to meet the specific needs of your system. Here’s an overview of what we provide:
Custom Air System Graphics
Our 3D renderings highlight essential components like ductwork, sensors, fans, and dampers. We include exterior cutaways, internal details, and even animations where needed. Realistic textures make these graphics engaging and practical.
Custom Water System Graphics
We produce highly detailed 3D visuals for water systems, including piping for hot or chilled water systems. These graphics make it easy to track water flow and system performance.
Detailed Cutaways
We create cutaway views that provide a transparent look into internal equipment processes. To make them more interactive and useful, these cutaways can include animations and other custom features.
Equipment Graphics
We offer 3D renderings that deliver a true-to-life depiction of your machines and tools, ensuring an accurate representation of your equipment.
Key Benefits of 3D Graphics for Your BAS
Improved User Understanding: 3D models make it easier for users to visualize and understand complex systems.
Enhanced Monitoring and Maintenance: Detailed cutaways and animations provide insights into equipment workings, enabling faster troubleshooting and maintenance.
Customization: We create tailored 3D graphics matching your equipment and operations.
Professionalism and Innovation: High-quality 3D graphics showcase your commitment to cutting-edge innovation, boosting confidence in your system.
Why QA Graphics?
At QA Graphics, we deliver best-in-class 3D BAS graphics that enhance any BAS. Whether you’re modernizing an existing system or developing a new design, we can turn your photos, schematics, or ideas into exceptional 3D visuals that improve both functionality and presentation.
Vector graphics are a versatile and powerful way to display images on the web. Unlike raster images, which are made up of individual pixels, vector graphics are based on mathematical equations that define shapes, lines, and colors. This fundamental difference provides several advantages, especially in web design.
How Vector Graphics Work:
1. Mathematical Precision:
Vector graphics use mathematical formulas to create images. Instead of storing pixel-by-pixel information, vectors define the geometry of shapes, such as lines, curves, and polygons. This allows for precise and clean visuals that can be scaled to any size without losing quality.
2. Scalability:
One of the key benefits of vector graphics is their ability to scale infinitely without degradation. Whether you’re viewing a graphic on a small mobile screen or a large desktop monitor, vector images remain crisp and clear. This scalability is particularly useful in responsive web design, where images need to adapt to various screen sizes and resolutions.
3. SVG Format:
On the web, vector graphics are commonly used in the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format. SVG is an XML-based format that describes vector images using text. This makes SVG filesscalable and lightweight, leading to faster load times and better website performance.
4. Wide Application:
At QA Graphics, we leverage the power of vector graphics in our BAS Vector Symbol Library, which is widely used in Building Automation Systems (BAS) like Tridium’s Niagara framework. Our library includes an extensive collection of symbols that are specifically designed for different industries, including healthcare, data centers, and greenhouses. These symbols are not only visually appealing but also highly functional, providing scalable and interactive solutions for BAS users.
5. Cross-Browser Compatibility:
SVG is supported by all major web browsers, ensuring that vector graphics render consistently across different platforms and devices. This widespread compatibility makes SVG an ideal choice for web designers looking to create responsive and high-quality graphics.
Learn More:
To explore how vector graphics can enhance your building automation systems, visit our Vector Symbol Library page. Here, you can discover how our library offers scalable and interactive symbols that are designed to meet the specific needs of various industries.
At QA Graphics, we’re all about building long-term relationships with our customers by offering tailored solutions that match your branding and style preferences. Here’s how we can help you establish a company standard for your user interface, ensuring consistency and quality across all your projects:
Initial Consultation and Assessment
Understanding Your Needs
We start with a deep dive into understanding your brand, style preferences, and specific requirements.
Reviewing Current Standards
If you already have standards, we review and incorporate them. If not, we work together to create new ones.
Developing a Customized Company Standard
Navigation Setup
Standardized Structure: We create a standardized structure for navigation elements, making them intuitive and user-friendly.
Consistent Placement and Labeling: We define consistent placement and labeling rules for menus, toolbars, and buttons to enhance usability.
Color Palette: We establish a color palette that aligns with your brand identity, including primary, secondary, and accent colors.
Typography Standards: We define typography standards, including font types, sizes, and usage guidelines, to maintain a cohesive look and feel.
Graphic Library
Reusable Elements: We develop a library of reusable graphic elements, icons, and symbols that reflect your brand style.
Symbol Libraries: We use existing control manufacturers’ symbols within the software or our custom symbol libraries, allowing standardization across system graphics, regardless of platform or software.
Consistent Format: We create a consistent format for data labels, making them clear and easy to understand.
Placement Guidelines: We define guidelines for the placement and appearance of labels to avoid clutter and enhance readability.
Documentation and Templates
Style Guide
We develop a detailed style guide that documents all standards and guidelines.
Templates
We provide templates for common graphic elements and layouts, facilitating easy adherence to the standards.
Project Execution
Consistency
Every project we undertake for you follows the established standards by default, ensuring a consistent and high-quality user interface.
Customization
While maintaining the standards, we also offer flexibility to tailor specific elements to meet unique project requirements.
By establishing and adhering to a comprehensive company standard, QA Graphics ensures a consistent, high-quality user interface and BAS graphics that strengthens your brand and enhances the user experience. This approach reduces the need for revisions and helps deliver a marketable product that meets your expectations.
Ready to Get Started?
Take the next step towards a consistent and high-quality user interface that reflects your brand’s identity. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and see how QA Graphics can tailor solutions to meet your specific needs.
