Quality issues can derail a construction project, causing delays, defects, and disputes. As a project coordinator, you need to proactively address quality issues before they escalate and affect the project outcomes. In this article, you will learn how to apply some quality assurance and control methods to prevent and resolve quality problems in a construction project.
The first step to ensure quality in a construction project is to define the quality standards and expectations for the project scope, deliverables, and processes. You should consult with the project stakeholders, such as the client, the contractor, the architect, and the engineers, to agree on the quality criteria, specifications, and requirements for each phase and component of the project. You should also document the quality standards and expectations in a quality plan, which should include the quality objectives, roles and responsibilities, methods, tools, and metrics.
Proactively addressing quality issues in a construction project involves setting clear quality standards, creating a comprehensive quality control plan, ensuring skilled and trained personnel, carefully selecting suppliers and materials, conducting regular inspections and tests, maintaining detailed records, and fostering open communication. Continuous monitoring, root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, quality audits, third-party inspections, and quality incentives/penalties are key components of this approach. Finally, a project closeout inspection and a lessons-learned process help ensure improved quality in future projects.
The second step to ensure quality in a construction project is to implement quality assurance practices, which are the proactive measures to monitor and improve the quality of the project processes and activities. You should follow the quality plan and use the methods and tools that are appropriate for the project context, such as checklists, audits, inspections, reviews, and tests. You should also communicate and coordinate with the project team and the subcontractors to ensure that they adhere to the quality standards and expectations and follow the best practices and guidelines.
Robust commitment from management, Objectives and Targets which are measurable and driven by management.Management need to get rid of that mentality that a quality management certification is just a piece of paper, give Quality personnel the tools and authority they need to always ensure that the client receives a quality product.
The third step to ensure quality in a construction project is to perform quality control activities, which are the reactive measures to identify and correct the quality issues and defects in the project deliverables and outputs. You should use the metrics and tools that are relevant for the project scope, such as measurements, samples, reports, and records. You should also inspect and verify the quality of the work products and materials, and document and report any deviations, errors, or nonconformities.
The fourth step to ensure quality in a construction project is to analyze and resolve the quality issues that arise during the project execution. You should use the data and information that you collect from the quality assurance and control activities to identify the root causes, impacts, and risks of the quality issues. You should also propose and implement corrective and preventive actions to fix the quality issues and prevent them from recurring. You should also update and revise the quality plan and the project documents as needed.
The fifth step to ensure quality in a construction project is to evaluate and improve the quality performance of the project processes and deliverables. You should use the feedback and lessons learned from the project stakeholders, the project team, and the subcontractors to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the quality management system. You should also identify and implement opportunities for improvement and innovation to enhance the quality standards and expectations, methods and tools, and metrics and outcomes.
The sixth and final step to ensure quality in a construction project is to celebrate and reward the quality achievements of the project team and the subcontractors. You should recognize and appreciate the efforts and contributions of the people who deliver high-quality work and meet or exceed the quality objectives and expectations. You should also celebrate and share the success and benefits of the quality management system, such as customer satisfaction, cost savings, and reputation enhancement.