Balancing quality and deadlines in construction projects: Can you keep subcontractors on track?

Establishing clear objectives can be complicated. Outside of your textbook talking point, it requires understanding the team and the ultimate goal of the project. Always be aware of overly complicated play books. Not all teams function at the same level. Building the wrong plan for a team can be as catastrophic as no plan. Ideally once you understand the team building some of those goals together helps build group creation, interest and ownership in the desired outcome. Lastly be open minded, a plan or goal that worked well on the last project may not be the correct one for the current or next project. Different, locations, sub community, owners, local regulations or different team.

Especially milestone deadlines are crucial for project success. By incorporating inspections between these milestones, you set clear expectations throughout the project's duration. This proactive approach not only helps subcontractors understand your standards but also enhances the overall experience by reducing surprises and ensuring a smoother workflow for everyone involved.

It should be noted that that while robust contracts are important so is the timely issuance and execution of the contracts. Unfortunately, many of the issues I deal with go back to late issuance of contracts and change orders. This is a domino effect. The same level of concern and pressure must be put on the importance of procurement and issuance of contracts as getting the contractor onsite. When we set contractors up for success we are less likely to need the legal parameters the terms create. Secondly there are some great organizations that perform contract reviews and feedback. It is a great tool to benchmark contracts against industry changes to stay current against risk.

Effective communication, often overlooked in formal education, is crucial in all aspects of life. This vital skill is especially important in technical trades, where it’s not just about numbers and technical details but also about understanding relationships and the psychology of different stakeholders on a construction site. Mastering communication enhances collaboration, reduces misunderstandings, and fosters a more cohesive and productive work environment.

There are many ways to assure quality. One of the most effective ways I have found over the decades is to set the stage early and often. Pre-construction, project specific quality plans, mock-ups, pre-punch agreements to name a few. Quality sprinkled into every aspect of the project phasing builds a strong foundation. Talking about quality during the safety orientation for example gives every person walking on the jobsite some exposure to the importance of quality and safety. Another great tool is to establish quality, during a first in place install, with all parties. Having all up and down stream parties agree before the majority of production work starts can save time and money.

Quality assurance is essential for effectively monitoring subcontractors. From my experience, regular inspections at key stages of construction are vital for ensuring that work meets established standards and for keeping subcontractors mindful that their work is under review. Although parties may resist scrutiny before work is fully completed, I’ve never regretted conducting an inspection. On the other hand, missing an inspection has always proven to be a costly mistake that inevitably comes back to haunt you.