Quality management is an important part of the overall management of construction projects. Without proper quality control measures, standards can quickly deteriorate, especially when working with contractors and large-scale construction projects.
Construction projects must adhere to strict standards regarding the quality of materials used and the craftsmanship involved in building and construction projects. Quality management helps ensure that all aspects of a project are completed according to safety regulations and industry best practices and that the end result meets standards.
What is construction quality management?
Quality management in construction involves establishing standards, procedures and protocols to ensure that a project is built to required specifications. This means, among other things, that all materials used are of the highest quality and that the finish meets the standards.
These could be activities such as:
- Risk assessment
- Quality assurance and control
- Inspections
- Testing and validation.
What is a construction quality management plan?
A quality management plan is a set of quality control processes specific to a particular project, location or contract. This ensures that all elements of the construction project are completed in accordance with the contract and to agreed quality standards.
The importance of quality management in construction
It is critical that project managers, contractors and subcontractors are familiar with quality management systems and processes as they are often expected to adhere to them to successfully complete a project. This means that all parties involved must understand the requirements of the project and how best to achieve them.
- Increasing productivity on location
- Make sure your contract is fulfilled on time
- Meeting and exceeding customer expectations
- Ensure consistent, high-quality results
- Minimizing operational layoffs
- Improving efficiency
- Reduce the risk of human error
Quality management systems and construction
A quality management system is the most important element in ensuring consistent, high-quality output for your construction company. It helps ensure that all legal requirements are met while providing a framework to ensure that each project is built to the required standards.
Examples of quality management in the construction sector
- Establishing project specifications and establishing quality benchmarks.
- Conducting inspections of materials and workmanship throughout the construction process.
- Documenting any changes in specifications or deviations in the final product.
- Ensure that proper safety protocols are followed during construction, including appropriate requirements for all workers.
- Using advanced testing methods to ensure that the quality of materials and workmanship meets industry standards.
- Creating a good system for documenting non-conformance issues during the construction process.
- Developing corrective action plans in response to any identified quality assurance or control issues.
- Implement a system for monitoring the progress of a construction project to ensure that tasks are completed on time and meet required expectations.
- Keeping records of materials used, materials tested and results of tests conducted during the construction process.
- Regularly review quality management processes and make improvements where necessary