Quality Control In Construction

How do you pay attention to quality in construction from start to finish? It’s in the details! Start with a comprehensive list of items and plan to exceed expectations by avoiding pitfalls. Plan on maintaining a high quality level on each and every project from start to finish. 1.      Request for Proposal - Remember your responses to such a document is your word, not just rhetoric to get the job that can be ignored once the project is underway. Challenge or clarify unclear or ambiguous items. Develop the scope outline spec based on the RFP and your standards of excellence. Just because the owner forgot to include something is no excuse for you to under-deliver. Contact local utility providers regarding services, fees, rate analysis and payback. Share preliminary scope definition regarding major building systems configurations and constructability with the design team. Develop design concepts which will help improve conceptual, architectural and structural layouts in addition to the evaluation of the subcontractor proposals. Work to obtain the preliminary pricing estimate portion of the proposal. Get marketing expertise to prepare for presentations to the owners. Strive to be clear and precise in all communications. 2.      Review the Proposal - Outline specifications with regards to the owner’s RFP and your response. Expand or modify as required to prepare the scope of work documents. The goal is to accurately purchase subcontractor work and plan for subcontractor bid/proposal forms and scope checklists to allow reasonable comparisons of each bid/proposal. 3.      Subcontract awards - Review subcontractor proposals for compliance with the scope of work. Provide technical expertise, and be a part of the subcontractor scope interviews to insure recommendation on selection of subcontractor is based on the scope of work and established budget. 4.      Design Development - Review subcontractors design and progress as the project design develops to insure the design reflects the scope of work and the overall project budget and that all systems are integrated into the design. Arrange for peer review of plans and specifications. 5.      Construction Administration - Review technical submittals/shop drawings to insure compliance with the project documents and scope of work. Provide information to the Project Manager and Superintendent on items to monitor during all stages of construction. Provide technical resources. Periodically visit project sites and provide feedback to project team to identify potential problems before they become major construction issues. 6.      Project Closeout - Provide expertise in the start-up, testing and demonstrations of building systems. Review test reports and closeout documents. When the job is substantially complete, get feedback from the owner and improve your standards and procedures This Blog by Wes Morgan was originally posted on UPworld.com on January 17, 2012