Construction is a huge industry, with multi-trillion dollar investment. According to Statista, $ 11.4 trillion was spent globally on construction in 2018. Even after the pandemic-induced slowdown, the spending will continue to grow ahead. However, the success of businesses in this domain greatly depends on the quality of the projects they deliver. It not only ensures client satisfaction but also has an impact on the company’s reputation. So going the extra mile with construction quality management initiatives is worthwhile.

But it is easier said than done, as many obstacles can hinder quality as you work on projects. A single error is enough to trigger quality issues, which lead to expensive rework and safety risks for the structure. It makes sense to prioritize quality during construction project management so that you can stay ahead of such issues and prevent them from happening in the first place.

Here are the top factors that you can follow to create a reliable construction quality management strategy.

Building material
The quality of the final structure hinges on the integrity of the material you use for construction. Improperly graded steel, sub-standard cement, and lumber cut from undersized trees are a few examples of low-quality material. These are at high risk of failure and can create serious safety hazards for the project. The best way to address this concern is by ordering material only from trusted suppliers. Assigning an expert for construction quality management and control is another measure to steer clear of such problems.

Labor skills
The skills and experience of the labor employed on a project have a far-reaching impact on its quality. You cannot expect unskilled people to deliver in terms of productivity and timelines for delivery. It makes sense to go the extra mile while recruiting people on projects, prioritizing ones with the right expertise and experience. You can even spend a little more for onboarding the right resources that are capable of delivering the best according to the project specifications.

Effective communications between teams
According to experienced project managers, communication issues are a significant cause of hindrances. Miscommunication leads to mismatched material and the use of wrong techniques. People even end up working on the wrong elements of the project, just because the team is not on the same page. Thankfully, smart construction management software solutions are here to address hindrances in communication, even for large teams working on big projects.

Supplier and vendor reliability
The success of a project also depends on choosing the right suppliers and vendors you can rely on. They should supply only the material matching specifications to get the desired output. While you must stick to tried and tested collaborations, setting clear expectations and performing random checks on materials will ensure that your vendors and suppliers are adhering to the contract. You may even consider finding alternatives if you think that a new supplier or vendor can improve construction quality.

Subcontractors’ credibility
Apart from having reliable suppliers and vendors on board, you also need to have credible subcontractors working on your project to keep its quality on track. Human error is largely responsible for construction defects, so you cannot risk working with subcontractors who aren’t good enough. Screening subcontractors’ right at the time of hiring them is a smart approach. Invest in long-term relationships so that you can build trust and work without stress.

Strong documentation practices
Quality issues are not always related to problems such as the use of sub-standard material and unskilled labor. Even poor documentation practices can also land your project in a fix. For example, a material substitution leads to different maintenance and replacement cycle. Not updating it in the documents can cause the maintenance team to go wrong with handling it. Construction management software can help you resolve the issue as it facilitates a project documentation management process for the business.

Effective change order management
Change orders are a part of typical construction projects, but the ones that come at the last moment may compromise quality. Managing them properly can save your project from trouble. While you can ensure it with proper communication and collaboration, it is vital to set change order deadlines with the clients from the start. So set clear expectations in the contracts. The same goes for scope creep because random changes in scope can also hamper the quality of deliverables to a significant extent.

No matter how tricky construction quality management sounds, it is one thing that no project manager should overlook. Issues with even a single project can have an adverse impact on the reputation of your business. Fortunately, you need not do a lot when it comes to staying on top of construction quality. Following these factors closely and meticulously is enough to keep your project safe on this front.

Summary
Construction quality is the key to the success of projects. It also has a far-reaching impact on the reputation of your business. So it is vital to go the extra mile with factors that influence quality and client satisfaction. Here are the ones that you need to follow.

Preeti

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