In construction projects, as in many other human activities, quality control provides the best results if done well from the beginning rather than if left to the end. The motto is to do it well and at the first attempt.
Achieving quality construction projects begins with the selection of the appropriate work team, whether they are designers, contractors, suppliers or the Construction Management, as well as the person or people within the Client’s organization who will act as the internal coordinators for the assignment. A company that seeks to create a quality product requires a quality team and efforts should not be spared to select the appropriate participants, conducting the necessary market research to determine experience, solvency, commitment and suitability of the candidates.
During the planning stage, the most important thing will be to take care of the clarity of the specification so that it is certified that the Client will get what they expect or need and that no loose ends have been left that give rise to interpretation failures, always bearing in mind that not necessarily the most expensive implies the best quality, but that quality is obtained when the correct materials and labor are used for the result that is intended to be obtained. That is, nobody buys a Rolls Royce to put it as an Uber, right?
To ensure the best quality, a Construction Management must anticipate events and monitor the production chain starting from the beginning, with actions such as the following:
During the planning stage:
1.- Validate that the specification meets the needs and is suitable for the purpose, within the standards of the regulations and the considerations of the budget;
2.- Clearly communicate to the Client and the participants, the results that will be obtained;
During the execution of the work:
3.- Verify that the materials or equipment defined in the previous stage are effectively purchased and supplied, for which it is recommended to review with the contractor their order, requisition or internal purchase order before the acquisition;
4.- Upon arrival at the construction site of the supplies, verify that they comply with what was agreed, preferably before being unloaded from the truck, especially for the case of large equipment;
5.- Periodically review the stocks of materials and equipment in the contractor’s warehouse and before being installed, verifying that they comply with the specification;
6.- Check that the labor to be used in the manufacture, placement or assembly is experienced, qualified and sufficient;
7.- Verify that there are minor tools and supplies, that are adequate, sufficient and in good condition, before starting to install;
8.- Certify that everything is installed, enabled or placed in accordance with the project specifications, the manufacturer’s recommendations, the best practices of the industry, with the appropriate tools, with qualified labor, within the applicable regulations and with absolute safety;
At the delivery of the work:
9.- Perform the necessary and recommended tests to confirm that the expected results were obtained.
10.- Collect and deliver to the Client the information related to the operation and maintenance of the installed materials and equipment.
All these actions must be based on logic, best practices, current regulations, and the safety of people and property, within the technical, legal, and financial framework, and the process must be documented from start to finish to achieve the best possible results.