The Importance of Quality Control in Construction

The-Importance-of-Quality-Control-in-Construction


The Importance of Quality Control in Construction

Quality control in the construction industry is vital to ensuring both safety standards and profits are kept high. Here’s a closer look at the ways quality control is regulated and monitored in the construction sector, and why it has such an important role.  

 

How Is Quality Measured in Construction?

Like many industries, the process in which quality is measured in construction is essential to its success. Both quality assurance and quality control take place in order to achieve the appropriate standard of work, with each having its own specific requirements to assess and evaluate. 

 

Quality control takes a closer look at the product as opposed to the process, by ensuring whether or not the end result has the adequate standards, characteristics and results that were proposed in the planning stages of the project. Quality assurance, however, is responsible for ensuring that the systematic actions have been executed properly, in line with the requirements and standards necessary. 

 

While quality control looks at the result, quality assurance examines the process – with both being able to determine if changes or adaptations need to be put in place in order to achieve the desired outcome.  

 

One of the main ways businesses are able to determine quality is through statistics – assessing whether or not the work has been completed within the set budget and agreed upon schedule. Timing is crucial in construction for a number of reasons; not just to avoid disappointing the customer, but to also ensure other worker’s timetables and upcoming schedules aren’t delayed, which will cost both time and money. 

 

Many construction contracts rely upon a number of different materials and resources to be distributed throughout the time period as well, which means deadlines need to be strictly adhered to in order to keep things running as smoothly as possible. A further measure of quality control is in the condition of the work itself – both appearance and purpose. If the end result isn’t in line with what was planned in the initial stages of development, quality cannot be achieved. 

 

What Issues Can Impact Quality Control? 

 

A common issue with quality control within the construction sector is the use of low-quality materials. While budgets need to be managed, buying goods that are too cheap will result in materials that are often low-grade condition, and usually damaged too, resulting in them being useless for the job they’re intended for. 

 

Other factors can include a continued lack of communication between teams and firms, a lack of audits and testing, subcontractor mishandling and inaccuracy in designs and plans. Discrepancies in documents and contracts can also not only impact quality control, but also delay and disrupt tight schedules.   

 

What Makes Quality Control So Important? 

 

Repeat business is always important, but especially so in the construction industry. Quality control not only potentially increases the chances of repeat business but can also create a quality workforce to manage as well. 

 

A great reputation is important when sourcing both future clients and contractors, with poor quality work stifling a company’s reputation very quickly. A further consequence of poor-quality control is the financial repercussions of poor-quality workmanship, with the money for materials, tools, time and staff having been wasted. 

 

Health and safety also need to be considered in construction, as poor safety management can not only lose money, but lives too. A lack of care given to the quality control of both the materials and the execution of projects can lead to a range of different risks being formed for both workers and clients, as well as a lack of durability for the structure itself. 

 

How Can Quality Control Be Improved? 

 

With quality control being so important to the construction trade, here are a few of the ways it can be improved upon-:

 

Purchase high-quality materials and tools:

- When buying building supplies online, ensure you’re ordering from a reputable company that only sources the best of equipment for you to use.

 

Conduct regular risk-assessments 

 

- Risk-assessments are crucial to ensure any potential dangers or threats can be identified and eliminated before work continues.

 

Regularly evaluate workflows 

 

- Workflows don’t just help management, but they ensure every worker is clear on both their responsibilities and the work required by them, as well as having a schedule for upcoming projects.

 

Be strategic in planning 

 

- Take advantage of the newest technology that can not only maintain a high level of quality control, but also support the efficiency of the day-to-day running of the business – there are multiple tools and software systems that can help the construction sector thrive.

 

Keep on top of staff training  

 

- Ensure staff are well trained on all aspects of their roles, as this will result in an improved quality of the business as a whole. From health and safety courses to hands-on training sessions, be sure that workers are kept well-educated on quality control measures.