Episode 4: Quality Compromises — Ensuring Quality in Construction
Reading Time: 3 minutesSpeaking of construction, quality is perhaps the most vital word associated with any successful construction project. If quality is low, it brings many issues such as delays, safety concerns and conflicting views amongst stakeholders. Although this is the case, quality control is one of the most common pain points in the industry. So, how can these risks be decreased in construction and ensure delivery of the expected or better projects? Let’s find out.
Why Quality Construction Management Matters in the Construction World
Construction quality management is regarded as an integral part of every construction project – it makes certain that every process undertaken, materials used and the finished product (workmanship) conform to specified requirements. As such there is a need for proper quality control mechanisms to be put in place otherwise construction projects are likely to be non compliant in most design aspects and this will result in:
• Damage to safety features of the structure.
• Higher maintenance fees.
• Harm to the reputation and to the clients docking.
Quality management does not only involve doing the bare minimum in order to stay compliant. Instead, it requires active forethought, implementation of measures and self-improvement revolutions during and after the completion of the projects. Construction teams have to focus on the quality of their work not only do they eliminate the risk of a very expensive redundant process but also expand existing client base‘’
Common Quality Issues in Construction Projects
It is only logical that, like everyone else, the construction industry has also evolved but along with that progress, some challenges have remained persistent and continuous, which include:
- Poor Workmanship: The unavailability and lack of training of skilled workforce often leads to low-quality work.
- Material Deficiencies: Use of materials of a lower grade or inappropriate ones can compromise the structural strength.
- Inadequate Inspections: The lack of quality checks at different levels of the project enables the presence of many unobservable defects.
- Communication Breakdowns: Absence of clear communication across people involved in the project might entail the non-compliance with some provisions of quality requirements of the project.
Working effective construction quality assurance measures can help improve those challenges by minimizing the disparity of the process and the in-depth evaluation of the works done
How BIM Improves Construction Quality Assurance
BIM for construction quality assurance is a total game changer for modern projects. By having a central hub to manage design, planning and execution BIM allows:
- Clash Detection: Detect design conflicts early to avoid rework.
- Precise Documentation: All project specs are clearly defined and accessible.
- Better Collaboration: Architects, contractors and stakeholders are aligned on quality standards.
- Real time Monitoring: Use data to track progress and quality benchmarks.
With BIM, teams can predict and prevent quality issues before they arise, fostering smoother workflows and better outcomes.
Quality Without Compromise
One of the biggest headaches in construction is quality vs cost. Here are some ways to achieve the balance:
1. Value Engineering: Analyse the design to find cost effective alternatives that don’t compromise on quality. For example, using cheaper yet durable materials can save costs without sacrificing standards.
2. Early Contractor Involvement (ECI): Get contractors involved in the design phase to get realistic costings and practical solutions.
3. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): This collaborative approach gets everyone aligned to reduce waste, streamline processes and improve overall quality.
4. BIM: Using BIM for construction quality will also help with cost management by reducing mistakes.
Future Proofing
As the construction industry moves forward, so must quality control. Quality management and BIM is no longer nice to have, it’s a must have. By addressing the pain points and being proactive we can deliver to high standards on budget.
At the end of the day quality isn’t just about meeting specs; it’s about building trust, safety and value for all stakeholders.