Construction is an industry that requires stringent regulations and maintenance. This is so that workers can be kept safe onsite and the output is of the correct standard.
Maintaining quality in construction work requires a multi-faceted approach. It involves checking in on each stage of the supply chain and honing the operations onsite. Here’s what you need to know about maintaining quality in construction work.
Vet your suppliers
Your supply chain is essentially an extension of your business in many ways. This means you should only work with suppliers that meet the same ethical and trading standards as your own business. Sourcing materials that come from a trusted supplier with a good reputation will give you one less thing to worry about, plus it means that the quality will be more consistent.
In modern society, supply chains for large corporations are so big that they’re virtually untraceable in some circumstances. This is the result of a globalised economy. However, if you’re able to uphold a tighter supply chain that uses good, local suppliers, you’ll have greater transparency and be less susceptible to global affairs impacting your supply chain and business operations.
Encourage communication
Communication is an important aspect of a successful business with good quality assurance. Workers should feel confident to flag issues and when standards are at risk of slipping. A good line of communication between workers and managers is key to this. Frequent catchups and clear briefing sessions will ensure that everyone is on the same page and doesn’t fall below the level of quality by cutting corners.
Have quality control managers
Sometimes, having a dedicated team of quality control managers is the best way to ensure there’s always a focus on good quality construction work. This way, it won’t slip off the radar due to managers having to juggle multiple priorities in one go.
Ensure they have the right equipment to inspect work properly, such as inspection lamps, measuring equipment and so on. This way, smaller quality issues can be ironed out before they become more inconvenient or problematic.
Daily site inspections
Simple changes to work routines can make more of a difference than you might expect. For example, daily site inspections mean that a pair of fresh eyes can check the work that’s been completed – and it allows workers to step back and assess the situation. Positives and negatives can be discussed, allowing teams to place their focus on the next day of work. Sometimes you have to step back and observe things from a new angle to work out which direction you need to take things. The more people involved in site inspections, the better the chances of issues being spotted.