Planning Construction projects such as roads, industrial structures, stadiums, bridges, homes and various commercial buildings bring the need for a quality assurance process. Since even a tiny defect or flaw in any of these construction projects can have dangerous effects, it is imperative to develop a plan before construction begins. It is also necessary to monitor the quality assurance plan’s effectiveness throughout the span of the project. The cost of implementing a good quality assurance program is small in comparison with the possible large amount of money required to deal with the effects of lapses, defects and flaws. To better understand what a quality assurance plan in construction should include, consider the following steps.
1. Define Requirements. This should always be the first step. To accomplish this task, determine what the needs of the customer are. Listen carefully to the customer, and rephrase ideas to ensure their needs are fully understood. The structural designs of the project should be determined by the customer’s specific needs. In the design phase, it is also important to decide on types of material to use. Define the standards for the structure’s construction to determine what components must be included in the quality assurance process. It is also important to consider surrounding factors. For example, the soil and construction site must undergo several tests to check climatic conditions. All parties involved must be certain to comply with any environmental protection laws. By considering these laws during this first phase, it is easier to incorporate them into the decision of materials and design planning. Keep in mind that the site should not pose a pollution threat to bodies of water nearby. Sound pollution must also be minimal, and it should not cause inconvenience to people who live nearby.
2. Material Requirements. After the initial project requirements have been defined, it is necessary to list all of the materials and supplies that will be used. Be sure to include their respective specifications. Note any brand requests, and add reminders for materials that must be certified. All of these details are necessary to ensure that the chosen materials match the quality and design needs for the project.
3. Planning. Once the material planning is finished, start developing a plan for the task’s completion. This plan should clearly outline the workflow. Invite several tenders to obtain the building material and supplies. During this process, document each step for future reference.
4. Material Testing. It is imperative to test the materials before using them. During this process, third parties or internal laboratories test the composition of the chosen materials. Whether private or internal labs are used, a uniform set of work quality standards from various institutes dictate decisions. Issues such as steel’s tensile strength or the compression strength of bricks are tested. Based on the results of tests or trials, the chosen materials will be approved or disapproved.
5. During Construction. In this final step, quality assurance is measured throughout the construction process. Supervisors must ensure that all standards outlined in the previous steps are upheld. Several different quality assurance measures should be taken to reduce the likelihood of any breaches. Supervisors must also check workmanship quality and conformance. With the help of external and internal audits, quality checks are stronger. If quality control supervisors find any components to be below the set standards, they must determine the cause. After this, they must develop a rework plan to fix the issue.
Since the cost of rework is very high, quality assurance should never be neglected. In addition to this, the liability issues connected with poor design quality can be detrimental to a company’s budget and reputation.
