Whenever painted steelwork or other equipment is to be lifted, transported etc, consideration should be given to reducing damage to the paint.

Slings, forklifts, chains or other equipment is often used and although it may not do structural damage, it can damage the protective coatings.

This then has to be repaired, repainted, and inspected.

Proper instructions (and equipment) should be given to the workers and contractors to use web slings or similar covered with a rubber hose or similar soft material to avoid damage to the paint.

Some workers may say don’t bother and that it can be touched up later. But this is not as good as the original paint, and repainting often has to be inspected by a certified paint inspector which can be very expensive and can delay the continuation of the project.

It is cheaper and quicker to do it right the first time.

Tagged with: instructions • paint damage • paint inspection • repainting

Filed under: Construction • Quality

Remember that for a project, quality means compliance with the scope and specifications. Doing what is required.

It does not mean you have to deliver a better product than is ordered, or that it has to have extra features that were not requested.

Tagged with: extra features • specifications

Filed under: Quality • Scope

Find out why a project was started.

Some reasons could be different to just business as usual, and these may affect the priority on time, cost, or quality

• Was it internal business reasons (business process improvement)?
• Is your organisation using the project as a demonstration of its capability? To show off and make itself known.
• Is the project a way to break into a new market (low or no profit may be expected because it will be used as a learning and development exercise).

Tagged with: demonstration • improvement • new market • priority • profit

Filed under: Cost • Quality • Scope • Time

Find out what is most critical for a particular project – Time, Quality, or Cost

For example, a sports event launch is not time negotiable. It must be on time, it cannot be delayed a few days like a construction project could.

Tagged with: critical

Filed under: Cost • Quality • Time

It is the responsibility of the project manager to organise priorities for the team members.

You should provide direction on what is the most important task.

You should settle conflicts between activities.

Provide things like the network diagram and critical path of the project to clarify to team members what work is the most important.

The PM should also give their team direction on the requirements for time, cost, scope, and quality.

Tagged with: activities • conflict • critical path • direction • important tasks • network diagram • prioritise • priority

Filed under: Cost • Planning • Quality • Scope • Time

Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) are important.

• Make sure QA plans are put together and submitted properly.

• Make sure internal audits are done to be sure the project has covered all the quality aspects it should (and that they have been documented).

• The internal audits should also be documented.

• Subconsultant’s quality plans and controls should also be audited. The client may want to see records of this.

Doing all this will make client audits of the project much smoother and easier.

Even if clients often don’t do a QA audit, you should work on the assumption that they will do one. Plan for internal QA reviews at the start, in the project planning.

Compliance with the quality plan should be monitored both internally and for the sub consultants / subcontractors.

Subcontractors poor work will reflect badly on your company, so it is important that their quality is monitored.

Tagged with: audit • auditor • QA • quality assurance • quality control

Filed under: Contractors • Documentation • Planning • Quality

Your company should have a set time or point that reviews of the design process are carried out. Often at stages like 30%, 60%, 90%, 100%.

You should do this as part of the quality assurance / quality control system.

Don’t just leave it until the end.

Tagged with: quality assurance • quality control • review

Filed under: Design • Quality

If your company is involved in site inspections, site supervision, or site management take lots of photos. Make sure to file these photos by name (location, item) and date.

Some of the important sets of photos I take are:

• Site conditions before the start of the project, and at the end of the project.
• Stages of construction.
• Any significant works
• Ground work
• Accidents
• Unsafe areas or work
• Ground conditions
• Influences on the project that cause delays.
• Detailed unusual or unfamiliar items (helps with design clarification).
• Reinforcement in concrete
• Damage to equipment, or buildings (especially if caused by client)

Ideally you should put together a collection of photos that tracks the project as it progresses.
Make it a regular scheduled activity.
Particularly take photos whenever you or your company have to witness something (e.g. placement of reinforcement).

Tagged with: photos • site inspection • site management • site supervision

Filed under: Quality