Construction projects require the coordination of many different teams, suppliers and processes in order to be successful. With so many moving parts, it’s easy for quality control to fall through the cracks, leading to costly mistakes or safety issues down the line.
That’s why having an experienced and diligent project manager to oversee all aspects of a build is crucial. They earn their invaluable status when it comes to integrating quality control measures at every stage, from planning to completion.
Without this integrated oversight, quality control is likely to be overlooked, leading to problems with the finished product. With an empowered project manager at the helm, you will feel confident that quality is being factored into every step.
A smoother planning phase
The planning phase is a crucial time for project managers to lay the groundwork for quality control throughout the construction process. A conscientious project manager will develop comprehensive plans that outline exactly how quality standards will be met at each stage, conducting in-depth risk analyses to identify any potential issues that could compromise quality down the line.
For example, they may spot that a necessary material is likely to be backordered and cause delays. The project manager can then plan for material contingencies.
Sub-contractors
Vetting subcontractors and suppliers is another key quality control step during planning. A project manager thoroughly investigates the reliability and expertise of all vendors to verify they can deliver work up to the necessary standards. Checking references, licensing and past project examples are part of this rigorous vetting process.
The project manager also reviews any quality control procedures the subcontractors and suppliers have in place themselves. By thoroughly vetting all outside partners in the planning stages, a project manager sets the team up for quality success as construction moves forward.
Open communication between teams
Clear and constant communication is essential for proper quality control on a construction project. With numerous stakeholders, suppliers, and moving parts, miscommunications can easily happen, resulting in mistakes, delays, and other quality issues. A diligent project manager prevents these problems by serving as the central point of contact for all parties and facilitating open communication every step of the way.
The project manager establishes direct lines of communication with the client, architects, engineers, contractors, vendors, and inspectors from the outset. They ensure everyone has their up-to-date contact information and knows how to reach out with any questions, updates, or concerns.
Similarly, they coordinate regularly with all parties to discuss progress and head off any issues through collaborative problem-solving, whether it’s checking up on planning permission applications or chasing suppliers.
Control and efficiency
When changes come up, the project manager immediately communicates the updates to all relevant stakeholders, coordinating modifications and troubleshooting obstacles through responsive communication. They share documentation and track changes in real-time through shared digital platforms to keep everyone in the loop.
By serving as the hub for transparent and proactive communication, an empowered project manager integrates quality control by ensuring defects and problems are caught early through open information exchange between parties. Their exacting leadership in communication is essential for construction quality assurance.
Keeping to budget
Construction projects often go over budget due to poor planning, unforeseen expenses, and lack of cost oversight during the building process. A project manager is essential for maintaining quality control when it comes to the budget.
During planning, this key coordinator thoroughly vets all estimates and creates contingency plans to account for unexpected overages. They research pricing on all materials and labour to get accurate cost projections while finding areas to reduce expenses without sacrificing quality. Once construction starts, the project manager rigorously tracks spending and identifies potential budget issues early. If costs start to escalate, they can make adjustments, like working with subcontractors to find savings or value-engineering aspects of the design without impacting quality.
At each payment milestone the project manager reviews all invoices in detail, to ensure clients are not overpaying due to inaccurate billing. They account for every single expense, making sure changes to orders and additional costs are approved and documented.
By serving as a budget watchdog at all stages, they provide essential quality control when it comes to keeping a construction project on or under budget. By overseeing the entire project, they can guarantee quality is never compromised due to financial mismanagement.
Preventing delays and keeping to schedule
To prevent avoidable delays and cost overruns, diligent project managers will conduct regular audits throughout the construction process. These periodic reviews help identify potential issues before they derail timelines or budgets.
The project manager may bring in specialised auditors to analyse contractor billing, change orders, pricing and compliance with regulations. The audits detect any fraudulent, inaccurate, or non-compliant practices early. For example, the auditors may find a contractor is overcharging for materials or misallocating costs. The manager can then intervene to correct the irregularities before they drain the budget. By auditing for compliance, they can prevent these massive delays.
Quality control
Serving as an extra set of eyes through regular audits, the project manager exercises quality control over timelines and costs. The periodic reviews reinforce accountability and transparency from contractors. With such a meticulous coordinator at the helm conducting ongoing audits, construction projects are far less likely to go over schedule or budget due to negligence or misconduct. Their unbiased oversight keeps quality high when it comes to efficient project delivery.
Without empowered project managers serving as conductors of the construction orchestra, quality falls through the cracks. Mistakes can go unnoticed until it’s too late, budgets spiral out of control and timelines get severely delayed. But with diligent project managers overseeing every process, you can feel confident that quality is never compromised. This role is a vital asset to the areas of quality control and risk mitigation in construction projects, and makes the decision to employ a project manager well worth the investment.
