AS PROJECT OWNER, you assume inspections are being conducted correctly by your contractor and the foreman-leadmen. Your project is flowing smoothly, right?
NOT NECESSARILLY.
Here are the steps you should follow as you conduct your own observations CASUALLY and in LESS STRUCTURED approach.
TALK TO YOUR CONTRACTOR or PROJECT-IN-CHARGE. It’s highly likely that your contractor is performing his own inspections but you’ll still want to ask a few questions such as: Are there any quality issues that they’ve found?, Are their expectations being met?
WALK THE JOBSITE. Do your own field quality review. You’re probably already walking the job site and observing the way workers do their jobs. Pay close attention to their workmanship and quality you expect, work methods, and the lot identification markings on lot materials.
REVIEW QUALITY RECORDS AND REPORTS. Make a trip to the project field office and look at your project documents and records. You want to see if the project personnel are completing and filing all the needed records and reports.
TALK TO FIELD WORKERS. See if they’re properly trained and following the correct procedures. Ask simple open-ended questions such as, “How do you know the right way to install ceramic tiles?” “How long have you been an electrician?”
FOLLOW UP ON PREVIOUS QUALITY ACTION PLAN ITEMS. See that progress is being made on the previous action items. Each month, you should see improvements in work quality and find fewer deficiencies.
TAKE NOTE OF YOUR FINDINGS. Keeping records and making this known to the contractor and his workers workers will keep them on their toes. It will demonstrate due diligence and your follow up will show that you’re expecting corrections to issues found.
QUALITY CHECKING IS AN ON-GOING PROCESS. Whether you follow a more casual, less structured approach, or a formal one, you need to regularly inspect the implementation and effectiveness of your quality plans and expectations.
