How to Customize a Construction Quality Control Plan Template
Posted by Ed Caldeira on Sun, Feb 07, 2010 @ 10:20 AM
No sense reinventing the wheel... Using a template is a good starting point to develop your quality control plan.
But... it's not good practice to buy a template and just stick your name on it.
Your quality control plan should describe your quality methods, policies, and practices.
Here are some tips for customizing a template to your specific company QA/QC program.
1. Find a quality control plan template that has all the components you need including:
- Quality Manual
- Standard Operating Procedures
- Submittal Forms
2. Change general information into company-specific information.
Most quality manual templates use vague generalities to describe quality methods and policies. Below is an example of typical template wording that's vague, without specific detail.
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All employees have the responsibility and authority for implementation of established QA/QC activities ... to:
- Initiate action to prevent the occurrence of work or service non-conformity;
- Identify and record any quality problems;
- Initiate, recommend, or provide solutions through designated channels;
- Verify the implementation of solutions;
- Control further processing, delivery, or installation of non-conforming work until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.
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Did you notice the general term "all employees"? I’d be very surprised if “all employees” in your company have the same quality responsibilities and authority.
So, change your template to include specific information about all key positions responsible for making sure that jobs are done right -- quality.
The example below shows clearly defined information for one such key position, the superintendent.
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Caldeira Construction superintendents verify that work performed by subcontractors and Caldeira Construction work crews conforms to Caldeira Construction quality standards.
Caldeira Construction superintendents have specific responsibilities for:
- Ensuring that construction meets government regulatory and code requirements, customer requirements, contract requirements, contract technical specifications, contract drawings, approved contract submittals, and company quality standards and specifications
- Ensuring that subcontractors begin work in accordance with Excel Construction start-work policies
- Ensuring that subcontractors receive a notice to work only when conditions will not adversely affect quality results
- Conducting inspections, tests, and recording findings
- Accurately assessing subcontractor quality and on-time performance
- Ensuring that quality standards are achieved before approving subcontractor or work crew completion of work
Caldeira Construction superintendents have the authority to:
- Stop work when continuing work may adversely affect quality or cover up a defect
- Prevent the use of materials that may adversely affect quality
- Direct the removal or replacement of any non-conforming work or material
- Suspend work and/or supply of materials as deemed necessary to assure quality results
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3. Add details
Take the time to include details. Here is another typical template example of vague wording without specific detail.
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The Project Manager shall establish and maintain procedures to ensure that any work that does not conform to specified requirements is prevented from inadvertent release to the client. |
What procedures? After reading this example, will your client and company personnel know your nonconformance policy?
Here is an example that provides the needed detail.
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When Caldeira Construction superintendents or inspectors identify nonconformances, they quickly mark the nonconformances with Caldeira Construction nonconformance tags to prevent inadvertent cover-ups. |
In Conclusion
Evaluate several different quality control plan templates and choose the one that has the most detail. After all, the less you have to “reinvent the wheel” the better.
Thoroughly read over the document, and tailor it to include your company's quality methods and policies.
Change vague, generalities to company-specific information, and add details.
Need a quality plan?
We offer comprehensive quality plan templates tailored to meet your company and project requirements. No need to reinvent the wheel!
About the Author - Ed Caldeira is founder of Caldeira Quality, specializing in First Time Quality construction quality programs and FTQ360 performance management software. He can be reached at www.FirstTimeQuality.com.