This Blog focuses on the potential quality improvement achieved via different procurement routes.
Construction quality is about compliance, minimising defects and the need for rework. It enhances Customer satisfaction, reduces all party’s costs and contributes to timely completion.
Construction Management
Construction Management (CM) offers several benefits to Customers, particularly on quality improvement.
Quality is a primary concern for any Customer, Stakeholder and End User. Quality Assurance (QA) is crucial for meeting and, where possible, exceeding requirements.
Designers and Contractors must show their competence and compliance with Building Regulations. The Building Safety Act imposes requirements on those involved in the design and construction process. The level of these requirements depend upon the nature of the building(s) planned.
So, ensuring quality is as much about culture and organisational values, as it is systems and processes.
Under CM a Construction Manager works direct for the Customer. This provides a team of dedicated professionals focused on overseeing work quality. There is no Main Contractor with alternative motives impacting or diluting QA.
CM ensures Customer transparency and access to project QA procedures, inspections, and audits. Quality issues are identified and addressed early, in full collaboration with the Customer. This open proactive approach significantly reduces the chances of reworks or costly defects. Quality management via CM can result in a better end product, delivered on time and within budget.
Another benefit of CM is continuity of quality control throughout the project. Early engagement of the Construction Manager ensures continuity throughout the project’s development. The Customer can rely on their expertise to maintain high standards at every stage.
CM provides Customers with greater control over the quality of materials and workmanship. They can make informed decisions based on the Construction Manager’s reports and recommendations. This in turn can result in a higher-quality final product.
Additionally, CM allows for greater flexibility and adaptability during the construction process. The Customer can make changes and adjustments as needed without causing significant delay or cost overruns. This flexibility improves quality as the project evolves to meet the Customer’s changing requirements.
Customers have direct control over the quality of their projects under CM. It ensures that quality control is a continuous, integral process aligned with the Customer’s vision and expectations.
Design & Build
D&B places responsibility for coordinating design and construction quality with the Main Contractor. Providing a single point of responsibility for ensuring the works meet the Employer’s Requirements and contractual standards.
The Main Contractor can coordinate its design team, specialist subcontractors and supply chain to manage quality improvement throughout the project. This integrated approach can reduce gaps between design and construction responsibility.
The trade-off is that the Customer has less direct control over day-to-day quality management and relies more heavily on the Main Contractor’s systems and processes. In some cases this results in late QA which further contributes to reworks and defects which lead to cost uncertainty. At Scribe we treat QA as a constant requirement, up to date reporting, projections and a true collaborative approach reduces the potential downsides of D&B and keeps the outcomes inline with specifications.
Quality requirements can be established through the Employer’s Requirements, specifications, inspections and contractual provisions.
D&B therefore suits Customers who prioritise single-point responsibility and an integrated approach to quality management.
Traditional
Traditional procurement separates design and construction responsibility. The Customer’s Design Team helps establish the design, specification and quality requirements, while the Main Contractor is responsible for constructing the works accordingly.
This provides the Customer with strong control over the required standards before construction begins. A developed design and specification can also reduce ambiguity and provide a clear benchmark for quality management.
As with D&B, day-to-day construction quality is managed through the Main Contractor and its supply chain. The Customer has less direct involvement with individual Trade Contractors, although contractual inspections, testing and quality assurance procedures remain available.
Traditional procurement therefore suits projects where design certainty, specification and Customer control over the required quality standards are priorities.
Choosing the Right Route for Quality Improvement
Each route provides a different balance of quality control and responsibility:
- Construction Management: direct Customer involvement, early specialist input and transparency of quality management.
- Design & Build: single-point responsibility for coordinating design and construction quality.
- Traditional: strong Customer control over design and specification, with construction quality managed by the Main Contractor.
The decision is not simply which route provides the highest quality, but which approach best supports the project’s quality requirements and the Customer’s preferred level of involvement.
CM can suit projects where direct control and specialist input are important. D&B suits Customers seeking integrated quality management through a single Main Contractor. Traditional suits projects where a developed design and clearly defined specification are central to achieving the required quality.
Customers can achieve quality improvement through Construction Management. Quality benefits of CM include:
- Construction Manager providing quality control expertise, with no alternative motive
- Customer transparency and full access to project QA procedures, inspections, and audits
- Continuity of quality control throughout the project phases
- Increased flexibility to change the design to meet varying requirements
- Direct Customer control over quality available
Scribe uses strict, systematic monitoring and measurement of construction quality. All driven by a top-down quality culture and high calibre organisational values. This is why Scribe prides itself as being your trusted partner to build quality and value through construction management services
Contact Scribe to further discuss the improved quality available through Construction Management procurement. Please comment below, and read our other Blogs.
