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The Path Forward — A New Quality Control Program
By: Derek Glanwill and Kris Anderson

The basic goals of McCarthy — Quality are:

• Deliver Quality to meet or exceed client requirements!
• Making the Quality goal the same as for safety — Zero defects!
• Quality being everyone's responsibility!

Corporate and Divisional programs are being revamped to address the need for a company wide improvement in processes and building techniques. The Midwest Division (under Bill Nash, George Crow & John Schneider) will shortly be completing a Quality Control Manual that provides important tools for a common approach to Quality Control. In conjunction with all division VP Ops, we hope to implement a common approach across the country.

A summary of the highlights of the Midwest Quality Control Manual includes:

Providing Focus to Four Existing Quality Programs:

1. Preconstruction and Preplanning — Plan reviews for constructability, defining front end quality requirements, establishing a Section 01400-Quality spec; MEP and Enclosure peer review, mock-ups and a testing/inspection matrix will be developed.
2. Building Enclosure — By commencing as early as practical with changes included in bid packages; plus periodic site inspections by the peer reviews.
3. Water Infiltration & Mold Prevention –Strategy discussions started early on risks to scope and schedule resulting in front end, general conditions and execution modifications; local industrial hygienist with construction experience being available as needed.
4. Documentation — Via documentation in the initial Quality Plan, keeping it filed in one place, starting the turnover process early, being prepared to defend issues that may arise later.

Adding New Quality Program items such as:

1. Site Specific Quality Plans — A requirement for every job, involving all stakeholders, starting with preconstruction — through front ends, submittals, testing, mockups, construction inspections and warranty; assigns stakeholder responsibilities, includes deficiency tracking methods; site staffs maintain a Quality Log reviewed quarterly by directors and profit projection team.
2. MEP Peer Review — Third party reviews required on all technical projects.
3. Punch List Verification and Turnover Documentation — A third party verification and documentation process to verify that all items are completed and ensure that any issues are tracked through the warranty period.
4. 11–Month Warranty Inspection — Mandatory visits by director and/or manager with the Owner, resulting in documented closure to the one year warranty.

So Whose Job is Quality Control?

75% of the project staffs in a recent internal survey said it was the superintendent's job. However, like safety, it cannot be delegated. It's everyone's job, and will not become a core value until everyone at McCarthy considers it a component of their daily activity. Just like when the focus on safety was announced 15 years ago, some will perceive this as an unnecessary program. If focused on like safety was, the benefits will be great — Quality work will lead to an improved competitive position; protection of our reputation; fewer or elimination of latent defects and increased productivity. So lets all “walk the talk,” in order to protect the goose!