How to find the right software for quality assurance in construction?
Delivering good quality projects is the goal of every modern builder. A no-brainer. But with prices rising, delivering quality – and the recording thereof – becomes more important. This can be labour intensive. Fortunately, time-saving software is available to make quality assurance easier and faster. That way, you can get back to getting the job done.
What functionalities does quality assurance software need?
As you may know, there are many providers of quality assurance software or modules. But how do you know whether a provider delivers good software? Let’s first list the functionalities that you really need to document quality assurance the right way.
- Locate points of attention on the building site and register them easily within the software.
- Register points of attention in the right context. Preferably with pictures and arrows.
- Assign points of attention to the right person who can solve them. Think of a scratch on a window or a wrongly placed tile.
- Check whether points of attention have been worked out/solved correctly.
- All steps are bundled in one clear report so that you can quickly demonstrate that all quality is correct.
How to find the right quality assurance software?
So there is a lot of software to choose from. Yet not every tool is the right solution for every company. By following the steps below, you can find the quality assurance software that best suits your company.
- Read up – What are your obligations? To find the right software, it is first of all important to understand the regulations. Fortunately, there is a lot of information online. Read the ‘Manual to the Building Regulations’ published by the government (2020) for example.
- Research current software – As a building professional you probably already have one or more software packages in use. It is a good idea to take a closer look at this software. What functionalities does it offer in the area of quality assurance? Are links with other systems possible?
- Find new software, or not – If your current package does not offer the required functionalities, you will have to buy additional or new software. Use the functionality list and the software list as described earlier in this article to find a shortlist for new software. Then request demos from systems that are the best fit.
How do you recognise good software for quality assurance in construction?
By using the right software, you retain control over planning, costs and quality. In your search for a new software package, pay attention to the following components.
1) Quality assurance by design
When it comes to quality assurance, it is a legal obligation to document everything properly. You should therefore choose software in which quality assurance is embedded in the system. For example, with forms, checklists and ‘snagging’ to keep the quality optimal. And clear dashboards and reports to give an inspector quick insight.
2) Predicting risks and minimising failure costs
Failure costs often weigh heavily on a project’s budget. The margins are small, so if mistakes are made, this is at the expense of the profit margin. Good software thinks along with the builder, predicts risks and thus minimises the chance of failure costs.
3) Adapts to your business operations
Some software packages require you to adapt your way of working. That is not ideal. You would rather choose software that optimises your operational management, without having to make concessions. For example, software that allows you to convert repetitive tasks into fixed flows, so that you never have to do things twice. And with which you can design forms and checklists around your needs. In this way, you keep an overview while continuing to work according to your own methods.