Construction Quality Know-how: background information

Background

The UK construction industry accounts for approximately 5% GDP employing around 2.24m people. It can be proud of making some extraordinary achievements which include, for example: the infrastructure and buildings for the Olympics 2012, the Shard, London Bridge station, and Wembley Stadium. However, the construction industry also has a reputation for poor performance with projects often running behind programme, being over budget and not delivered to the required quality. It is also recognised as being backward when compared to other industries such as manufacturing. 

The construction industry can be considered unique in many ways: the temporary project based nature, the many (often small to medium sized) organisations involved in delivery, the number and variety of stakeholders and the external environmental conditions are some of the challenges it faces.

With a number of significant and very large projects such as HS2, Crossrail 2, Thames Tideway and Heathrow expansion either commenced or potentially imminent and resource likely to be stretched further, it is now more important than ever that the UK Construction Industry steps up to the challenge to eliminate the wastage from poor performance and improves to bring greater value to its customers.

Purpose

This website focuses on quality in the construction industry, although that will involve every aspects of delivery from conception through to facilities management, all parties, including clients, contractors and consultants, and functions, including design, procurement and operational delivery. Research shows that defects in construction waste millions of pounds every year. Poor quality, though, also impacts in many other ways including health and safety, reputation, and increasing programme time. 

This website therefore aims to provide construction professionals with the information required to help them not only deliver projects which are right first time, on budget and to programme but also to improve their delivery processes and provide them with the opportunity to increase the success of their organisation.

The information provided is free. It is written by construction professionals who specialise in quality. Input is also provided from other construction professionals who, due to their role are able to provide invaluable input to the contents, for example clients responsible for evaluating contractors based on the quality of delivery.

We hope you find the information provided useful. If you have any comments, please contact us at consigcwg@gmail.com. We welcome your feedback.

Mike Buss
ConSIG  Competency Working Group Chair

 

Construction Quality Awareness 
In addition to the Construction Quality Know-how, the ConSIG Competency Working Group has also developed a framework for courses which will provide construction professionals with the quality knowledge required for specific roles including operatives, managers, engineers, and directors. Further information can be found here.

Main Menu >
Knowhow >