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Useful Quality KPIs For A Construction Project

This document discusses useful quality performance indicators (KPIs) for construction projects. It provides 7 examples of KPIs that can help monitor quality, including: 1) the time between identifying and recording a non-conformance report (NCR), 2) the time to close NCRs, 3) approval status of critical documentation, 4) percentage of reoccurring NCRs to identify trends, 5) pass/fail rates from inspections, 6) NCR statistics by area/subcontractor, and 7) progress on as-built documentation packages. The document advocates using data-driven analysis of these and other KPIs to make quality-focused decisions in construction project management.

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Ahmed Elhaj
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287 views4 pages

Useful Quality KPIs For A Construction Project

This document discusses useful quality performance indicators (KPIs) for construction projects. It provides 7 examples of KPIs that can help monitor quality, including: 1) the time between identifying and recording a non-conformance report (NCR), 2) the time to close NCRs, 3) approval status of critical documentation, 4) percentage of reoccurring NCRs to identify trends, 5) pass/fail rates from inspections, 6) NCR statistics by area/subcontractor, and 7) progress on as-built documentation packages. The document advocates using data-driven analysis of these and other KPIs to make quality-focused decisions in construction project management.

Uploaded by

Ahmed Elhaj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Useful Quality KPIs for a

Construction Project
There are many types of statistics that are being kept and followed up during the
construction of a Project.

Most of them are directly linked with the progress of the works (planning, schedules, staff
turnover, etc) but there are many more regarding Health & Safety , Environment and of
course financial statistics, Key Performance Indicators and other data that could “help”
Project Managers and Engineers to move on to the right direction.

But what about Quality Performance Indicators and data for a Construction Project…

These are some useful indicators that can actually help on monitoring the system’s
performance.

1. Time between identification of an NCR and actual raising on the


system:

This can be a very useful indicator which can give you an idea of how long it takes for an
NCR to be recorded. Everything is happening on the field and it is extremely useful to have
quick mechanisms and methods of identifying the issues and quickly record them. If it
takes too long (days, weeks or sometimes even months…) then there is something wrong
and the system has to be simplified. However, the problem starts if (as a Contractor) you
have to use your Client’s procedures (databases, forms etc) to report an NCR but I believe
you can even overcome that if you have an internal structure that can provide you with all
the information from the site quickly and accurately.

2. Time between opening and closure of NCRs

This indicator is pretty obvious. It shouldn’t take too long to take actions on NCRs. However,
the problem starts when the actions have to be taken from other parties (other
departments, subcontractors, third parties, authorities etc). This is where it becomes really
tricky and time wasting for a Quality Professional in a construction site. Closing NCRs is a
whole adventure sometimes…This is why “Quality” has to be an every day attitude and
not something additional that people on site are being forced to do.

Related: NCRs in a construction site


 

3. Approval status of critical documentation for the progress of the


works (Method Statements, ITPs etc)

This is probably one of the most important indicators. It is not directly “Quality” related but
it is mainly a Document Control performance indicator. Clients and Project Managers are
basically managing the project through the relevant documentation and usually all the
problems and arguments start when the right documentation is not approved (or at least
not submitted to them). It is obvious, that if for example 90% of the works on site, start
without any documentation then this is a Red Alert for “Quality”. There is obviously no
planning and it’s a sign of poor project management.

Apart from that, it is extremely important to follow-up and monitor the “quality” of the
Project’s documentation. For example, if there are many documents that go up to 3rd, 4th
revision (or even more) then you know that something is not working very well…(however
the reason of resubmissions many times is not only that they are of poor quality but
because there are plenty of changes on Design or even the people who are reviewing them
from the Client side keep on changing…)

Related: Tips for proper Document Control on site

4. Percentage of Re -occurring NCRs – Trends on NCRs

This is also an extremely important indicator. This one will show you how you can avoid the
same mistakes in the future within the “lessons learned” concept. If there are NCRs on the
same issues every week or month then that is a major trend showing that something is not
working well and needs to be changed. People on site are not following some requirements
and this is something that needs to be rectified and recorded. Maybe the construction
methods or the design needs to be changed.

Related: TOP 10 NCRs in construction projects: such a waste…

5. Statistical data from inspections as per the ITP- (Pass vs failed,


pass at the first time, etc)
Not very useful and practical but it is requested by many Clients and Project Managers. It
doesn’t actually tell you much and it might require many hours to be produced. However,
with the use of tablets on site instead of the classic checklists and forms, this statistic could
be very easily produced.

 Related: How to write a good ITP

6. NCR statitics per areas, sections, discipline, subcontractor etc

This is a very interesting indicator as well. But the numbers of NCRs won’t show you that
this area, this subcontractor or this section is not performing well. It will actually show you
that the system is working better on this area, this subcontractor or section and that the
issues are identified, recorded and closed.

7. Completion packages (As-Built folders) progress

This is again not directly quality related but extremely important for a smooth delivery
and…a happy Client at the end of the day.

There might be many more statistics and KPIs that could be kept and followed up(e.g. Cost
of NCRs/rework etc), but the type of information (that could actually be useful) depends a
lot on the nature and the size of the Project as well.

We could also add the statistical analysis of the laboratory test data on this list, but this
subject is covered extensively in standards and testing guidelines (e.g. concrete
performance statistics etc).

One of the fundamental quality principles is that any decision has to be taken after a
factual and objective analysis of data. There is no doubt that the Senior Management in the
construction industry is generally quite conservative and resistant on anything new. Most
of the times, decisions are taken only after considering (mainly) financial and (lately) safety
data.
This is not necessarily wrong, but  the big question is still here:

When “quality” will play a significant role in any decision taking in the construction
industry…?

When “quality” in construction will stop being an additional thing that we “must” have and
instead it will become a culture and everyday attitude by everyone who is working on a
project?

Share your experience in the comments section and as always…

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