SEVEN STEPS TO QUALITY
1. ASSESS: Before construction, Foster & Company conducts a value engineering and a construct-ability review of the plans. This review includes specification of necessary materials, systems, and installation guidelines.
If past experience has shown that the specified materials, systems, or methods will create problems during the construction process, or maintenance problems during the expected life of the structure, these findings are called to the attention of the Owner and the Architect.
The value engineering review often improves the overall worth of the project and reduces the number of change orders that will inevitably occur once construction starts in the field.
2. ORGANIZE: Foster & Company's President, the assigned Project Manager, and Site Manager hold a planning session for the project before work begins in the field. During this session the project is literally "built on paper".
- Staging for equipment and materials storage are defined
- Unusual construction features are discussed
- Sequencing of the work is reviewed
- Past experience with proposed project subcontractors is discussed and a determination of whether a "Partnering Workshop" would be beneficial for this particular project is made
- If it is determined that a partnering workshop would be beneficial, Foster & Company makes arrangements for the workshop at no additional
cost to the owner
A project communication plan is developed and includes the following:
- Owner's requirements
- Safety Meetings
- Project Progress Meetings
- Subcontractor Instructions
- Other meetings as required by the nature of the project
3. CHECK: After project mobilization, Foster & Company's Project Manager and Site Manager check each material delivered to the site in order to assure quality and that all required materials are on site.
4. PROTECT: Once delivered, the materials are then stored and protected from damage by weather, soil stains or other contaminates until they are installed
on the job.
5. INSPECT: Foster & Company's Site Manager daily inspects the work as the materials are installed on the job. Incorrect installation or poor quality workmanship
is identified.
6. CORRECT: If work is installed incorrectly or carelessly, the company installing the work is instructed to take the work out and perform it correctly.
Retained compensation, held on each subcontractor, is usually sufficient motivation to comply with the Site Manager's request, however, if a subcontractor fails to respond promptly, the Site Manager himself has the work taken our and performed correctly. The cost for correcting the work is then deducted from the subcontractors contract.
Every Foster & Company Project Manager and Site Superintendent strives to complete their jobs with no punch at the end of construction. However, if there is a punch list, it is completed in a timely manner.
7. INSTRUCT: After construction is complete, the project team demonstrates the operation/maintenance requirements of all building systems for those who have need to know.
The Project Manager then gathers all operating/maintenance manuals and delivers them to the Owner or the designated representative.
