Quality in Construction – Its Impact on Nation Building

You can have a high-quality, low-cost construction project at the cost of time or a high-quality, quick construction project at a high price. And when both time and money are limited, quality is likely to suffer.

Construction projects are a balance between cost, time and quality. High quality is only sometimes the primary objective for the client; time or cost may be more important. Specifying a very high-quality standard is only realistic if the budget and time are available to achieve that standard.

Nation building and construction

In India, the construction sector includes both real estate and urban development. Residential, office, retail, hotels, and leisure parks are all included in the Real Estate section. While the urban development section is divided into sub-segments like water supply, sanitation, urban transportation, schools, and healthcare.

Both of these sectors are critical to India’s development. Because the stakes are so high, it is necessary to pay closer attention to the construction industry. With increased reports of poor-quality construction, it is more crucial than ever to pay attention to quality construction. After all, the building industry is critical to national prosperity.

Why is quality important in construction?

The construction sector plays a vital role in the Indian economy. It contributes approximately 5% of the country’s GDP and has increased its share to almost 8%. Moreover, the infrastructure sector occupies the highest percentage, i.e. 13% of total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Therefore, it becomes essential to produce high-quality work in the construction industry.

Quality in the construction industry is essential. Not only should the tools, equipment and machinery used on site meet strict criteria in terms of quality and standards and be fit for their purpose. But it is equally vital to ensure they are correctly maintained throughout the project.

High quality in construction is crucial for various reasons, not the least of which is that it gives the completed project a distinct advantage over other initiatives of a similar nature. Moreover, it matters because, from beginning to end, managing quality may enhance every facet of the job, including the pride that the operators involved take in their work, the general safety of the undertaking, and the nation’s development.

Impact of poor quality

The consequences of poor quality in construction go beyond just the industry’s financial costs. Poor quality is frequently associated with poor health and safety. Poor quality contributes to safety incidents. Additionally, the client’s reputation may improve if the quality improves. The difficulties of completion and handover may increase due to a lack of confidence in the dependability of the final product. It can often result in the need to replace materials. The materials become waste which must then be removed. There may be an environmental impact if the waste is sent to a landfill, and it will cost more money.

Rectifying poor-quality work is extremely expensive to restore. Many study publications say poor-quality work accounts for 5% to 15% of project expenditures.

Not only is there the cost of rectifying the poor work, but there are sometimes additional costs due to the project’s delay. In addition, rectifying finished work frequently impacts adjacent things, implying that there is usually more to mend than simply the item that was not acceptable in the first place.

Conclusion

There is no excuse for poor-quality work. Indeed there are many reasons to produce good quality work.

The Indian economy’s two most critical foundations are precisely balanced. Real estate is ahead of the curve, becoming more robust and mature from the economic downturn. Infrastructure, on the other hand, has just recently begun to recover. Both sectors will require all stakeholders’ full attention to guarantee their full potential is realised.

A well-defined quality control strategy is the most significant approach to ensure client satisfaction in a building project. Strict adherence to the procedure results in better work delivery, resulting in less rework and increased earnings for the firm.

It is critical that management does not accept poor quality and does not walk by substandard work. However, it is also crucial to recognise and reward individuals who have created high-quality work.