Quality Management Platform Inspired During Covid-19 Pandemic for Use by Subcontractors in Private Housing Projects

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan, many construction sites must limit the number of people on the jobsite or conduct work independently to avoid the spread of COVID-19. The quality of construction may be in doubt with unclear job handover, especially when workers have COVID-19 infection that should be isolated immediately. On top of that, first-level subcontractor self-inspections are crucial parts of construction process management, and neglecting inspection processes can lead to construction errors and poor quality. To improve current quality inspection methods for private projects, a literature analysis was conducted to identify construction quality management issues that are faced in private housing projects. In-depth interviews with small and medium-sized subcontractors of private housing projects were performed to understand the quality management methods that they use in practice. Next, improvement measures for quality management were formulated and a simplified checklist for private project subcontractors, based on the practical feedback obtained, was created. Finally, the AppSheet platform was used to develop an inspection application for construction, and a subcontractor was invited to confirm its feasibility. The paperless design avoids redundant human contact, and the results of this study greatly facilitate construction practice, particularly during the pandemic. The main contribution of this study is its investigation of the procedures that are used by private project subcontractors to inspect their work for quality management; its results can serve as a reference for academics in evaluating construction quality management levels and improving the management of work by subcontractors to promote safety and health.

Reinventing Formulas for Construction Project Delay Index Due to Management and Production

“…Furthermore, earlier research by de Araujo et al (2017), Martens and Vanchoucke (2018), and Lee & Won (2021) [13][14][15] found additional variables contributing to construction project delays, such as inadequate planning, poor consultant performance, ineffective management, owner-related problems, bureaucracy, and subpar contracts. According to several studies by Korhonen (2020), Liu et al (2022), and Chou et al (2023) [16][17][18], the owner's actions have three main implications for the duration of a construction project: delaying payments to subcontractors, interfering with the contractor's cash flow, and having trouble obtaining the necessary materials. In the meantime, a complicated payment system, missing paperwork, and subpar labor are the main reasons why owners fail to pay their contractors.…”