Zero Defects in Construction Projects

It Takes a System to Achieve Quality Control

Is it realistic to do any job with zero defects, absolutely no errors? Let’s just say it’s possible to get a lot closer than you think.

One of the main problems with error reduction is that managers think of quality control as a matter of “inspiring” the team, as if the difference between doing it right and doing it wrong was a matter of motivation.

More often, it’s a matter of information.

To illustrate this, there’s the story of the lazy son who could never clean the family car to his father’s satisfaction.

In the end, the problem was neither the son’s lack of motivation nor his unwillingness to do a good job.

The problem was in the definition of the task. What exactly does it mean to “clean the car,” and how do you evaluate each sub-task to assure that it is not “defective” from the expected result?

Specifics help, like knowing that a clean car includes washing the floor mats and cleaning the windows, inside and out. Testable results help, like “a clean window shows no visible smears at any angle of viewing” and “cleaned floor mats must be replaced so as not to interfere with the pedals.”

Quality takes a system, and one that has been well thought-out at that.

To learn more about reducing errors in construction projects, including how to take your mistake-proofing to the next level, we recommend reading the article “Mistakes Happen. Working to prevent errors in construction” by Dennis Sowards.

It’s available from Snips Magazine online at the following link: Mistakes Happen.

Business Intelligence Through IBISWorld

What can Industry tell us about the State of the Economy?

One exceptional resource available to business today is www.IBISworld.com. 

IBISWorld is a leading publisher of business intelligence, including industry and procurement research.

Founded in 1971 and employing hundreds of researchers across the planet, IBISWorld provides current, accurate, and thoroughly researched business information.

What have we been reading recently on IBISWorld?

Five intriguing industry reports caught our attention, including:

• IBISWorld Industry Report 23822a: Heating & Air Conditioning in the US. | Warming up: Despite competition, construction activity will keep the industry running. (Did you know the number of housing starts jumped 29.3% in 2012, and the value of nonresidential construction grew 8.1%?) Report Snapshot.
• IBISWorld Industry Report 33341: Heating & Air Conditioning Equipment Manufacturing in the US. | Heating up: Renewed housing demand and energy-efficiency initiatives drive equipment sales. (Did you know revenue is expected to grow 3.1% in 2013 and that sales volumes are projected to return to prerecession levels by 2014?) Report Snapshot.
• IBISWorld Industry Report 42373: Heating & Air Conditioning Wholesaling in the US. | On the fritz: Wholesalers will rely on replacement demand and efficiency in the recession’s slump. (Did you know manufacturers have been skipping the wholesale link of the supply chain for the past decade? Known as wholesale bypass, direct manufacturer-to-retailer distribution arrangements have been hurting wholesalers across the economy.) Report Snapshot.
• IBISWorld Business Environment Report: World price of steel. (Did you know IBISWorld projects demand for steel will continue rising as the world economies regain traction in the five years to 2017? Positive economic growth is projected in each of the next five years, but the recovery will likely be a slow and unstable one.) Not Available Online.
• IBISWorld Business Environment Report: World demand for steel. (Did you know IBISWorld estimates that world consumption of steel will reach 1,440.0 million metric tons in the 2013 calendar year, representing a 2.9% increase from the previous year? Steel consumption shares a strong correlation with investment activity, as key consumer markets include the transport, infrastructure and construction industries.) Not Available Online.

Each year IBISWorld writes over 700 US industry reports, which are updated up to four times a year. Unfortunately, these insightful and valuable reports are not freely available. Report snapshots can be viewed online, but full reports must be purchased individually or accessed via your business’s IBISWorld membership.

To learn more about acquiring an IBISWorld membership, visit www.ibisworld.com/about/membership.aspx

No matter how big or small your project:

No matter how demanding the project, ZEN Industries has the experience and expertise you need.  To learn more, Contact ZEN Industries today!

ZEN Industries provides all or part of your HVAC needs. HVAC ductwork manufactured according to your schedule, meeting 3rd Edition 2005 SMACNA standards. Contact Drew McCaffrey - Sales & Estimating at 877-600-0274.

Success in our business is about service.

Success in our business is about service.  The quality of our HVAC duct work is of the highest caliber and our price competitive with the best in the industry. Nonetheless, quality and price are default items today in sheet metal fabrication. They give us access to the playing field. Service is where ZEN Industries Inc. gains its edge, and service means people - it's about our experienced personnel and the relationships we build with each and every customer.

Learn more at www.ZENIndustries.com or at www.ZENMEP.com

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