Quality Management is an important part of delivering a successful project.
With this in mind, the iTWOcx Quality module has been developed to assist with managing project quality requirements in logical segments (LOTs), each with its own tracking and checking tools.
Any Project, Asset, Zone or other division of work can be separated into LOTs.
The ITP forms the basis of the iTWOcx Quality Module. All tasks specified on the project Inspection and Test Plans (ITP) are created with a relationship to a particular Lot to ensure complete reporting and closeout. This allows both client and contractor to control each aspect of the Quality Management process in a structured, standardised way.
Action points such as Inspection Records, Witness or Hold Points are then assigned to tasks requiring inspection for that particular LOT of work.
Action Points, which result in a failed inspection, may require the creation of a Non-Conformance to ensure the failure is resolved in accordance with appropriate Quality Standards.
The following diagram represents the process for those involved in the management and implementation of Quality Management
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Definitions
a) Quality Management Plans
A Quality Management Plan (QMP) is a project specific plan developed by a subcontractor, to plan and carry out the contract works for a specific project, to ensure conformity with the project contractual requirements and to manage any risks.
The QMP should be used and updated throughout the course of the project.
b) ITP's
In order to meet quality management requirements, projects must create and execute Inspection and Testing Plans (ITP's).
The purpose of an Inspection and Test Plan is to put together a single document that details all inspection and testing requirements relevant to a specific process. On a construction contract the process is likely to be a construction activity, element of work, trade work or provision of a product section. An Inspection and Test Plan identifies the items of material and work to be inspected or tested, by whom and at what stage or frequency, the inclusion of Hold and Witness Points, references to relevant standards, acceptance criteria and the records to be maintained.
Inspection and Test Plans, when properly implemented, help to ensure that the work undertaken has been to the required standard and that records are kept.
c) Inspection Record
An inspection record is a document which is associated with a task in the ITP Checklist which is embedded in the Lot document.
It records the inspection with the following information:
- Record Frequency: Weekly, monthly, once per lot, etc.
- ITP Task: Directly from the ITP task for the particular row.
d) Hold and Witness Points
A ‘hold’ point defines a point beyond which work may not proceed without the authorisation of a designated service provider or authority.
This ‘designated service provider or authority’ could potentially be an agency's or other customer’s representative/authorised person, or a regulatory authority (such as a council, Water Authority, WorkCover etc.) representative.
A ‘witness’ point provides a party (such as the customer, service provider and a regulatory authority) with the opportunity to witness the inspection or test or aspect of the work, at their discretion.
e) Service Provider
The service provider to the Client is responsible for ensuring that all the required Inspection and Test Plans are prepared, including those covering work or processes to be carried out by its own service providers.
f) Independent Certifier
Clients need verification from an independent certifier that work has been completed to the Quality Standard specified in the contract.
The independent certifier relies on the evidence captured in iTWOcx to validate compliance with the relevant Quality Standard.