Every builder will tell you they build quality homes. Fewer can show you how. A Quality Management Plan (QMP) is the document that explains how a builder makes sure the work meets the plans, the specification, the NCC and the standards, stage by stage. If your builder has one and actually uses it, that's a good sign. If they look at you blankly when you ask, that tells you something too.

Time, cost and quality

Every project is measured on three things: time, cost and quality. Time is managed through the construction program. Cost is managed through the contract price and variations. Quality is the one that often gets left to chance, and it's the one you live with for the next 30 years.

In plain terms, quality on a house build means the finished work matches what you contracted for: the plans, the specification, the engineering, the NCC and the relevant Australian Standards.

What a builder's QMP should contain

A good residential QMP doesn't need to be long. It should cover:

  1. What "quality" means on this job. The documents the work is checked against: plans, specification, engineering, NCC, manufacturer's instructions and the QBCC standards and tolerances.
  2. Quality targets for each stage. What has to be right at slab, frame, enclosed, fixing and handover.
  3. How they prevent problems (quality assurance). The systems that stop mistakes happening in the first place.
  4. How they check the work (quality control). The inspections and tests at each stage, and who does them.
  5. How defects are recorded and fixed. Who records them, who fixes them, and how they're signed off.
  6. The supporting processes. How they manage the program, costs, variations, risks, issues, ordering, acceptance of work and communication with you.

Quality assurance versus quality control

These two get mixed up, so here's the difference on a house:

  • Quality assurance (QA) is about preventing problems. Using skilled, licensed trades. Clear plans and specs before work starts. Learning from defects on previous jobs. A proper process for variations, so changes don't create mistakes.
  • Quality control (QC) is about checking the work. The supervisor inspecting the slab set-out and steel before the pour. Checking the frame against the plans and engineering. Testing the waterproofing before the tiler covers it.

A simple example: briefing the waterproofer on the shower falls and membrane upturns before they start is QA. Flood testing the shower recess afterwards is QC. You want both.

Hold points, witness points and stage gates

These terms sometimes get used as if they mean the same thing. They don't.

  • Hold point: work stops until it's inspected and signed off. For example, nothing gets poured until the slab steel and set-out have been checked.
  • Witness point: someone (you, an inspector or an engineer) should be invited to watch the work or test, but work doesn't have to stop if they don't turn up.
  • Stage gate: the review at the end of a whole stage, such as frame, before the job moves on to the next one.

The practical side of a QMP is the Inspection and Test Plan (ITP) for each trade or stage. An ITP lists what gets checked, what it's checked against, who checks it, and where the hold points are. On a well-run job, the ITPs line up with the contract stages, so by the time the builder issues a progress claim for a stage, that stage has been checked and the records exist.

Three questions to ask your builder before you sign

  1. "Can I see your quality management plan or your inspection checklists?" You don't need a thick binder, but there should be something.
  2. "What are your hold points, and can I attend the key inspections?" Pre-pour, frame and waterproofing are the big ones.
  3. "How do you record and close out defects?" You want a written list, with a date and sign-off for each item.

If you want your own checks to line up with each stage, my stage inspection checklists cover everything from the pre-pour slab to handover.

Further reading

Home build stages from design to handover with an inspection gate between each stageEnhancing Home Construction Quality with Stage Gates + ITPsDiscover how to elevate home construction quality using project management’s stage gates and Inspection Test Plans (ITP). We look into each stage gate, from land selection to builder’s warranty expiration, outlining how ITPs integrate into each phase for quality control & project success.Building Your Dream Home: Balancing Time, Cost, and QualityBuilding a new home can be both exciting and challenging. To ensure success, it’s important to balance the “holy trinity” of project management: time, cost, and quality. In this article, we’ll explore how you can achieve this balance and create your dream homeBoosting Construction Quality with PRINCE2 TrainingResidential building supervisors can elevate their skills and project outcomes with PRINCE2 training. This method offers a structured approach to managing construction projects, focusing on quality, cost control, risk management, and delivering superior results for clientsThe Hidden Cost of Rushed Home ConstructionBonuses for early home completion can sacrifice quality for speed. Rushing vital construction phases may lead to future costly repairs. Quality, not quickness, should be the homebuilding priority.