There's a long-running debate in residential construction: are you a production builder or a craftsman? It comes down to one question:
Are you merely producing work, or are you crafting it?
Below I look at both approaches, and at how quality management systems (QMS) can bridge the gap between them, which matters to you as the person paying for the house.
Project Builders: The High-Speed Production Line
Imagine a factory production line – efficient, fast-paced, and designed for high throughput. This is the realm of project builders. Their primary aim is to maximise efficiency and minimise time and costs. In doing so, they often streamline operations, adopting a 'cookie-cutter' approach to construction. The goal is clear: deliver as many units as possible in the shortest time. This approach, akin to an assembly line, can lead to compromises in quality.
For project builders, time is more precious than gold: the quicker a job is finished, the faster they move on to the next. That makes economic sense, but it can lead to a one-size-fits-all method where attention to detail falls by the wayside. For some, the mantra is volume over virtue.
Craftsmen: The Artisans of Building
At the other end are craftspeople, who are harder to find these days. Each project is a canvas for their skill, treated as a unique job and built with personal pride and a commitment to excellence, like a master painter attending to every stroke of the brush.
The craftsman's approach is inherently time-consuming and often more costly. However, the outcome is a work of art in the form of a building, embodying quality, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Unlike project builders, craftsmen are not driven by the clock, but by the desire to achieve perfection in their work.
Quality Management Systems (QMS): Bridging the Gap
The key to reconciling these two seemingly disparate approaches lies in the implementation of quality management systems. A QMS provides a structured framework that ensures consistency in quality, irrespective of the scale or pace of the project. It introduces standard processes and habits that are crucial for maintaining high-quality standards.
For project builders, the adoption of a QMS can mitigate the risks associated with rapid construction. It can ensure that, despite the emphasis on speed and volume, quality is not compromised. A well-implemented QMS can act as a conductor, orchestrating the various elements of construction to ensure harmony between speed, efficiency, and quality.
Conversely, for craftsmen, a QMS does not stifle creativity but rather enhances it. It provides a backbone of consistency, ensuring that each masterpiece is not only aesthetically pleasing but also structurally sound and durable. It's the difference between a beautifully improvised jazz solo and a full symphony orchestra delivering a harmonious performance.
Time, Cost, and Quality: The Triad of Construction
In construction, there is an age-old adage: "Fast, good, or cheap. Pick two." This saying highlights the inherent trade-offs between time, cost, and quality. Project builders typically prioritise time and cost, often at the expense of quality. Craftsmen, conversely, prioritise quality, which can mean higher costs and more time.
(Read more about this "holy trinity of construction" HERE)
However, with a robust QMS, it is possible to strike a balance. Quality does not have to be sacrificed at the altar of speed and cost-efficiency. A QMS provides a road map for maintaining high standards while adhering to time and budget constraints. It is about finding the sweet spot where efficiency meets excellence.
The Misalignment of Values and Marketing Realities
A significant issue arises when project builders market their work as being of the highest quality without the systems, processes, and habits in place to ensure this is the case. It creates a cognitive dissonance, where the promise of quality does not align with the reality of the production-focused approach. This misalignment can lead to dissatisfaction and a trust deficit in the industry.
(read more about how builders can start earning trust in our recent blog post HERE)
Educating the Uninitiated: Quality Management in Simple Terms
Terms like 'quality management system' can sound intimidating, but the idea is simple, and it's worth understanding before you sign with a builder.
Think of a QMS in construction as a recipe book for a master chef. It contains the list of ingredients (materials and resources), the method (processes and techniques), and the expected outcome (the finished building). Just as a recipe ensures that a dish turns out well every time it is prepared, a QMS ensures that every construction project meets a certain standard of quality.
So ask your builder: do you have a written QMS? Can I see the inspection and test plans (ITPs) you'll use on my job? A builder who takes quality seriously will have both, and won't mind showing you.
The bottom line
It's about the values, processes, and systems that go into creating that product.
Producing or crafting isn't the real question. A quality management system is what brings the efficiency of a production approach together with a craftsman's attention to detail, and it's what turns building houses into crafting homes.
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