While tasks are used for communication and fixing problems, quality checklists are the foundation of structured quality control. They ensure that work is verified consistently across all locations and that your project documentation meets compliance standards.
For example, when a construction manager performs a concrete pre-pour check, a checklist ensures that the same safety and quality criteria are met every time, regardless of who performs the inspection.
Use tasks for action-oriented communication (Defects, RFIs). Use checklists for structured verification of work quality or progress.
Quality checklists
There are two types of quality control processes.
Inspections
Inspections are performed by construction managers that check if the work done by subcontractors matches the specifications. If a requirement is not met, it becomes a quality issue that must be fixed before approval.
Self-documentation
Subcontractors check their own work to catch mistakes early and document that their work matches quality specifications. This prevents any future disputes and avoids issues that could impact project timeline.
- Create templates for your quality control checklists
- Set up auto task creation for inspection checklists
- Enable inspection checklists for the 'Quality' workflow that was mentioned in the previous article
- Add documentation workflows to the subcontractor work packages and enable related checklists for them
Auto task creation
To make it as easy as possible for construction managers to perform the inspections, enable auto task creation for points that could result in an issue. This way, if a construction manager marks a point as insufficient, a quality issue will be automatically sent to the responsible subcontractor.
Workflow setup
Inspections
Inspection checklists are connected to the 'Quality' workflow. They follow the same flow of information as quality issues and fall into the same category.
Self-documentation
For self-documentation, set up a new workflow and connect the checklists to them. This avoid confusion for the subcontractors on site.
Keep it simple
Start by creating a general quality checklist that is not specific to any trade, or use an existing paper checklist you already have as a starting point, then transfer it into a checklist template.
Focus on a small set of subcontractors first, then gradually include more as your project progresses.
Best practices
Keep checklists short
The more complex a form is, the less likely site teams are to fill it out accurately. Focus on the most critical quality points to ensure high adoption.
End user first
A good setup makes creating inspections and documentation in the mobile app structured and requires minimum taps, reducing potential errors.
Follow local industry standards
Use established trade guidelines for your checklists. Workers are already familiar with these requirements, which reduces the learning curve.
Read more
We recommend following the step-by-step articles before deep-diving into features, but if you want to read about how to set up checklists in more detail, read this article: How to set up Checklists.
Now that you are familiar with the basics of Dalux Field, you have a solid system for task management and quality documentation. The final step is to verify your setup before going live.