What is Quality in Engineering?
An effective quality program ensures engineering meets project safety and quality goals within the budget and on schedule. This program should be embedded in the engineering work process using the following three principles:
1. Meeting Client Requirements
Typically, the client’s primary requirements involve designing in accordance with their specifications, completing the project within the established budget, and completing the project within the established schedule.
Designing to the client’s specifications includes referencing the client’s Engineering Practices Specifications, Design Guidelines, Safety in Design Requirements, EHS Compliance Requirements, and Industry Local and Federal Standards.
Completing a project within the established budget requires the Scope of Work to be clearly defined. A budget must be established based on an initial estimate of the project deliverables required to complete the Scope of Work. Trends must be documented when the number of deliverables exceeds the initial estimate. Change Orders must be documented when there are deviations from the Scope of Work. Both Trends and Change Orders must be promptly submitted to the client as these affect the project budget.
Completing a project on schedule requires detailed planning from both the client and service provider. A Master Schedule with defined tasks must be developed at the beginning of the project and updated constantly based on progress made. Trend deviations from the original schedule must be documented and submitted to the client.
2. Uniform Approach to Project Execution
Deploying a uniform approach to project execution is paramount in providing consistent quality in engineering. It all starts with utilizing a standard methodology for proposal preparation. This includes employing a standard procedure for cost estimating and identifying cost savings opportunities. This philosophy continues with Project Execution, Deliverable Development, Document Control, and Project Status Reporting. By utilizing a uniform approach to Project Execution, a continual improvement process may then be employed to make improvements to the system.
3. Monitoring and Reporting
Project monitoring and reporting typically falls under one of four categories: Quality, Performance, Financial, and Schedule. Project Quality is monitored and reported through the use of extensive design checklists for key deliverables. Project Performance is monitored via performance parameters calculated for completing deliverables. Project Finance, through status reports, change orders, and trend management. And lastly, Project Schedule is monitored and reported through updates to the Master Schedule.
Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) are compiled and tracked as follows:
Quality
· Customer Satisfaction Survey Score (Target: >90% Score Overall)
· Discipline QA/QC Checklist Completion (Target: 100%)
· QA/QC Sign-off Sheets Completion (Target: 100%)
· Quality Incident Reports issued within 2 weeks (Target: >90%)
· Quality Incident Corrective Action Close-out Period (Target: <Two Months)
· Number of Engineering RFI’s (Construction Phase) per $1MM TIC (Target: < 2)
Safety
· Safe Workday Count (Target: Zero Incidents)
· Monthly Employee Safety Meeting Attendance (Target: > 90%)
· Safety equipment inventory check and audits (Monthly Compliance = 100%)
Project Execution
· Budget Compliance per project (Target: Average Cost/Deliverable +/- 10% of Proposal)
· Schedule Compliance per project (Target: >90% Score per Customer Satisfaction Report)
What went right, what can we improve?
As part of a continuous improvement process, a project look-back by management using the KPI’s above identifies potential project system improvement areas with clear action items and accountability.
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”
Vince Lombardi