This case study details the implementation of an extensive program of quality management at Wathen-Castanos, including training, the formation of Work Improvement Groups, benchmarking and the resulting impacts. It also discusses how quality was integrated to help support the building of green and energy efficient homes, all with limited resources. The NHQA criteria was used to coordinate and drive the improvement efforts.
Wathen-Castanos won the EVHA Builder of the Year in 2011, NHQA...
Quality culture is essential not only to implement and establish quality management in an organization but also to sustain it. A Quality culture is an organizational value based system that results in an environment that is conducive to the establishment and continual improvement of Quality. To attempt the implementation of quality without creating a quality culture is to invite failure.
Gryna (2001) and Juran and Godfrey (1999) stated that to foster a...
In my blog two weeks ago, I launched into a tirade about how so many residential architects are not doing their job. Each week, I link this blog back to the LeanBuilding Group on www.linkedin.com. Many members posted responses with good points on how to remedy the problem. Here are some excerpts from them. I thought I’d let them do the talking this week. (Note: if you are not a member, go to...
When it comes to trusses "Piggyback" is a four letter word. Piggyback trusses are little trusses that sit upon larger trusses to allow the roof configuration to reach a certain height/span. In general a piggyback system is very expensive and time consuming to put together. Piggyback systems can cost anywhere from $800 to $1500 per house depending upon the configuration, and in many cases this waste can be eliminated.
Why are piggybacks needed? When a truss is taller than the lumber...
The Organizational Excellence Committee for the Quality Management Division of ASQ has launched a webpage with a series of papers to support and promote Business Excellence Models such as Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, the European Excellence Model and therefore, the National Housing Quality Award. So if you want to hear new perspectives and get new ideas on performance excellence, especially if you use the National Housing Quality Award Criteria this will be interesting...
Diversity in the workplace is a key issue in Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. Diversity creates new perspectives, new viewpoints. Talking with colleague Michael Avramides recently reinforced this issue. Here is a thought from Michael on this important topic.
Memo to Human Resources: It's about time! Lessons from a Movie Producer for Quality- and HR Managers
There is a certain satisfaction...
Over the last few months, I've talked to a lot of remodelers that are opting to use the cloud to store their files and share them with subs and clients.
The idea is that it gives companies an easy way to back-up files and move them without spending a lot of money on servers, extra hard drives, etc. It's a great idea - I do it myself, using Amazon's cloud service, as well as Dropbox.
The problem, though, is that you're now relying on that company to stay in business and the...
We reached out to dozens of remodelers for this month’s cover story, asking them what they saw as their top challenges and opportunities for 2012.
We also asked them to define their “key to a successful 2012.” And that’s where things got interesting.
When asking the question, we purposely didn’t define success. We wanted the remodelers to do that themselves, which...
A study published in ASQ’s Quality Management Journal this month (Jan 2012) found that ISO9001 Certification (Quality Management Systems Requirements) improved workmanship performance substantially in construction projects. It establishes a substantial correlation between ISO9001 certification and the improvement of workmanship performance.
ISO9001 was found to ensure effective management of construction projects. The improvement aspect of ISO9001 was found to help improve...
As many of you know by now Professional Builder is holding three days of plan reviews by some of the top designers and architects in the country during the International Builders Show. I am honored to be part of that group and very much look forward to the event. Here are some juicy insider tips to help you take advantage of the opportunity:
