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Hot Spot Training Improves Construction Quality
Builders who are focused on delivering high-quality homes that are consistent with the sales contract and are built right the first time are increasingly using hot spot training to implement specific improvements to the practices of trade contractors in the field, according to the NAHB Research Center.
Inspections of new construction work by builders, trade foremen, architects, engineers, building officials and even home owners can help identify shortcomings in the construction process and, subsequently, reduce the punchlist of the next home that is built and inspected.
The builder’s role, the Research Center says, is to provide suggestions that the trade contractor can implement to increase the quality of the construction and also provide resources for training employees to maximize improvements in the quality of their customers’ new homes.
Because production and site efficiency is important to subcontractors and no company has the time or resources to stop work and “train” its field crews, the training must be seamlessly integrated into the normal production activities. The work practices must then be evaluated and reinforced until the improvements become a standard procedure for workers.
Following are questions that the Research Center says can initiate the hot spot training process:
- Are problems arising in the field as a result of incorrect plans or details used by the contractor? The builder can ensure that these are correct and in the hands of the people doing the work.
- Are problems arising in the field due to inadequate attention to a manufacturer’s installation instructions? In such cases, the builder can obtain the instructions and give them to the trade contractor.
- Are problems resulting from the contractor using outdated building codes or industry standards? If so, the builder can help the contractor meet the job requirements.
- Are problems arising from the trade contractor not being comfortable with a new product or material that the builder has specified? The builder may be able to have representatives of the manufacturer visit the site to help train crews.
For more complete information from the Research Center on the importance of hot spot training in quality management, click here.
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