5 Tips To Minimize The Occurrence of Non-conformance (NCR)

On a construction project, we always received a non-conformance report from the Engineer. It is

perhaps the lack of experiences of site crews, unprepared or inability to get approved materials
and drawings, due to delays of the project and many sorts of reasons.
We will define key to minimize the occurrence of non-conformances in a construction project.
Here are 5 tips.
1. Read Specification
Once the project is about to start let yourself and all other staff those to be involved on the site be
prepared by reading project specification. The ability to read all sections of specification might
prevent the existence of NCR. Why? Because the specification is the number one source or
reference what materials to be fixed in summary what are the requirements would a certain
works really needed. I would suggest reading the specification several times in order that anyone
can remember each requirement.
2. Read Drawings
The same with drawing, each concern should read the drawings and study because this is the
blueprint of what and how the project to be made. After reading, each can check the on going
certain activity on the site. So before mistakes happen, the quality engineer or site engineer can
prevent them, the site crews pursuing work which leads to nonconformity.
3. Document Controlling
Proper document controlling might contribute to prevent the occurrence of a nonconformity, now
the question is how?

The assigned or appointed document controller must be qualified by having required

educational attainment must be a college degree holder. A document controller must be
educated and can easily understand the task and well rounded in communications.

He must have enough work experience. I was connected with one company I dont want
to mention the name of the company what the Top Management strategy when the crisis
came, they made the laborer as DC. They trained them but guess what? There was a
huge effect during the progress of the project. The DC was not really equipped with
document controlling processes, he doesnt know how to keep the file, right labeling,
correct logging of documents, tracing and stamping of documents etc. See what the
effect, site crews using the superseded revision of the drawing and it was resulted in a
nonconformity.

The assigned document controller must have skills: it will be very hard for some staff to
obtain what documents he wanted to get because he doesnt know how to properly file

the updated or revised documents such as material approval, drawing, inspections, RFIs
etc. and they cannot immediately trace out.
4. Provide Qualified Manpower
This is the important aspect to look at once hiring a person for a new project. There should be
thorough screening and strict qualifications of the manpower to be involved in from Engineer
down to Skilled Laborer.
Because if one skilled is assigned to work for a certain activity on the site let say block laying
and he doesnt know well or doesnt have sufficient technical know how then the work shall be a
mess. So it is really necessary to stricter the screening of the site crews to work in the site. What
we really mean is having enough experience in order to perform the respective task well.
5. QA/QC Engineer/Inspector
Yes! This is it, there would be a continual surveillance on site by quality engineer or inspector in
order to ensure whether the materials, the site construction team is using is approved and or there
would be a continual inspection or checking during the progress of the work of a certain activity
to ensure if it is complying with the approved drawing. So if a quality engineer or inspector
noticed the mistakes that could lead to a non-conformance they could correct it before the final
construction is accepted by the Engineer.