Improving Construction Processes with Specific Measurement Point Descriptions

Why are general descriptions less useful?

During inspections, general descriptions are sometimes used, such as “Repair paintwork.” That may seem simple, but it provides little information about the actual defect afterward.

For example, you can’t immediately tell:

• what exactly is wrong;

• what type of defect it is;

• which party is involved in the repair;

• what improvements are needed to prevent recurrence.

To find this information later, you have to review photos, comments, and other details. This takes extra time and makes it harder to perform reliable analyses.

Furthermore, if general issues aren’t investigated further, there’s a risk that the same defects will reoccur in future projects.

Greater Insight with Specific Descriptions

A specific description immediately clarifies which defect has been identified. Consider, for example:

• Insufficiently opaque paint finish

• Sandy paint finish

• Damaged tile work

• Inadequately finished caulking

This allows you to more quickly identify which types of defects occur frequently. When the correct responsible party is also linked, you also gain insight into the parties involved.

This information helps you:

• identify trends and recurring defects;

• reduce failure costs;

• manage subcontractors more effectively;

• structurally improve construction processes.

Insights via Live Management View

Within STA Software, you can work with an extensive library of defect descriptions. During a handover or inspection, employees select the description that best matches the defect.

The recorded data is automatically processed into the statistics in the STA Portal. You can find these via:

Live Management View → Handoffs and Inspections

Here, you’ll gain insight into, among other things:

• the most common defects;

• the responsible parties involved;

• the projects where problems arise;

• potential areas for improvement within the construction process.

With this information, you can have targeted discussions with subcontractors and work together to improve quality.

How can you improve the quality of as-built documentation?

Are general descriptions frequently used within your organization? If so, improve the library step by step.

1. Analyze the descriptions used

Identify which general as-built point descriptions are selected most frequently. Also check which chapters these as-built points fall under.

This will help you quickly identify which areas require more specific descriptions.

2. Discuss the descriptions with the team

Talk to the employees who record inspection points during handoffs and inspections.

Discuss together:

• which descriptions are missing;

• which descriptions are too general;

• which descriptions are rarely used;

• for which components employees have difficulty finding the correct description.

3. Check the library

In the STA Portal, open:

Libraries → Recording Points

Here you can see how often each recording point has been used. Based on this, you can determine which descriptions are relevant, which ones can be updated, and where expansion is needed.

Faster Searching During a Handover

Do employees spend too much time searching for the correct survey point description during a handover? If so, use the search features within the survey point library.

This allows employees to find a suitable description more quickly during their rounds. This way, you combine speed on the construction site with useful data for post-project analysis.

Our advice

Use a general inspection point description only if no suitable specific description is available.

The more specifically you document a defect, the better you can identify recurring issues and opportunities for improvement. This ultimately results in less research, lower failure costs, and a higher quality construction process.

Not yet using Handover and Inspections?

Do you want more consistency in your records and better insight into recurring defects?

With STA Software’s Handover and Inspections module, you can work entirely digitally and collect valuable data to improve your construction processes.

Feel free to contact us for a no-obligation demo.