Health and Safety

Quality

ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

Quality is a distinctive attribute which determines the superiority of a product in comparison to others and ensures consumer satisfaction. Terms like low quality, inferior quality and very high quality will surely influence one’s perception of a product, even prior to it being utilised. The influence which quality has on our lives is underestimated. Daily, our mood and motivation, the ease of carrying out even the most mundane of tasks are affected by the quality of the products we use, if such tasks are to be well executed. Even a simple task of ironing is affected by the quality of products being used and done. A shirt is ten times difficult to steam well or may even be damaged, using a faulty or weak iron. Within construction, quality has the same importance and relevance.

For quality to be properly ensured within the context of a construction project, a series of efforts from different stakeholders are required. Amongst others, construction materials need to be up to standard and constantly tested, workmanship well controlled, suitable plant and resources available and maintained, and personnel adequately trained and equipped. Although quality management should be an integral pillar of any company structure, the Quality Department should act autonomously and independently from all other departments. This is easier said than done especially since bias tends to discourage self-correction and criticism. Only then, however, can consumer satisfaction of an organisation really remain a primary and constant objective. Quality Management may also be offered and applied as an independent third-party monitoring and certification system both for works contractors and for contracting authorities, as is currently requested during EU-funded and national projects. The benefits of incorporating an independent Quality Management system on site during works, include, amongst others:

• Delivery of a project, fit for purpose and on time; • Delivery and hand-over within budget; • Achieving compliance to material specifications, as may be issued by the project’s engineers; • Achieving customer satisfaction; and finally, • A better reputation for the contractor carrying out the construction works and the actual client commissioning the works.

Construction Quality Management generally comprises two major areas of competence, namely Quality Assurance and Quality Control.

Quality Assurance is the process of regularly monitoring works carried out, based on the project’s technical specification requirements. The system, tailor made to suit the requirements of the project, aims to flag and arrest potential issues and problems prior to them developing into problems. This saves on crucial time and money.

Quality Control is the process of testing products to ensure they constantly meet technical requirements, and to identify and correct any defects, prior to incorporating them into the works. These functions would ideally form part of either the client’s or the contractor’s quality system.

In addition, there should be a European/national certification system which ensures that the quality of products and services being used on the project are compared against universally approved standards, apart from the project’s technical specs. Examples of such certifications are CE Marking and Eurocodes. National certification systems are paramount to ensure quality in certain activities and also to promote a general qualitative approach. According to Henry Ford, Quality means doing it right when no one is looking. In order to achieve this level of quality, stakeholders need to invest a lot of time and effort into mastering the activity they conduct. Skimping on quality is always more expensive than the actual cost of a well-designed quality management system.

The CIOB has launched 'a Charter for competitive advantage and enhanced employee belonging'. The release combines a special report on Diversity and Inclusion in the construction sector with a charter which the worldwide industry is being encouraged to sign. Statistics highlighted in the report prove that diversity and inclusion in construction is a matter of business survival, and of vital strategic importance for construction business leaders. The aim of the charter is to promote positive change with its ve actions for improving diversity and inclusion.

Employers that sign-up will see improvements in the diversity and sense of belonging in their organisations, helping to address the skills shortage increasingly a ecting the sector. The ve actions cited in the report are supported by case studies from the construction industry around the globe to demonstrate the impact and e ectiveness of each one. MCCM proudly signed the Charter and will follow the CIOB's action plan locally through good leadership and example.

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Ably Resources specialises in the recruitment of technical, engineering and construction professionals throughout Malta and beyond.

The Division’ s remit includes but is not limited to:

• Architecture • Building Services (MEP, Design & Site) • Civil & Structural Engineering • Environmental • Engineering & Land Surveying • Estimating, Cost & Procurement • Facilities Management • Heavy Industrial Engineering • HSEQ • Industrial Services • Infrastructure • Consulting Engineers (All Disciplines) • Construction Professionals (All Disciplines) • Trades Professionals (All Disciplines) • Inspection & Painting,

Corrosion, Bridges • Marine • Senior Commercial Staff and

Quantity Surveyors • Waste Water Treatment

www.ablyresources.com info@ablyresources.com

In partnership with the Malta Chamber of Construction Management

Agreements

Partnership with CIOB

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Malta Chamber of Construction Management (MCCM)

The MoU commits the parties for the next three years to cooperate on education and training, and "to raise the profile and recognition of professional management in construction and projects for the benefit of the industry, its clients and society at large." It sees the CIOB providing discounts for MCCM members on selected courses run by the CIOB Academy; working with MCCM to develop the standards for a Certified Construction Manager; and facilitating MCCM members in their progression towards MCIOB and FCIOB status following the required legislation changes in Malta and the required CIOB mapping process. Formed this year, the MCCM aims to promote high standards in quality, ethics and innovation. "There is no doubt that in Malta there are a good number of construction managers of various levels, with years of experience," MCCM president Jesmond Chetcuti MCIOB said at a press conference Wednesday, 4 August 2021. "However, not all of them, for some reason or another, have the academic background to complement their experience." He said this was being addressed through collaborations with local and foreign educational institutions, adding that the MoU "seeks to send a strong message that the Chamber is looking at quality and not quantity." “It is vital that we don’t shrink away from some of the challenges that being a construction professional can pose," said CIOB chief executive Caroline Gumble. "As professionals, we have undertaken to think about the challenges and take responsibility to do whatever we can, as individuals, to ensure the quality of the built environment." Mrs Gumble added “that is why ethical standards – the foundation of trust – are such an important part of CIOB’s mission. For those of you who are already CIOB members, and those of you who I hope will become members, we set and maintain the standards in our code of conduct, principles such as acting with integrity, honesty and trustworthiness, treating others with respect at all times, and being accountable for our decisions and actions."

Partnership with ABLY Resources Ltd

Renewal of the Agreement between the Malta Chamber of Construction Management and Ably Resources

Ms Ami Baird of Ably Resources (UK), visited Malta specifically for our AGM during which we renewed our agreement with Ably.

Jesmond Chetcuti expressed his appreciation to Ms Baird for the continuous belief that the company she represents, ABLY Resource, has in the Malta Chamber of Construction Management.

Credit to this agreement both local and foreign professionals looking into the chamber website, will be having another window on job opportunities, not only in Malta but also in other countries around the world.

Ably Resources Director, Ami Baird, explained “Ably Resources have always been very pleased to recommend the Malta Chamber of Construction Management to our Candidates and Clients in Malta and I was delighted to have the opportunity to attend the first AGM. Given Ably’s focus on construction recruitment on the island, the partnership between MCCM and our company has proved invaluable over the past 12 months. There was never any question that our Agreement would not be renewed. Congratulations to the Chamber and the many quality focussed individuals who gained their certifications!”