In construction, quality control is essential for ensuring that projects meet standards for safety, durability, and performance, balancing costs and timelines while minimizing rework and delays. Beyond final inspections, quality control involves continuous oversight, early defect detection, and close collaboration among teams. Today, quality control software is revolutionizing this process, providing a centralized platform for real-time monitoring, documentation, and communication. In this article we will look at the most important aspects of software for QC in construction and present three solutions for greater efficiency.
What is Construction Quality Control Software?
Construction quality control software is used to manage, monitor and document all aspects of quality within a construction project. It centralizes key tasks such as inspections, defect tracking, compliance checks and reporting. All information collected can be accessed in real time.
This software typically comes with features for creating and managing digital checklists, tracking punch list items and generating customizable reports. It also facilitates seamless communication between team members (e.g. via a built-in chat function) so they can flag issues, upload photos, videos or documents and assign tasks directly to specific stakeholders.
Quality control is not to be mistaken for quality assurance. QA is a method of avoiding potential mistakes in a construction project by creating ‘rules’ about minimum quality while ensuring all decisions meet these standards. We highly recommend you to check out our in-depth article about quality assurance in construction if you want to learn more about this topic.
Why Quality Control Software is Important in Construction
Quality control software plays a critical role in modern construction by streamlining processes, improving communication, and reducing risk. Here are some reasons why it’s essential:
Improved accuracy: By standardizing procedures and centralizing all quality-related information, quality control software minimizes human error and inconsistencies and ensures standards are consistently met across the project.
Efficiency gains: The software speeds up reporting, inspection, and issue resolution so teams can quickly identify and fix problems. This efficiency reduces the likelihood of rework and minimizes project delays, keeping schedules and budgets on track.
Improved collaboration: Quality control software provides a unified platform accessible to all project stakeholders and promotes transparency and accountability. It enables teams to share updates, communicate seamlessly, and align on quality goals, making the construction process smoother and more coordinated.
3 Software Solutions for Quality Control in Construction
Here are three reliable options, each offering features to enhance quality management:
PlanRadar
PlanRadar is a cloud-based platform for documentation, communication and reporting on construction and real estate projects. It streamlines defect tracking, documentation and team communication and makes it easy for all project stakeholders to stay informed and connected in real time. 94% of users report that PlanRadar helps to improve overall quality control and enables them to deliver high-quality projects.
📱 Available for Android, iOS, and web browser.
⚙️ Key Features:
- Custom checklists, forms and reports.
- Integration with digital construction plans and BIM models so users can attach tickets directly to specific building areas.
- Real-time defect tracking and ticket management.
- Cloud-based documentation storage with easy access for all team members.
- Mobile access so on-site teams can manage tasks from any location.
💲 Pricing:
- Free trial available: Yes
- Annual: From $ 32/mo.
- Monthly: From $ 35/mo.
Pros & Cons
✅ Flexible: As a software and app for QC in construction PlanRadar offers high flexibility. The platform can be adapted exactly to your own needs. From your own checklists to individual templates for reports, everything is possible.
✅ Easy to use: PlanRadar is very accessible. Even newcomers can create their own projects or record defects on site within just a few minutes.
✅ Ongoing updates: The developers of the platform regularly provide improvements and new features. The latest function is PlanRadar SiteView, which enables the integration of 360-degree images on digital plans.
❌ High customizability may overwhelm at first: PlanRadar offers extensive customization options are great for tailoring the software and app to project needs. However, for smaller teams or simple projects, this level of flexibility might feel unnecessary initially.
Do you also want to take your quality control and quality management in construction to the next level? Try PlanRadar now for free for 30 days!
Fieldwire
Fieldwire is a field management software aimed at improving on-site quality control and team collaboration. It simplifies task management, inspection tracking, and daily reporting, making it a popular choice for field teams and project managers alike.
📱 Available for Android, iOS, and web browser.
⚙️ Key Features:
- Task and punch list management for on-site quality tracking.
- Blueprint markups to identify specific areas for inspection and follow-up.
- Photo and video documentation for clear issue tracking and resolution.
- Real-time progress updates and team communication to keep everyone aligned.
💲 Pricing:
- Free trial available: Yes
- Annual: From $ 0/mo.
- Monthly: From $ 0/mo.
Pros & Cons
✅ Comprehensive plan management: Fieldwire allows users to access and manage up-to-date project plans and drawings on any device, facilitating efficient plan viewing and versioning.
✅ Free for basic functions: Many basic functions related to quality control such as defect and task management are available for free.
❌ Pay for additional features: Many advanced features such as reporting, custom forms, and file storage are only available in the paid versions, which limits the possibilities.
❌ Limited mobile performance in remote areas: Users have reported that Fieldwire’s mobile performance can be limited by poor cell service in remote areas, potentially affecting on-site quality control activities.
Autodesk Build
Autodesk Build is a comprehensive construction management platform that integrates quality control tools with project management, cost tracking, and safety features. Part of the Autodesk Construction Cloud suite, it is designed to enhance collaboration and ensure compliance with quality and safety standards across all stages of a construction project.
📱 Available for Android, iOS and web browser.
⚙️ Key Features:
- Issue tracking and resolution workflows with real-time updates.
- Integrated photo and document management for visual evidence and reports.
- Advanced analytics and dashboards to monitor project quality and identify trends.
- Seamless collaboration with all stakeholders through a centralized platform.
💲 Pricing:
- Free trial available: Yes
- Annual: From $1,625.
Pros & Cons
✅ Comprehensive project management: Autodesk Build integrates various aspects of construction management, including quality control, document management, and cost tracking, into a single platform.
✅ Real-time collaboration: The platform facilitates communication among project stakeholders, allowing for real-time updates and issue tracking, which improves transparency and accelerates decision-making processes.
❌ Learning curve: Some users have reported that Autodesk Build’s extensive features can be overwhelming, requiring significant time and training to utilize the platform efficiently.
❌ High cost for starters: The pricing structure may be prohibitive for some companies.
❌ Limited customization options: The platform offers limited flexibility in customizing workflows and reports to fit specific project needs, which may affect its adaptability to some construction processes.
How to Manage Quality Control in Construction
To create a good quality control plan it’s important to understand your client’s needs and vision. Sometimes the owner’s main intention is to save time and money and meet only the mandated quality standards. On the contrary, other clients may put quality at the centre of their vision, no matter the expense or timescales. A good quality control method will serve the needs of the construction firm to create safe and high-quality construction while meeting the client’s expectations.
To do this, quality managers need:
A specially designed control plan
The quality manager creates the quality control plan and discusses this with the client, highlighting individual responsibilities. They also design or implement checks and tests that ensure that the team meet safety and quality standards.
Quality communications
The construction team must fully understand the quality control standards that will apply to their work. Scheduled meetings and team touchpoints minimise tension and potential conflict. Software and apps for quality control in construction offer many advantages. Through them quality control inspection criteria can be accessed through any smartphone. As a result, there’ll be fewer misunderstandings and errors.
Quality assurance monitoring
Every team member can be responsible for quality control with PlanRadar. Any user can create a tickets and send it to supervisors for action. These tickets can then be allocated to contractors along with completion dates and all relevant documentation, images or notes. The user can even tag tickets to the building blueprint for easy identification. Once the tasks are complete, push notifications inform supervisors who can view all open tasks through a dashboard. Software for QC in construction has established itself as an efficient and time-saving solution in the area of monitoring.
Subcontractors and materials
Quality managers also determine the criteria for material and equipment selection, recording delivery and completion dates to recognise any delays. Users can also create fully-customised and branded reports in PDF or Excel format. They can export these documents to share with the client from their mobile devices.
Project quality specifications
Search and categorise relevant building codes and industry regulations before construction starts and include them in quality control checks. Document your data in the Cloud using PlanRadar to save data and then access it from your smartphone.
Nonconformance control
Plan backup protocols for defect management and create full audit trails for transparency. Store all documents in PlanRadar. Access and report on the information at any point, from anywhere with Cloud-based storage and access.
Project completion inspections
At the end of the project, complete final quality control inspections in PlanRadar with fully customisable templates. Finally, run off punch list reports to show the status of all tasks and demonstrate compliance with pre-defined specifications.
