Three quality measures worth tracking every week
The weekly quality slide shows fewer open items, so the team says quality is improving. The superintendent knows several old items were removed from the list without evidence. Meanwhile, the same firestopping defect has failed three inspections in a row.
Track first-time inspection pass rate, the age of open deficiencies and repeat defects using consistent definitions. Read them together and act on the underlying records. A falling item count can hide old unresolved work, while a high pass rate can hide repeated trouble in one system. Measures help you choose where to investigate; they do not establish compliance or replace inspection.
- Define an inspection unit before counting results: a room, installation lot or other agreed scope. Record first inspections separately from reinspections so repeated attempts do not inflate the pass rate.
- Calculate first-time passes divided by first inspections for the same scope and period. Show both counts beside the percentage, and separate systems whose work and inspection exposure differ.
- Age open items from the date they were first recorded. Agree practical age bands and keep items visible while they await evidence or technical review, even if physical work appears finished.
- Give recurring defects consistent categories. Count where the same issue returns and check whether it comes from one installation method, crew handover or unclear detail.
- At the weekly review, select a small action for the pattern you found. Assign a trade or reviewer, a date and the result that would demonstrate improvement.
- Check the next comparable set and retain the original definitions. Explain changes in work mix or inspection scope rather than presenting incompatible weeks as a trend.
Common mistakes
- Counting reinspections as new first-time successes.
- Showing percentages without their inspection counts.
- Closing items when a trade says they are fixed, before the agreed evidence is reviewed.
- Creating so many defect categories that the same recurring issue gets a new name each week.
Checklist
Put these beside the weekly chart
- Inspection unit and scope
- First-pass count and denominator
- Open items by original age
- Repeat-defect category
- Named action and due date
- Changes that affect comparison
Check your understanding
Your pass rate rises from 80 to 100 per cent, but only two easy items were inspected this week. What can you conclude?
