Quality Matters
May 2006
Welcome to the Quality Matters E-Newsletter, a regularly-distributed publication
that will keep readers up to date on quality-related news and resources for the
home building industry. You can access prior issues or subscribe to this
electronic news service on the NAHB Research Center's website - http://www.nahbrc.org/quality
- by clicking the "Read All About It" link on the right-hand side of the page.
We want to hear about your quality-related news for future issues-email
information to qualitymattersmoderator@nahbrc.org.
(The NAHB Research Center's editorial staff reserves the right to refuse or
condense any news submission.) Enjoy this issue of Quality Matters.
In this issue:
Thank You NHQ Sponsors
The NHQ Program thanks its sponsors,
HBW Insurance Services, LLC and Simpson Strong-Tie Co.,
Inc., for their continued support of quality assurance in home
building.
If your company is interested in pursuing NHQ sponsorship, a variety of
opportunities are now available. For more information or to get started,
visit the NHQ sponsorship information page or contact Lisa Gibson, NHQ Program sponsorship
coordinator, at (301) 785-3100 or lwgllc@yahoo.com.
Back to top
Wallen Builders Earns NHQ Certification for Quality Commitment
Wallen Builders of
Rio Rancho, N.M. was recently awarded the NHQ Builder certification after
successfully completing the rigorous National Housing Quality Certified Builder
program. Wallen Builders is the 28th company in the nation, and only the second
in New Mexico to earn the designation.
The NHQ program is designed to foster consistency and quality in building
practices. Launched during the 2005 International Builders' Show in Orlando,
Fla., the program recognizes builders who have implemented formal quality
assurance systems and have participated in a rigorous audit by Research Center
quality experts. Candidates for certification must work effectively with their
trade contractors and are required to continuously improve all elements of the
company's quality assurance efforts to reach higher levels of customer
satisfaction.
In business since 1982, Wallen Builders' philosophy has been "to remain loyal to
customers and solidly stand behind every home we build." said company president
Garry Wallen.
Since the program's launch, participating NHQ Certified builders have noted
measurable improvements in their productivity, home buyer satisfaction, and
their bottom lines. "In a competitive market, one of the ways builders can
differentiate themselves is through the quality of their homes," said Michael
Luzier, president of the Research Center. "The NHQ Certified Builder program
makes it enables builders to proactively address production issues and
ultimately, build a better product."
If your company has a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, a focus on
quality assurance and continuous improvement, and strives for operational
excellence – start on the path to NHQ certification today. Visit
www.nahbrc.org/quality or contact Don
Carr, NHQ Certified Builder program manager.
Back to top
Is Your Job Ready?
Decreasing cycle time and increasing business efficiency is vital to the success
of home building companies, and an essential part of improving the bottom line.
With so many processes to complete at once, and often on tight deadlines,
maintaining speed while improving quality performance can seem like an
insurmountable challenge. Best practices of the National Housing Quality
program include taking on this issue with a time-saving, documented, quality
assurance plan that reinforces job-ready conditions.
Job readiness starts with open, two-way communication. The key to reducing cycle
time and getting the job done right the first time includes breaking down the
barriers to communication and reinforcing the terms up front. How can a trade
contractor know what is expected if it hasn't been addressed? Since most trades
do work for more than one builder, there are varying practices that can become
habit. What works for one builder might not apply to others, and vice versa.
Beyond a builder communicating his expectations, the trade contractor should
also indicate his terms and what is needed from the builder to do the job well.
Builders and their trade partners should discuss the terms at the start of the
job and then document the requirements related to job readiness that are
required before work can begin at each major stage. The scope of work should
also include procedures for dealing with partially ready jobs, including
appropriate communications with homeowners as needed.
When these conditions are not met, communication breaks down and progress comes
to a halt. Field managers should reinforce these requirements to prevent trade
contractor overlap and improve safety as much as possible. If several work
crews are hovering over the same site waiting for their turn, it's safe to
assume that everyone involved is losing money. Hiring trades with a formal
quality assurance process in place helps to ensure that job-ready conditions
are met consistently.
Addressing job readiness as a process instead of a problem can help builders and
trades identify and resolve issues that crop up again and again. Instead of
continuing to put out fires, apply the Plan, Do, Check, Act model as a guide to
remedy the source of recurring problems.
-
PLAN- Plan how to meet expectations
-
DO – Perform the work accordingly
-
CHECK- Measure performance; confirm that the plan is being carried out properly
-
ACT- Act on findings to continuously improve the plan and process
To learn more about the National Housing Quality program, visit the NHQ webpages
or contact Don Carr, NHQ Certified Builder program manager.
Back to top
In with the New: Innovative Ways to Offset Rising Product and Material Prices
Prices for many building products are on the rise, driving building
professionals to look for practical alternatives.
ToolBase.org, the home building industry's online technical resource,
has a wide range of information on technologies builders, remodelers, and trade
contractors can try to keep costs under control without sacrificing quality or
performance.
As with all new technologies, be sure to consult your local code provisions for
applicable requirements. Here's a sample of the innovative and cost-saving
solutions available on ToolBase for some commonly used home building materials:
Lumber
Insulation
Cement
Copper
Looking for even more information? Find additional up-and-coming technologies in
the PATH
Technology Inventory or simply visit
ToolBase.org's home page and search or browse in your area of interest.
Back to top
Judging Begins for National Housing Quality Awards
The National Housing Quality (NHQ) Award season is now well underway with
judging taking place from May 22 through June 13, 2006. Patterned after the
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the NHQ Awards represent the
residential building industry's highest recognition for quality achievement.
Builder and trade contractor entries are judged by a panel of experts who
evaluate the role that customer-focused quality plays in construction, business
management, sales, design, and warranty service.
A total of seven companies, including builders and trade contractors have
qualified as finalists this year. With the program in its 14th season, the NHQ
Award application process forces builders and trade contractors to analyze
every aspect of their company. This internal and external examination process
for companies that apply is one of the most important steps for improving their
businesses. All applicants receive a valuable feedback report containing
suggestions for improvement from the judging panel.
Sponsored by the NAHB Research Center and Professional Builder magazine,
winners of the 14th annual NHQ Award will be announced at the 2006 Professional
BuilderBenchmark
Conference in Lake Las Vegas, Nev. on September 28. NHQ Award winners
are featured in Professional Builder magazine articles that highlight
their quality management principles, and will also participate in an NHQ Award
panel discussion at the 2007
International Builders' Show.
For more information on the NHQ Award and to learn about past winners,
visit the Research Center's NHQ Award site.
Back to top
Application Deadline Nears for 2007 EnergyValue Housing Awards
Applications are now being accepted for the 2007 EnergyValue
Housing Awards (EVHA), which honor builders who voluntarily integrate
energy efficiency into the design, construction, and marketing of new homes.
The awards will be presented at the
2007 International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla. in the affordable,
custom, factory-built, production, and multifamily categories for hot-,
moderate-, and cold-climate regions.
As rising energy costs continue to make headlines across the country, the
building industry has increased its efforts to improve the energy performance
of new homes. The 2007 EVHA presents an opportunity for quality-focused,
environmentally responsible builders to share their best practices and be
recognized for their efforts.
A judging panel of energy-efficiency experts will evaluate applicants based on
their homes' energy value, design, construction methods and processes,
marketing and customer relations efforts, and participation in voluntary energy
programs. All applicants receive a detailed evaluation of their entries,
complimentary passes to the awards dinner ceremony, and a free, one-year,
single-user subscription to BuildingGreen
Suite.
Winning builders will be featured on the NAHB Research Center website and in
trade and mainstream publications; and will also have the opportunity to share
their success stories at workshops, educational programs, and conferences. All
professional U.S. home builders whose primary occupation is constructing homes,
developing real estate, or both are eligible to participate.
Homes offered for consideration must have been completed after January 2004 and
before the awards application is submitted. The application process asks for a
great deal of detail, so start now – all entries must be postmarked by July 17,
2006. The EVHA is coordinated by the NAHB Research Center in partnership with
NAHB Energy Subcommittee and the
U.S. Department of Energy's National
Renewable Energy Laboratory. For an application or additional
information, click here.
Back to top
Congratulations to Recently NHQ Certified Trade Contractors
The NHQ Program is proud to announce the following newly-certified trade
contracting companies:
-
ABC Window Company of Ontario, Calif. – first window company certified in
California
-
All American Tile of Houston, Texas – flooring contractor
-
Blue Rose Concrete of Fontana, Calif. – concrete contractor
-
Falls Run Stone & Stucco of Fredericksburg, Va. – first stone & stucco
company certified in Virginia
-
Finelines Too of San Antonio, Texas – flooring contractor
-
Fritz Bogausch Concrete Specialist of Osteen, Fla. – concrete contractor
-
Golden State Fence of Oceanside, Calif. - first fencing company certified in
the nation
-
J&R Custom Landscaping of Kissimmee, Fla. – first landscaping company
certified in Florida
-
Petersen Dean of Sacramento, Calif. – roofing contractor
-
Quality Drywall & Service of Friendswood, Texas – drywall contractor
-
Spraggins Builder Service of Orlando, Fla. – flooring contractor
-
Trimco Finish of Santa Ana, Calif. – finish carpentry contractor
-
West Coast Drywall & Paint of Riverside, Calf. – drywall and painting
contractor
-
Wittman Mechanical Contractors of Sterling, Va. – HVAC contractor
Business efficiency is vital to a company's success, and trades can never
underestimate the importance of meeting or exceeding customer expectations and
achieving high levels of customer satisfaction. The
NHQ Certified Trade Contractor seal represents the high standards of
quality today's builders and homebuyers expect. If your company has a strong
commitment to customer satisfaction, a focus on quality assurance and
continuous improvement, and strives for operational excellence, start on the
path to NHQ certification today. Visit www.nahbrc.org/quality
or contact Jeff Taggart, NHQ Certified
Trade Contractor program manager.
Back to top
Support the Future of the Housing Quality Revolution
The National Housing Quality Program is looking for new partners to support its
ongoing efforts to improve quality in the home building industry. Created
earlier this year, the new NHQ sponsorship program presents an ideal
opportunity for companies to market to quality-minded building professionals in
some of the nation's hottest home building markets.
With exclusive access to home builders and trade contractors across the country
who have displayed a discernable dedication to quality, NHQ sponsorship allows
your company to benefit from expanded business opportunities and access to
segments of the industry that only the NAHB Research Center can offer.
There are a variety of opportunities available for interested companies at
competitive prices. Join the leader of the home building industry's quality
assurance revolution and connect with builders and trade contractors who are
focused on profitability, accountability, and customer satisfaction.
To learn more about how your company can support the improvement of quality in
the home building industry, or for further information about the NHQ
Certification, e-mail Lisa Gibson, NHQ
sponsorship coordinator, or call her at (301) 785-3100.
Back to top
Quality Matters to Me...
The following testimonials describe how customer-focused quality has improved
the business of home building for National Housing Quality program
participants:
"Participating in the NHQ certification process has reinforced our commitment to
building homes of superior quality and providing customer care that is
unequalled in the industry. We're proud to have earned the certification and
above all we're proud of what it means for our customers."
--Garry Wallen, President, Wallen Builder
"Although the program was a bit difficult to implement at first, the entire
staff now sees the benefits that this program has given us as a whole. The NHQ
Program has proven to be successful and we look forward to a brighter future."
--Nikki Cox, Peterson Dean, Inc..
"I think every contractor should enroll in this program."
--Arthur Carrillo, Blue Rose Concrete.
"I think it is an excellent program and as we evolve as a company NHQ provides
an important standard to work towards and improve on."
--Sight and Sound Systems, Inc. .
Back to top
NHQ in the News
The following is a list of recent NHQ Program media coverage. Read all about it…
Houston Business Journal, "NAHB Quality Certification is Raising
Standards in all Processes," feature article touts the benefits of the NHQ
Certification program. April 2006.
Chicago Tribune, "The Quality Goes in Before these Names Go On,"
feature article spotlights recognized quality marks, old and new. April 2006.
Nation's Building News , "Sponsorships Available as 28th Builder Earns NHQ Certification,"
article highlights NHQ Certified Wallen Builders.
Back to top
|