- Industry Insights
- 20 June 2025
How digital inspections are transforming construction quality management
- 3 minutes
Why quality needs a seat at the table – and how the construction industry is starting to make space for it.
Recently, I had the chance to join Jerome Harris from John Holland to talk all things inspections, checklists, and quality in construction.
The Construction Quality Australia webinar was a good chance to reflect on how far we’ve come – and how far we still have to go.
Because if there’s one thing I know from being on both sides of the fence – delivering projects at a Tier 1 builder and now building software – it’s this:
Quality assurance still isn’t where it needs to be.
Let’s Start with the Truth
Most of us have seen it.
Quality checklists being filled out at the end of the month. Folders getting signed off for ISO or handover. Inspections that happen long after the actual work is done.
And we ask ourselves – is this really what QA is meant to be?
The honest answer? No.
We’ve treated quality like a compliance requirement, not a live process. And in doing that, we’ve missed the opportunity to use QA for what it really should be: a tool for visibility, accountability, and progress.
From RSI to Real-Time QA
When I was a graduate at Multiplex, I defected the Melbourne Convention Centre using a PalmPilot. I did so many I gave myself RSI. That was my “welcome to construction” moment.
Fast forward 15 years, and I was still watching quality managers and engineers try to manage critical inspections with disconnected tools and paper folders.
It was slow, reactive, and always happening too late.
That’s why Visibuild started – not as a product, but as a response. We didn’t set out to “digitise checklists.” We set out to solve a real problem: how do we make quality something people actually want to do – and can do well – in the flow of the project?
That’s why Visibuild started – not as a product, but as a response. We didn’t set out to “digitise checklists.” We set out to solve a real problem: how do we make quality something people actually want to do – and can do well – in the flow of the project?
Digitising the Right Way
Here’s the thing: digitisation isn’t enough.
You can have the best-looking system in the world, but if it’s not used by the right people, at the right time, for the right reasons, nothing changes.
What works is this:
- Top-down support: leadership needs to make it clear that QA matters – and that teams are expected (and supported) to get it right.
- Bottom-up engagement: the people doing the actual work – subcontractors, supervisors, installers – need to see value in using it. Not because they’ve been told to, but because it helps them do the job better.
That’s how we’ve approached Visibuild from day one. Not just building tools for QA managers, but making sure the person laying the slab or installing the risers has a checklist they understand – and actually wants to complete.
Inspections Are Progress
One of the things I said in the webinar was:
“You can’t pour concrete, close a wall, or commission a system without an inspection. So why do we treat inspections like admin?”
Inspections are progress. Every signed-off hold point is proof that work has been completed to spec. That’s not a burden – that’s value.
And when QA becomes part of the day-to-day site rhythm, you get better builds, faster handovers, and fewer surprises. You also start shifting the culture – from “just get it done” to “let’s get it done right.”
Subcontractors Stand to Gain the Most
This is something I feel strongly about. Subcontractors are the ones carrying a huge amount of risk on site – but they’re often left out of quality systems.
That’s not just bad for QA – it’s bad for business.
When subcontractors complete their own inspections and have a clear, timestamped record of what they’ve delivered, they protect themselves. They reduce disputes. They avoid rework. And they build stronger relationships with head contractors.
The best builders we work with know this – and they bring their partners into the QA process from day one.
It’s Time to Expect More from Quality
This isn’t about doing more paperwork. It’s about making quality a real, live part of construction again.
Not something we remember at handover – something we build into the job from the start.
If you missed the webinar and want to hear the full conversation, we’ve linked it below. I’d love to hear what others think – especially those still defecting with a clipboard in hand.
Because if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s this:
The future of quality is proactive, not reactive. And it starts on site.
GET STARTED
See How QA Can Drive Progress on Your Site
If you’re ready to move beyond the paperwork and turn inspections into real-time project insights, we’d love to show you how Visibuild works.
Reach out
Damien Quinn
Co-founder & CEO
With over 15 years of experience delivering large-scale projects at Multiplex — including Sapphire Apartments, the Shangri-La Hotel, 140 Queen Street, and Monash University — Damien saw firsthand the industry’s inefficiencies and lack of focus on quality. Frustrated by the recurring cost of rework and fragmented communication, he co-founded Visibuild to give builders a better way to manage quality, one built by the industry, for the industry.
More to explore
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What We Learned About QA from the CQA Webinar
Why has quality traditionally been sidelined in construction?
As Damien Quinn noted in the webinar, quality has historically been treated as a close-out requirement — something handled at the end of the project for handover or ISO compliance. This often left quality to a single person or team, disconnected from the day-to-day delivery of work.
Does digitising checklists automatically improve quality?
No — and this was a key point from the session. Digitisation is only effective when it’s backed by top-down leadership support and bottom-up engagement from those on site. Simply replacing paper with an app doesn’t change outcomes unless the process is meaningful and consistently used.
What makes a digital inspection process successful?
A successful digital inspection system is one that’s used in the field, by the people doing the work. It should be easy to use, clearly linked to progress (e.g. you can’t pour or close out without an inspection), and valuable to subcontractors, not just managers or QA teams.
Why involve subcontractors in QA?
Subcontractors carry a large portion of project risk, and Damien emphasised they often benefit the most from better QA. When subcontractors complete inspections themselves, they gain defensible records of work completed, reduce rework, and build stronger relationships with builders.
How can inspections support real-time progress tracking?
Inspections aren’t just about compliance — they’re proof that work is complete and meets spec. As discussed in the webinar, every inspection point is an opportunity to confirm progress, remove blockers, and keep delivery on track. When done right, QA becomes a live record of what’s been built and when.