The skills challenge facing South Africa needs no introduction, but what demands attention is the way in which performance quality and leadership will be developed in order to drive the construction industry forward.

The Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) took a major step toward industry progression by establishing the Register of Contractors. Since its launch in 2004, the Register has played a strong hand in creating a sustainable environment for contractors. However, the focus of Phase II of the Register must now fall decisively upon performance improvement.

Responding to the call, the cidb is now developing its Best Practice Contractor Recognition Scheme (BPCRS). Essentially the next phase of industry development and risk management, the scheme acts as a platform for clients to reward best practice and high-quality performance, as well as a motivator for contractors to improve their own performance.

Ishmail Cassiem, the cidb manager in charge of the BPCRS process, says, "Contractors will see many benefits in this measure, as it is in their interests that clients are aware of their strengths and the work that they have performed well. Ultimately, this will mean better business opportunities for better performing contractors in the long term."

The BPCRS has a strong collaborative approach, which gives it a good foundation for growth. Industry stakeholders have been engaging throughout the scheme's development, while public discussions have been encouraged through the cidb website. To increase its efficacy, the BPCRS is being developed around several components, with a strong emphasis on competency, namely Contractor Performance Reports Contractor Competence Accreditation and Construction Management Systems (CMS).

THE cidb CMS STANDARD

The cidb approached Adrian Hulbert and Kevin Britten from Quality Engineered Systems (QES), a management system consultant firm, regarding the creation of a customised construction industry CMS. After discussing the challenges regarding poor building practices and the quality gap, work began on a CMS standard for the cidb based on the ISO standards, namely quality (9 000), environment (14 000) and occupational health and safety (OSHA 18 000). After the writing of the first phase of the CMS through discussions with the cidb, it was circulated through the industry via a number of focus groups. After healthy deliberation, the cidb was given the thumbs-up to launch a pilot programme to test the CMS standard, which happened on February 25, 2010.

Adrian says, "The beauty of the standard is that it doesn't only deal with the operational processes in ensuring delivery of a good quality product. We cover every facet, from administration through marketing and tendering, building, delivery and even post-delivery service. It all comes down to customer satisfaction at the end of the day. With the right approach and the right companies adopting it, it will make an enormous difference. We can improve the overall quality of the contractors in this country, which would then reflect in almost everything being built around us."

THE WORKING MODEL

The pilot programme is based on QES's Supplier Upliftment Programme or SUP. Adrian adds, "The whole premise of which is to roll out management systems to a multitude of companies simultaneously. It's not simply a one-to-one relationship between a consultant and the organisation.

We took a customised approach, meaning we wrote SUP with the construction industry in mind. The ISO standards are generic, but we made sure SUP became industry specific, even through the language we use, the thinking as well as the structure. We've kept it as simple as possible."