What is the Queensland Construction Industry Forum (QCIF)?
The Queensland Construction Industry Forum consists of volunteer representatives from 18 industry-wide stakeholders in the building and construction industries in Queensland. The common goal has been to research and record the declining standard to project design documentation and set this out in a report published in 2005 "Getting It Right The First Time". QCIF is now preparing guidelines for a better way of doing business in the industry that will help eliminate the alarming waste of resources due to poor documentation that exists in the industry.
Where does the Queensland Construction Industry Forum take place?
The group meets in Brisbane. It consists of an Executive and five (5) Task Groups that are addressing the ten (10) root causes of the problem outlined in "Getting It Right The First Time". The Task Groups cover: Client Briefs; Quality Based Selection of Professional Services; Ethics, Standards and Risk Management; Supply Chain and various management issues, Skill and IT issues.
Who supports the Queensland Construction Industry Forum?
QCIF consists of volunteer representatives from the following Queensland constructin industry, professional and Government bodies:-
- Engineers Australia
- Queensland Major Contractors Association
- Civil Contractors Federation
- Master Builders Queensland
- Queensland Property Council
- Australian Institute of Building
- Australian Steel Institute
- Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association
- Institute of Public Works Engineers Australia
- Association of Consultant Engineers Australia
- Royal Australian Institute of Architects
- Australian Institute of Quanity Surveyors
- Building Designers Association
- Australian Institute of Project Management
- Queensland Law Society (Construction Committee)
- Main Roads
- Project Service Division of Public Works
- Brisbane City Council
How did the Queensland Construction Industry Forum get started?
In 2003 the Quality Panel of the Queensland Division of Engineers Australia decided to tackle the issue of the declining standard of project documentation. The Division set up a Task Group and sought and received industry-wide support to research some 160 papers on the issue. The 2005 report "Getting It Right The First Time" outlines research showing that poor documentation is contributing at least an additional 10% - 15% to project costs in Australia. This means a financial loss in Queensland of $2 billiion to $3 billion every year and a potential loss to Australia of over $12 billion per year.
Who is responsible for running the Queensland Construction Industry Forum?
Some 30 industry personnel passionate about this cause - architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and contractors - continue to serve as volunteers. The 2004 President of Engineers Australia (Queensland Division), Peter Jorss, chairs the Executive Committee of QCIF.
What are the results of the Queensland Construction Industry Forum?
"Getting It Right The First Time" has been well received by industry, attracting three (3) "High Commendations" so far. Although the report is relatively recent, the high level of business activity in South East Queensland is forcing some positive changes. The shortage of personnel and pressure to meet deadlines are creating a positive climate for negotiating better contracts. QCIF hopes to present sensible and pragmatic principles to industry to promote a positive change in culture.
What was the most important thing that you learned during the project?
The members of the Forum are passionate about solving the problems identified in the report and have so far donated collectively over 3,000 hours to the project. Finding a way to adequately reward these members for their extraordinary efforts is a goal of those managing the QCIF effort.