Quality Control Landscaping

Since time is always money, as the cliché goes, ensuring high quality on a maintenance job every time can be a real challenge for contractors. With constant pressure to get as much done as quickly as possible, quality often competes with quantity on a daily basis. Contractors are always walking this fine line, according to Michael Malleck, owner and area manager, Clintar Groundskeeping Services, London, Ontario. “Quality control is a balancing act,” he observed.

QUALITY DEFINED. Before quality control can be ensured in a maintenance program, the concept of “quality” must clearly be defined. Defining quality for your employees and finding out how customers determine a quality job is essential. For Carl Rantzow, owner, Selkirk Lawn & Landscape, Spokane, Wash., a good job has three key components. “Quality is a job that meets my customer’s expectations, my expectations and, at the same time, is profitable,” he observed, adding that quality control is always a proactive, rather than reactive, measure.