Independent monitoring ensures 'right first time'

Sir; I refer to Michael Moorhead's article, 'Finding Latham's holy grail' (page 19, CJ, 1 June 1995) and the pull-out quote statement: 'The direct control of the productive craft process has gone - not just by being devolved to specialist sub-contractors, but by total fragmentation' along with the general copy of the loss of a properly trained workforce in the construction industry at the workface.

As an independent inspector who works both on MOD, Design and Build methods, and private contracts JCT 80 standard forms of procurement, I would state that there is no better way to endeavour to ensure that works are carried out correctly than by on-going monitoring of trades as work proceeds.

It is in the interests of 'getting it right first time' that independent inspectors acting for clients and their agents are appointed to monitor the work and verify that these 'first time' works have been properly carried out, rather than to await a trial and error system that costs the industry reported millions of pounds each year.

Bob Hewitt

Public Relations Officer

Institute of Clerks of Works of Great Britain Incorporated