A feasibility evaluation on the outsourcing of quality testing and inspection

This paper evaluates the feasibility of outsourcing testing and inspection activities in construction work, based on a survey of interested parties and an evaluation using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with experts on quality control. For the AHP, five criteria were adopted and a number of pair-wise comparisons were performed in two stages. Finally, the weighting coefficient to approve the outsourcing was calculated at 0.606, suggesting it more reasonable to permit rather than prohibit outsourcing. Outsourcing of testing/inspection is necessary to enhance the objectivity and expert skill, despite the reduction in the sense of responsibility among the testing technicians and inspectors. However, to initiate outsourcing, it is necessary to first separate the ‘quality testing and inspection’ activities from the ‘quality control’ activities at the job site. Furthermore, the project owner should preferably make the decision to outsource testing and inspection activities and select the testing agency. 2007 Elsevier Ltd and IPMA. All rights reserved.