Quality as a Procurement Driver
Presentation by Andy Mullins, Group Head of Quality, Hill Group
At our inaugural Masonry Association Members’ Technical Meeting, Andy Mullins from Hill Group delivered a thought-provoking presentation exploring whether quality, competence, compliance and provenance should play a greater role in procurement decisions across the construction industry.
Drawing on Hill Group’s approach to quality management, Andy demonstrated how investing in competent supply chains, driving continuous improvement and learning from project performance can significantly improve customer satisfaction while reducing defects and rework. The presentation also highlighted the increasing importance of competency under the Building Safety Act and how procurement decisions should move beyond cost alone to consider quality, capability and previous performance.
Andy also shared a compelling case study on cavity barriers, explaining how collaboration between contractors and manufacturers led to the development of a more buildable fire barrier solution. This practical example reinforced the value of engaging the supply chain to solve industry-wide challenges while maintaining compliance with fire safety requirements.
This presentation provided valuable insight for contractors, manufacturers and clients alike, reinforcing that quality should not simply be inspected at the end of a project—it should influence procurement decisions from the very beginning.
▶ Download Andy Mullins’ presentation:
