Matthews & Roberts

ITPs, inspections, NCRs, snagging and handover

Quality and Project
Assurance

Defects found late cost contractors money and unmanaged NCRs delay handover. We provide practical quality assurance that keeps your record complete from the first inspection to the final handover pack.

Based in Liverpool. Supporting contractors across the UK.

Discuss your quality requirements

What we do

Contractor side quality assurance that stands up at handover

Most quality failures are not caused by poor workmanship. They come from unclear acceptance criteria, uninspected work stages and non conformances that were never formally recorded or closed out.

We develop the ITPs, carry out the inspections, manage the NCR process and assemble the documentation. You arrive at handover with a complete and defensible quality record, without slowing the programme.

Quality sits alongside delivery. See how we support project management within contractor teams.

What we provide

Inspection and Test Plans
Developed from the specification, not from a generic template.
Quality inspections
Structured inspections at defined stages with written records.
NCR management
From identification through root cause to formal close out.
Snagging before handover
Defects found and closed before the client sees them.
Handover documentation
Complete quality records assembled and ready for handover.

How we help

Quality assurance built around contractor delivery

Open any service to see what it covers.

Inspection and Test Plan development

What is inspected, how, when and by whom.

Project and package ITPs setting out what is to be inspected, how and when, who carries out the inspection and what records are required. Each ITP is aligned to the specification, the contract obligations and your quality management system.

ITP developmentPackage ITPsSpecification alignmentHold pointsWitness points

Quality inspections and surveillance

Work verified at defined stages of construction.

Structured inspections at defined stages to verify that work has been carried out to the specification, drawings, standards and approved methods. Written inspection records with graded findings and clear actions tracked to closure.

Stage inspectionsSpecification complianceWritten recordsAction trackingSurveillance

NCR management

Non conformances recorded, resolved and closed.

We manage the NCR process from identification through root cause analysis, corrective action, verification and formal close out. Non conformances are dealt with as they arise so they do not accumulate or remain open at handover.

NCR identificationRoot cause analysisCorrective actionsNCR close outRecords

Project Quality Plans

Your quality arrangements set out for the project.

Development and implementation of a Project Quality Plan covering scope, standards, responsibilities, inspection regimes, the NCR process, document control, subcontractor management and hold and witness points.

Quality planQuality management systemDocument controlStandardsResponsibilities

Snagging and defect management

Defects closed out before they transfer to the client.

Structured snagging of completed works before handover. We manage snagging lists, track rectification, inspect completed remediation again and keep the records needed for a clean handover.

Snagging before handoverDefect listsRectification trackingReinspectionHandover ready

Handover documentation

A complete and organised record at handover.

Coordination and assembly of the quality records, inspection documentation, test results, material certificates, as built information and compliance evidence needed for handover. Your team arrives at handover with complete documentation.

As built recordsTest certificatesMaterial certificatesCompliance evidenceHealth and Safety File
MEP coordination and commissioning records

Quality control on site

ITPs from the specification. NCRs managed to close out.

A generic ITP does not demonstrate compliance. A growing NCR log does not protect your handover. These are the two tools we get right first.

What an ITP contains

Tied to the project documents, usable on site.

Each ITP references the specification clauses, standards, method statements and acceptance criteria for every activity. Hold and witness points are set to suit the risk of each element, so the inspection team has a document it can actually use.

  • Activity and element description
  • Applicable specification references
  • Method statement reference
  • Hold, witness and review points
  • Inspection responsibility
  • Acceptance criteria
  • Record type and reference
  • Frequency of inspection
  • Applicable standards
  • Sign off requirements

How we manage NCRs

Six stages from identification to close out.

Non conformances are a normal part of delivery. What matters is that they are identified promptly, recorded properly and resolved before they reach handover.

  1. 01IdentificationNon conformance identified during inspection, surveillance or client review.
  2. 02RecordingFormally recorded with description, location, specification reference and severity.
  3. 03AssessmentRoot cause identified, impact assessed and corrective action defined and assigned.
  4. 04Corrective actionRemediation or an accepted deviation carried out within the agreed timescale.
  5. 05VerificationCorrective action inspected and verified as complete against the acceptance criteria.
  6. 06Close outNCR formally closed and records updated ready for the handover documentation.

Open NCRs or snagging building up ahead of handover?

Speak to our team

Quality that protects contractors

Four principles behind effective quality assurance

A structured quality regime does not slow the programme. It prevents the rework and disputed handovers that cost far more.

01

Right first time

Defects found during delivery cost far less to correct than those found at handover or in the defects liability period.

02

Evidence of compliance

Clients and employers need evidence that work meets the specification. Quality records are how contractors provide it.

03

Managed NCRs

Non conformances are normal in construction. What matters is that they are found promptly, assessed properly and closed out.

04

Clean handover

Structured snagging and handover protect your final account position and your client relationship when it matters most.

When you need us

Common quality challenges on live contractor projects

Some contractors plan quality management from the start. Others call when a specific situation creates an immediate need.

The client requires quality evidence

The contract requires ITPs, quality records and inspection evidence, or the client is asking for quality information your team does not currently have.

NCRs are accumulating on site

Non conformances are being identified but not properly assessed and closed out. The number is growing and the handover position is becoming unclear.

Moving into higher specification work

You are delivering more technically demanding work where compliance with the specification needs to be formally evidenced and managed.

Internal quality resource is stretched

Your team cannot maintain the quality regime across every live project at the level the contracts require.

Handover is close with snagging outstanding

Practical completion is approaching with unresolved snagging, incomplete records or open NCRs that need to be closed first.

Subcontractor quality is a concern

Packages are not being delivered to the required specification and there is no structured inspection and record regime to manage them.

The detail

Quality across the whole project

The principal contractor is responsible for quality across every package. Subcontractor NCRs, uninspected stages and missing certificates become your problem if they are not managed during delivery.

Subcontractor quality support

Consistent oversight across every package.

We coordinate subcontractor ITPs, review method statements, carry out package inspections and manage NCRs and handover documentation across all packages.

  • Subcontractor ITP review
  • Method statement compliance
  • Material and product compliance
  • Subcontractor inspection records
  • Test and commissioning records
  • NCR management across packages
  • Hold point authorisation
  • Handover pack coordination

What we produce

Records scoped to your project.
  • Project Quality Plans
  • Package ITPs
  • Inspection records
  • Hold point sign off records
  • Witness point records
  • Material test certificates
  • Product compliance records
  • As built annotations
  • NCR registers
  • Corrective action records
  • NCR close out records
  • Snagging lists
  • Rectification records
  • Reinspection records
  • Handover documentation packs
  • Quality surveillance reports
  • Subcontractor quality records
  • Test and commissioning records
  • Compliance declarations
  • Quality audit reports

How quality connects with other workstreams

Temporary works, services and handover.

Quality records rarely sit alone. Temporary works inspections and permits, services testing and commissioning records and the Health and Safety File all feed the handover pack. We make sure they line up.

Temporary works coordinationMEP coordination

Retained quality support

One consistent approach across live projects.

Contractors with several live projects can retain quality assurance support across the business. That keeps one consistent approach to ITPs, inspections, NCRs and handover without a separate quality resource on every project.

Related services

Support around your quality regime

FAQ

Quality assurance questions from contractors

What is an Inspection and Test Plan?

An Inspection and Test Plan is a project document that sets out what will be inspected or tested during construction, how it will be done, who is responsible and what records are required. ITPs reference the applicable specification, standards and method statements. They also identify the hold, witness and review points that define when work can proceed.

Do you develop ITPs or review our existing ones?

Both. We can develop ITPs from scratch for a project or package, or review and strengthen existing ITPs so they align more closely with the specification, the contract obligations and your quality management system.

What is the difference between a hold point and a witness point?

A hold point is a defined stage where work must stop until inspection has been carried out and formally signed off. A witness point is a stage where the relevant party is invited to witness the inspection, but work can proceed if they do not attend. ITPs use both to manage quality oversight across the programme.

Can you manage NCRs on a live project?

Yes. We can set up or take over the NCR process on a live project so that non conformances are properly recorded, assessed, actioned and closed out with the records required for handover.

How does NCR management protect the contractor?

A managed NCR process shows the client that you have identified and properly addressed non compliance with the specification. Without it, unresolved NCRs at handover can affect the final account, delay sign off at practical completion and lead to disputes about defects in the defects liability period.

Can you carry out snagging before practical completion?

Yes. We carry out snagging inspections before the formal handover process to identify defects and non compliances. That gives you the chance to put them right before the client and employer are involved, which helps reduce the items on the client snagging list at practical completion.

Can you assemble the handover documentation pack?

Yes. We coordinate and assemble the quality records, inspection documentation, test results, material certificates, as built information, NCR close out records and compliance evidence needed for a complete handover pack.

Can you support quality across multiple subcontractor packages?

Yes. On larger projects we can manage the quality regime across each package, coordinating ITPs, inspection records, NCRs and handover documentation so the principal contractor has consistent oversight across the whole project.

Can Matthews & Roberts provide quality assurance on a retained basis?

Yes. Contractors with several live projects can retain quality assurance support across the business. That maintains a consistent approach without a separate quality resource on every project.

Where do you provide quality assurance support?

We are based in Liverpool and support contractors across the UK, including Liverpool, Manchester and the wider North West.

Quality and project assurance

Need a stronger quality position on your project?

Whether you need ITPs before work starts, inspections on a live project, a managed NCR process or snagging and handover documentation, we can help.

  • Inspection and Test Plan development
  • Structured quality inspections and records
  • NCR management through to close out
  • Snagging before handover
  • Handover documentation assembly
  • Subcontractor quality coordination
Discuss your projectView all management services