Become more profitable - get better control of deviations in your construction projects
What is good deviation management in construction projects?
📌 Updated May 2025: This article has now been updated with new information about non-conformance management, risk reduction, and better control in construction projects.
Good non-conformance management reduces the risk of errors happening again and gives you better overview and profitability in your own business. When you have a good system for registering non-conformances and following up on non-conformance reports, you get a safer working environment and can drive continuous improvement.
A simple definition of a non-conformity is that it is an event that does not comply with given requirements, standards or expectations – and which may have consequences for HSE, quality or progress.
Why is good non-compliance management important?
All construction companies are obliged to report and document non-conformities – whether they concern health, safety and environment (HSE non-conformities) or quality non-conformities in the construction process. This reporting obligation is required by law and requires good routines and preferably the use of an effective non-conformity processing form that simplifies both registration and follow-up. A clear definition of a non-conformity is an unwanted event that can harm people, the environment, material or quality. An effective system for non-conformity processing makes it easy to report the non-conformity, ensure that it does not go astray, and that measures are taken to prevent the same non-conformity from happening again.
When deviations are recorded and followed up systematically through good deviation reports and deviation overviews, you reduce the risk of injuries, delays and costly errors - and create a safer working environment for everyone on the construction site.
What is a variance and project variance?
A deviation is an event that does not meet expected standards or requirements. When such deviations occur within a project, they are called project deviations. This can range from small errors to larger HSE or quality deviations. Without proper deviation management, project deviations can have major consequences, both financially and for safety.
Examples of deviations:
There are many different types of deviations, and it is important to know how to record deviations correctly. Here are some common examples of deviations:
Failure to use protective equipment (HSE non-compliance)
Incorrect assembly of building parts (quality deviation)
Delays in deliveries (project deviations)
Incomplete nonconformance reports
Inadequate handling of deviations leading to recurrence
What are recurring deviations?
When the same type of deviation occurs repeatedly, often in several projects, it is called a recurring deviation. This is a serious risk for the business, but at the same time an opportunity to learn and improve. Good deviation management involves identifying these recurring deviations and using the deviation overviews to improve routines and processes.
Procedures for handling deviations:
To ensure effective deviation management, it is important to have clear routines that are followed in all projects. These routines may include:
Registration: All deviations must be reported immediately in the deviation reporting system, whether they concern HSE deviations, quality deviations or project deviations.
Classification: The deviations are categorized by type, severity and impact on the project.
Follow-up: The responsible person must ensure that measures are taken to correct and prevent recurrence.
Documentation: All measures, decisions and results are documented in the deviation reports to ensure traceability.
Evaluation: Regular review of deviation data to identify patterns and areas for improvement.
Communication: Information about deviations and follow-up is shared openly with relevant teams to strengthen awareness and prevent errors.
Effective procedures for handling deviations are essential to ensure safe operations and good progress in the project. Such procedures should be standardized and easily accessible to everyone in the organization.
How to learn from non-conformance reports?
Collect and analyze the deviations from each project carefully. Pay particular attention to which deviations are reflected in the deviation reports. This insight forms the basis for better deviation handling and continuous improvement.
By categorizing the deviations – for example by building section, field of expertise or type of error – you get a faster overview of where the problems arise and what measures are needed. Examples of categories can be:
Building parts: exterior wall, exterior roof, foundation
Areas of expertise: carpentry, plumbing, concrete work
General: work execution, design, purchasing, RUH (reporting of adverse incidents)
When you have good routines for non-conformance handling, and all team members know how to fill out a non-conformance handling form, it becomes easier to extract learning from the data.
Overview of the project's total number of deviations, open and closed deviations
By linking deviations to categories, this will give you a better overview of where the deviation occurs and why. This can give you valuable information so you can easily see which areas you need to improve for your next project.
What are categories for deviations?
Categories for deviations are used to link deviations to areas such as deviations in building components, related subjects or other general categories. Examples of this can be:
exterior wall (building element), exterior roof (building element), foundation (building element).
carpentry (trade), plumbing (trade), concrete work (trade).
Workmanship (general), engineering (general), purchasing/ordering (general), RUH (general).
9 tips to reduce deviations in construction projects:
Use experience from deviations on previous projects and implement measures and routines to prevent similar deviations in future projects.
Develop a comprehensive project plan that includes detailed design and construction contract documents, budget and schedule.
Communicate effectively with all project stakeholders, such as architects, engineers, contractors and suppliers, to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Be realistic with time and budget - It's important that the project plan takes into account possible delays, relocation, unexpected costs and other potential challenges.
Prioritize quality - Prioritize quality assurance processes to ensure the construction is free from defects.
Conduct regular inspections of construction work during the process to find early evidence of deviations and take corrective action immediately.
Establish change management protocols that align with the plan to ensure any adjustments are reviewed and approved to reduce project deviations and increased costs.
Embrace transparency - Communicating transparently about any deviations and potential risks will ensure quick and effective action is taken to prevent significant deviations.
Be flexible - Allow for changes, adjustments, but prioritize staying within the plans for the building process.
By following best practices that can monitor and find potential deviations and quick corrective actions, project deviations can be reduced.
Easily mark the deviations on the project's floor plans in my project.
List of discrepancies in my project on mobile version ( my mobile)
What should a good deviation handling form contain?
A well-designed nonconformance handling form should be easy to fill out and contain fields for type of nonconformance, description, severity, responsible person, action and status. By using digital solutions such as Build MyProject or MyMobile, you can register nonconformances quickly – and ensure documentation and follow-up on one and the same platform.
How to work with deviation management in build my project and my mobile ?
With our user-friendly tool, you can easily register and follow up on deviations – both HSE deviations and other project deviations – directly on your PC or mobile. You get:
Overview of open and closed deviations
Categorization for better insight into the deviation overviews
Link to checklists and projects
Rapid generation of nonconformance reports
Ability to mark deviations directly on floor plans
The system makes it easier to ensure that deviations are handled correctly, followed up and documented – so that the risk of the same deviation occurring again is reduced.
Want to read more? We also have useful information on calculation, purchasing, checklists and deviations.
Do you want to handle discrepancies more effectively?
With our system you can easily register, follow up and learn from deviations – both on PC and mobile. Get a better overview, fewer errors and more profitability in your projects. Book a free demo and see how it works in practice:
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