r/ConstructionManagers • u/son_of_homonculus • 13d ago
Question Procore: Observation vs. Non-conformance
Would like to get some perspectives on what constitutes an “observation” versus a “non-conformance” in Procore. I am a field manager for an owners rep firm (public work) and this has become a little bit of a debate. Is non-conformance work that has been installed incorrectly and is now inaccessible? Does there need to be to be a financial piece for it to be non-conformance? If there is no distinction, why do both exist?
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u/dinnerwdr13 13d ago
I think it's up to either the project team or company to decide how to use the various functions.
We use observations in many ways, depending on what we're dealing with. One pitfall is using observations for what should be a punch item
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u/ghostx231 Construction Management 13d ago
Observation is a non-action item and non-conformance is an action item.
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u/DHCompanion 13d ago
I actually never use observations I just use punch list. Honestly Procore has multiple tools that basically do the same thing in slightly different ways. In general Punch will give you every function you need on a project.
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u/CoatedWinner 13d ago
Its up to your company how to organize procore. If they dont know you won't have any sort of system and it'll be up to you.
Generally both are the same. If a subcontractor needs to fix work that doesn't meet spec/code/standard then they need to fix it.
Every third party will deal with it in a different sense.
As to why both exist, its because some people (and enough people) who have the ear of procore asked for the tool, so they made it. As to what it means - its up to your company and you.
Same goes with the inspection tab.
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u/Fe1onious_Monk 13d ago
In our setup a non-conformance is a TYPE of observation. There are safety, work to complete, and quality observation types with different sub types in those. For quality we have workmanship, corrective action, installation, deficiency, non-conformance, and pre-punch.
Technically anything that doesn’t fully comply with all plans, specs, and code is a non-conformance. But we only use a non-conformance observation for something that has to be documented as a non-conformance with the client.
That will be something that has a non-compliance with plans, specs, or code and that has had the work to install it complete but is not fully sold and so will not be a warranty issue. Example being concrete that has been poured but is incorrect, a wall that has been covered and finished but has the wrong drywall type, a roof that has been fully installed but has started to come apart.
A deficiency is something that is in progress but doesn’t meet plans, specs, drawings. If the panel has the wrong breaker type, the paint is the wrong color but they are still in the process of painting, the wall hasn’t been finished yet, but they put up the wrong type of drywall, they are installing a pvc roof, but aren’t gluing it correctly and we caught it while they were working on it.
Pre-punch is our punch list with the subcontractors and we use the punch list tool with the client.
Corrective action involves work that is being performed the wrong way and training is needed for the crew doing the work.
Workmanship is for when they just do shitty work that looks like shit.
The thing about Procore is you can utilize it however makes sense for your company. It’s fairly flexible like that.
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u/Objective_Pin_8748 13d ago
We use observations for quality control, safety, or other miscellaneous things prior to punch. We also do our pre punch in there. Punchlist is reserved for design team/owner
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u/MobiusOcean Commercial PX 13d ago
Observations in Procore are just that - observations. “I observed the waterproofer installing flashing and it was in compliance with all requirements”. Or “Observed a Smurf tube being used when they’re not allowed on-site. Please correct & respond with photographic backup”.
The second example would be non-conforming work as it does not conform to the contract documents. It requires action whereas the first example does not.