In your opinion, do you think the number of RFI of any project reflects on the management quality and its control over the project?

RFI has2 meanings, 

1. Request for Information

2. Request for Inspection

By the request for Information we clarify the compliance of the executed works with the design and to try to save time and expenses.

The request of inspection is a duty of the QC/QA and has to certify the the work done is comply as per designed.As much as how the number the better for results and of course this procedure reflects on the Management Quality and its control over the project 

In respect to Mr. Hatem's answer, I don't agree,

to get gain of quality we should consider the way of inspection and methods. therefore the number of RFI could not show the quality of inspection or getting better quality.

I believe the QC is a balance between cost of quality and the benefit of quality, so the number of RFI doesn't mean better quality management or control over quality.

Requests for Information (“RFI”) are a common project communication tool in today’s construction industry. RFIs are a tool of the construction industry created to identify problems and seek information and solutions. Intuitively, the number of RFIs issued on any project is directly related to the size and the duration of a project. . The speed and ef ciency of the project team related to the processing of RFIs should be monitored by an appropriate member of the project team (perhaps an RFI Coordinator) or, in some cases, the owner’s project manager, design professional or construction manager. One of the key metrics in this regard is the number of days that it takes to respond to an RFI.

Rather than using RFIs only to seek information, contractors pursuing what amounts to  a future claims strategy may use the RFI process for all project communications – not just contract document information requests. An RFI is justi able if a question, concern or observation cannot be explained or answered in the contract documents. An RFI is unjusti able if it questions means or methods, requests a design change that is not considered by the design team, or asks a question whose answer is provided in the contract documents.

The contractor’s argument that the excessive number of RFIs on a project demonstrates that the owner is liable for additional time and cost has often proven to be successful without further or detailed analysis by either party.

RFIs that required more than one week for a response, several had already resulted in owner issued and settled change orders leaving an even smaller number of RFIs that could have, and should have, been analyzed for potential cost and schedule impact.

Given this set of facts it is doubtful that most would conclude that this job was “not fully designed”at the time of bidding. However, this is what construction claims analysts commonly encounter when faced with claims that all of a contractor’s loss of productivity and all project delay resulted from a large number of RFIs.

1. RFI, Request For Inspection is the process of QA/QC check by authorized inspector to certify the work done are correct and as per design and shop drawings. The more number of RFI, means the work is progressing well.

2. In another term RFI means Request For Information, is the process of clarifying the doubts about design or missing items in design which if provided may have additional cost and time impact and will delay the completion of project. The delay in response to RFI will further delay the completion of project, even there is no additional works. 

The more number of RFI in this case reflect inadequate design or  flaws in design. The quality of works also gets affected due to resolution of RFI, which includes abortive work, rework or additional works.

Yes, it does. As my colleagues have also mentioned in their respective answers, the higher number of RFIs (Requests for Information) would indicate their is something wrong.

If the queries raised are genuine, it means that the owner's team has not put in its best effort to cover all that was required. On the other hand queries sometime may only indicate that the contractor's team has a problem relating various documents with each other and extracting the required information showing their lack of experience or integrity. However their is a trend,especially in the developing world, to initiate construction works without completing the basic requirements which later on inevitably gives rise to higher number of RFIs from the contractor.

i realized through the answers that (RFI) was understood in two diffrent meaning....so i wrote my opinion for both cases

assuming that (RFI) stands for ( request for information ) so.. the more number it gets ...it means one of the following

1- the project lack detailed information....this for sure will have negative influence on all the project .

or it means

2- the management team doesn't fully understand the project scope ....this also will have negative influence on all the project

so in both cases ,,,the more (RFI)'S means there is something wrong with the project.....but the approach to handle this problem will differ according to which case from the mentioned above we are facing

more....if (RFI) stands for (request for inspection ) this is totaly diffrent matter....this case shouldn't have any influence on the project ....because it should be part of the quality control plan....if any more than planed is required .....this should a variation order ....

Answer:

Firstly, I am assuming that Acronym "RFI" stands for "Request for Inspection".

Normally, an inspection is to be carried out at the end of each milestone of the project/production process. Some inspections could be carried out by in-house technical personnel during supervision and after complicated stage /milestone, an expert inspector/ consultant shall be called for inspection.

Too many inspections by outside inspector/ consultant may delay the project speed and extend implementation time.

In order to ensure quality of the product, normally, three inspections are to be carried by experienced Inspector/outside consultant

·         1st  inspection- Inspection of raw materials, process and available facilities

·         2nd Inspection- Inspection during production after an important milestone or even surprise inspection

·         3rd Inspection- Inspection after completion of production/works but before packing or final touch.

Quality control shall be built in through supplier registration process, bidding process, contact agreement or payment terms. Accordingly, three inspections would be enough by professional inspector/consultant aside from regular supervision by the Project Management or in-house personnel

So, if the number of RFI is more, there may be something wrong in supplier selection or bidding processor or contract agreement or in payment terms.

Request for Information and technical queries represent risk to several aspects of a project, from quality to schedule and safety. Unanswered queries can confuse supplier and lead to costly errors on the job site. Delayed responses can have a snowball effect on critical path activities Therefore, RFI automates and controls the RFI process, governs participation and authorization.. 

RFI  mostly means  request for information 

The RFI procedure is used in cases where it is necessary to confirm the interpretation of a detail, specification, or note on the construction drawings, or to secure a documented directive or clarification from the architect or client that is needed to continue work.

Not all time , Sometimes It turns to waste of time paper works ...

RFI stands for:

1- request for information: the higher the number for request for information indicates that there is lack of preparation and understanding during the initiation and planning phase, it reflects that there may be issue with experience or communication.

2- Request for inspection: its part of the quality control which is normal process and the higher the number of request for inspection doesn't indicate the management quality and control over the project but it may indicate issues with the quality of the  product or service to be delivered.

The bottom line that the RFI is important indicator that reflect the project management quality during the initiation and planning phase and their related knowledge areas ( integration, scope, time, HR, communication, .... etc).