Early Main Contractor Appointment at Design Stage: Opportunity to Enhance Quality in Irish Construction Projects

10 pages•Published: July 23, 2025

Brian Fahey, Jack Mullane, John Spillane, James Bradley and Michael Curran

Abstract

The benefit of selecting a main contractor at the design stage has attracted industry interest; however, studies, particularly from an Irish context when focusing on quality, are lacking. This paper examines the benefits, if any, of early contractor involvement (ECI) at the design stage with a specific focus towards quality. The aim is to ascertain the impact of early contractor involvement at design stage in the context of quality improvement, if any. In achieving this, 18 semi-structured industry professionals are interviewed. The results are thematically coded, to identify themes and underlying factors which impact project benefits measured against quality in the appointment of a main contractor at design stage. By carrying out this research, a link between ECI and attaining quality improvements can be established. The result will show clients, design teams and contractors, that selecting a main contractor at the design stage can prove beneficial in increasing the overall quality of the project. This paper stems from the lack of academic research on this subject, while highlighting to various stakeholders, the value of early contractor involvement from a quality perspective.

Keyphrases: design coordination, early contractor engagement, early contractor involvement, ece, eci, quality management system

In: Wesley Collins, Anthony J. Perrenoud and John Posillico (editors). Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 61st Annual International Conference, vol 6, pages 806-815.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/L1hB
	https://doi.org/10.29007/m53t

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{ASC2025:Early_Main_Contractor_Appointment,
  author    = {Brian Fahey and Jack Mullane and John Spillane and James Bradley and Michael Curran},
  title     = {Early Main Contractor Appointment at Design Stage: Opportunity to Enhance Quality in Irish Construction Projects},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 61st Annual International Conference},
  editor    = {Wesley Collins and Anthony J. Perrenoud and John Posillico},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Built Environment},
  volume    = {6},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2632-881X},
  url       = {/publications/paper/L1hB},
  doi       = {10.29007/m53t},
  pages     = {806-815},
  year      = {2025}}

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