--- title: "Monitoring vs evaluation; quality control tools" subject: "Project Engineering" chapter: 4 key: "semester_7/project_engineering:monitoring-vs-evaluation-quality-tools" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/monitoring-vs-evaluation-quality-tools site: BCT Engineering --- # Monitoring vs evaluation; quality control tools Project Engineering · Chapter 4: Project Implementation and Controlling - Asked in: 2080 Bhadra, 2+4 marks - Video: [The 7 Quality Control (QC) Tools Explained with an Example!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuH35ottILU) — CQE Academy - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/monitoring-vs-evaluation-quality-tools - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-4 ## Question Differentiate between monitoring and evaluation. What are the different tools of project quality control? ## Short answer Monitoring is continuous tracking of progress against plan; evaluation is periodic assessment of outcomes and impact. Quality control tools include inspection and testing, check sheets, histograms, Pareto charts, cause-and-effect diagrams, scatter diagrams, control charts, flow charts, and statistical sampling. ## Answer #### Difference between monitoring and evaluation | Basis | Monitoring | Evaluation | |---|---|---| | Meaning | Continuous tracking of progress against plan | Periodic assessment of results and value | | Time | Throughout implementation (daily, weekly, monthly) | Mid-term, end of project, post-project | | Focus | Inputs, activities, outputs (are we doing the work right?) | Outcomes, impact, relevance (did we do the right work?) | | Done by | Project staff and managers (internal) | Often external or independent team | | Purpose | Early warning and day-to-day correction | Judgement, learning, future decisions | | Output | Progress reports, variance reports | Evaluation report with recommendations | | Frequency | Frequent | Occasional | #### Tools of project quality control 1. **Inspection and testing** of materials and work (cube test, slump, field density, bitumen test). 2. **Check sheet:** a form to record the number and type of defects. 3. **Histogram:** shows the frequency distribution of measured values. 4. **Pareto chart:** ranks causes of defects, showing the vital few (80/20 rule). 5. **Cause-and-effect (fishbone) diagram:** traces the root cause of a defect under man, machine, material and method. 6. **Scatter diagram:** shows the relation between two variables, e.g. water-cement ratio and strength. 7. **Control chart:** plots results against upper and lower control limits to show whether the process is stable. 8. **Flow chart** of the process and **statistical sampling** plans. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Monitoring mainly asks which question? A. Was the project relevant? B. What lessons for future? C. Are we doing the work right (inputs, activities, outputs)? D. Did we do the right work (impact)? Answer: C. Monitoring focuses on inputs, activities and outputs; evaluation on outcomes and impact. (Key point: Focus) 2. Which is correct for evaluation? A. Only before the project starts B. Frequent, daily, internal staff C. Occasional, mid-term or end, often external or independent D. Only by contractor Answer: C. Evaluation is periodic and often done by an external team. (Key point: Who and when) 3. What is a check sheet used for? A. Ranking causes B. Recording the number and type of defects C. Plotting control limits D. Showing relation of two variables Answer: B. A check sheet is a form for recording defects. (Key point: Check sheet) 4. A scatter diagram of water-cement ratio against strength shows what? A. The relation between two variables B. Process stability C. Root cause under 4M D. Frequency distribution Answer: A. Scatter diagrams show the relationship between two variables. (Key point: Scatter diagram) ## Related in Project Engineering - [Monitoring and quality, cost, schedule control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-quality-cost-schedule-control) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Monitoring, evaluation, control; control cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Adefine-monitoring-evaluation-control-cycle) — Project Engineering, chapter 4, asked 4× - [Monitoring, evaluation, control must; PMIS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-evaluation-control-must-pmis) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Differentiate quality control and assurance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aqa-vs-qc-differentiate) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Monitoring, evaluation, controlling and life cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-evaluation-controlling-life-cycle) — Project Engineering, chapter 1 - [Short note: Monitoring, evaluation, controlling](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-evaluation-controlling-note) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 ## Related in other subjects - [Control evaluation steps; PD and PI design](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fembedded_system%3Acontrol-evaluation-steps-pd-pi) — Embedded System, chapter 7 - [Quality control process](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aquality-control-process) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10 - [Testing IT systems in quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Atesting-it-systems) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10 - [Test life cycle in quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Atest-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10