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Quality Management System at construction projects

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 Proceedings of the Civil Engineering PG Conference 2015, Held at MAEER’s MIT, Pune-411038, 24-25 April 2015.
Quality Management System at Construction
Projects
Pravin P. Mane, Dr. Jalindar R. Patil.
 key tool in consistently and reliably managing the goal of
Abstract— The Quality Management System (QMS) in
construction industry refers to quality planning, quality
assurance, quality control. The main goal of construction
industry is to ensure that construction projects are
successfully completed within the constraints of best
quality, stated period and at minimum possible cost. The
research based on QMS recommended that construction
companies should create a flexible and conducive
organizational atmosphere which encourages the
development of quality management system in all aspects
of their work.
The questionnaire survey has been carried out in the
present study by taking interviews of participants of
project. The participants of project include owner/builder,
project management consultant, contractor, various
consultants and suppliers. The questionnaires have been
prepared by authors based on quality aspects in
construction project for builder / contractor, consultants
and customers / occupants of buildings. This paper
describes the analysis of data collected during interviews
& questionnaires with builder / contractor.
Index Terms— assurance, contractor, expectations,
management, quality.
I. INTRODUCTION
Quality management system (QMS) is defined as “all
activities of the overall management function that determine
the quality policy, objectives and responsibilities, and
implement them by means such as quality planning, quality
control, quality assurance and quality improvement within the
quality system” (MS ISO 8402, 1994). QMS have many
applications in the construction industry and implemented
either at the company level or at the project level.The quality
in the construction industry is linked with client’s satisfaction
and the implementation of a quality management system is a
Manuscript received April 10, 2015.
Pravin P. Mane (pravinpmane@gmail.com) is student of M.E. (Civil-
Construction & Management) of RMD Sinhgad School of Engineering,
Warje, Pune – 58 affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Dr. J. R. Patil (jalindarrpatil@gmail.com) is Professor in department of
civil engineering, RMD Sinhgad School of Engineering, Warje, Pune.
Advances and Research in Civil Engineering and Technology - Construction Management
client satisfaction. Quality management system (QMS) could
be implemented either at the organization level or at the
project level itself. For the implementation of quality
management in construction projects, the concepts of quality
planning (identification of quality standards), quality assurance
(evaluation of overall project performance) and quality control
(monitoring of specific project results) in the quality
management processes were defined by Project Management
Institute (2000). Several tools and techniques were identified
as part of the implementation process, like benefit-cost
analysis, benchmarking, flow-charting, design of experiments,
cost of quality, quality audits, inspection, control charts, pareto
diagrams, statistical sampling, flow-charting and trend
analysis.
Project quality is often taken for granted and inadequate
attention has been given to this parameter. Subsequently, in the
absence of effective quality management procedures,
considerable time, and resources are wasted every year. This is
due to the high level of uncertainties surrounding the definition
of quality and the subjectivity associated with the assessment
of quality as well as the large number of variables involved in
its assessment.
Quality Management System is a continuing process of
improvement involving all aspects of the business. The wider
aim of Quality Management System is to prevent mistakes
before they happen. The three phases of QMS are as Quality
Planning, Quality Control and Quality Assurance. It is a
process to follow in reducing errors in work. The keys to
continuous improvement are commitment and teamwork. This
commitment must start with the chief executive officer and
filter throughout the entire organization. QMS will not work
without a total commitment and involvement from top
management. Managers, in all areas of the company, must
provide employees with the proper training, tools, equipment
and work place environment to accomplish the assigned task.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
As reported by Mane & Patil (2015) the Quality is one of
the critical factors in the success of construction projects.
Quality of construction projects, as well as project success, can
be regarded as the fulfillment of expectations (i.e. the
satisfaction) of the project participants. The conclusions based
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Proceedings of the Civil Engineering PG Conference 2015, Held at MAEER’s MIT, Pune-411038, 24-25 April 2015.

on the study indicates that at construction project check lists  Ensure that all relevant parties involved including
are used as quality tool, quality control measure as quality in consultants, subcontractors and suppliers are included
workmanship and due importance to be given for customer in the task of quality planning for the project
satisfaction.  Establish and define the purpose of the quality system
Mathews, Ueno, Kekale, Repka, Pereira and Silva (2001)  In the plan, minimize the effort required to amend
divided quality tools and techniques that are in support of copies of documents
quality programs into three main types, i.e., hard quality tools,  Set up a quality system development team so that the
mixing methods and soft methods. Hard quality tools are team can produce an effective plan
formal quality systems, documented quality systems, quality
 Ensure that throughout the quality planning task
costs, control charts, and statistical sampling standards.
constantly focused on the customer requirements.
Mixing methods are strategy and action plans review,
flexibility of organization structure, control charts, quality
Beecroft (1999) emphasises that quality, like any other
circles, and quality planning tools. Soft methods are training,
dimension of business, must be strategically managed at the
customer satisfaction surveys, regular contact with vendors
corporate level. Many quality improvement efforts focus solely
and external organizations, actions to optimize environment
on quality improvement tools and the methodology for
impact, empowerment, self-assessment, and benchmarking.
improving specific processes; however, these efforts often
Taylor et al. (2003) concluded that senior managers’
ignore their impact on the overall business. Srinidhi (1998)
involvement, understanding and customer focus are essential
described that many firms practicing independently sound
antecedents of TQM success. Samson et al. (1999) described
management methods to implement higher quality fail because
that leadership and human resources management are among
these methods are either not aligned with the firm's strategy or
strong predictors of performance TQM practices. On
not properly coordinated with each other. Therefore, the
construction related research, Low et al. (2004) commented
studies establish that effective quality management cannot be
that top management commitment as one of the elements that
practiced in isolation from other initiatives or the overall
would reflect TQM performance measures in construction
strategy of the firm.
firms. Chin et al. (2003) found that top management
Many organizations currently invest in quality improvement
commitment is the most critical factor for the successful
programmes. However, the literature has revealed that many
implementation of ISO 9000. ISO 9000 deals with the
companies felt that the quality improvement programmes had
fundamentals of quality management systems (Quality
fallen short of their expectations and that these programmes
Standard, 2008; Tsim et al, 2002), including the eight
were not generating the anticipated improvements (Lam,
management principles (Quality Standard, 2008; Beattie and
1997). The key reason for this gap between quality
Sohal, 1999; Tsim et al, 2002) on which the family of
improvement expectations and the realisation of benefits is the
standards is based. ISO 9001 deals with the requirements that
absence of an effective quality planning process before its
organization wishing to meet the standard they have to fulfill.
implementation (Juran and Godfrey, 2000). Thus, quality
In order to integrate the quality management system within the
planning is identified as the most significant phase in a
context of construction management, the need to study the
corporate quality management process requiring more
elements in standard guidelines of quality management system
attention.
is essential to ensure the standardization of the quality
It is almost a commonplace to describe the current business
management system is successful.
environmental setting as turbulent. The marketplace has
A detailed and clear job responsibility description is
become more global and service oriented and clients’ tastes
important to ensure that each of the project team members
have become more demanding and sophisticated (Albino et al.,
understand their responsible in order to achieve the required
2002). Under this circumstance, many firms have found it is
objectives. Besides that, the annual management review needs
increasing difficulties to compete. To survive in the current
to be conduct by the top management to ensure the
business environment, it is necessary to look for ways to
effectiveness of implementing the Quality Management
improve quality and productivity in order to enhance their
System. On top of that, the availability of the resources is
competitive edges (Tan et al., 2003).
important for smooth construction process and the top
management also needs to plan the optimal usage of the
resources. An effective planning requires the organization to
III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
plan for the resources and the construction work by providing
the work programme, cost programme, project quality plan,
labour, material and plant schedule, construction method The methodology for the work consists of three step
statement and inspection and test plan. Consequently, it will model. The first step is quality planning, second step is quality
become as the core reference for the construction process control and third step is quality assurance. In the first step the
control and conformance and performance measurement questionnaires have been prepared by authors considering
processes. According to Lydia (2010), the guidelines to ensure quality aspects of construction project. The questionnaires
the quality in planning are: have been prepared by authors based on quality aspects in

Advances and Research in Civil Engineering and Technology - Construction Management 324
Proceedings of the Civil Engineering PG Conference 2015, Held at MAEER’s MIT, Pune-411038, 24-25 April 2015.

construction project for builder / contractor, consultants and 9 Site review meetings with staff 4.48
customers / occupants of buildings.. The study describes the 10 Observe regular schedule 4.48
rating aspects based on importance on five-point scale for 11 Keep spare parts/materials for
4.44
analysis of data collected during interviews with builder / laboratory equipments
contractor. In second step the interviews of participants of 12 Practice sound housekeeping
4.32
construction project (builder / contractor) have been conducted methods
by the author. 13 Regularly maintain the formats 4.52
The respondents are having position of project manager, 14 Specify
project engineer at construction projects with experience not
less than fifteen years. The number of questions will be asked III Quality management during
to them and the various optional points for some questions are planning and designing phase
provided. The respondents has to rate these points on five- of construction projects.
point rating scale. The scale description is as “5= Very Strong, 1 coordination with the all activities 4.72
4= Strong, 3= Moderate, 2= Less, 1= Very less”. In the 2 Maintain sequence of
4.52
analysis of data all the options of questions have been studied construction drawings
and the findings have mentioned in the subsequent section of 3 Review meetings 4.72
paper. 4 Observe regular schedule 4.76

IV Barriers to working of project

team with respect to quality?
IV. DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS 1 Competitive markets 4.44
2 Bad attitudes/abdication of
responsibility/management 4.56
The Table 1 shows detailed analysis of questionnaires asked infallibility
to respondents and weighted average calculated during 3 Lack of leadership for quality 4.44
analysis by the author. 4 Deficiency of cultural dynamism 2.56
5 Lack of customer focus 4.76
TABLE 1: DATA COLLECTED WITH WEIGHTED 6 Lack of effective measurement of
AVERAGE 4.44
quality improvement
7 Poor Planning 4.68
I Quality tool used at Weighted 8 Lack of management commitment 4.44
construction projects. Average 9 Resistance of the workforce 4.40
1 Pareto analysis 4.08 10 Lack of proper
2 Fish bone diagram 3.00 training/Inadequate Human 4.60
3 Check lists 4.36 Resource Development
4 Flow chart 4.28
5 Scatter diagram 2.60 V Importance of quality
6 Control Charts 2.88 management System at
7 Histogram 3.08 construction projects.
8 Statistical analysis 3.68 1 Competitive markets 4.68
9 Check sheets 4.00 2 Customer satisfaction 4.88
10 Any other tool (Specify) 3 Client satisfaction 4.52
4 Stakeholders satisfaction 4.72
II Quality control measures used 5 Management commitment 4.52
on site.
1 Study duties and responsibilities 4.52
2 Coordination with the project VI Implementation of quality
4.28 4.52
purchase department management plan on your site
3 Do proper sampling and testing 4.44
4 Set procedures to control quality 4.44 VII Quality improvement activities
5 Follow the prescribed curing and run by you on your site
4.32
deshuttering schedules 1 Activities specified by -nil-
6 Quality of workmanship in all 2 respondents matches with the
4.68
construction activities 3 aspects considered by author.
7 Quality Control laboratory at site 4.60 4
8 Maintain sequence of 5
4.52
construction

Advances and Research in Civil Engineering and Technology - Construction Management 325
Proceedings of the Civil Engineering PG Conference 2015, Held at MAEER’s MIT, Pune-411038, 24-25 April 2015.
VIII Tests conducted on materials on
site and their schedule.
1 Specify
2 Physical Testing 4.60
3 Test reports from supplier 4.64
4 The importance of quality management System at
The analysis includes calculation of percentagewise waitage
of the aspects of construction project given in questions by the
respondents. There are several methods for analysis of data but
for this work authors used simple logical method of calculating
weighted average for each point.
The formula used for calculation of weighted average is
given below,
Weighted average = a1y1+a2y2+a3y3+a4y4+a5y5
Where,
a1, a2, a3, a4, a5 are the frequency of rating aspect ranging
from 5 to 1 and y1, y2, y3, y4, y5 are the percentages
corresponding to a1, a2, a3, a4, a5 respectively.
V. DISCUSSIONS & FINDINGS
As stated in research methodology the author distributed 30
sets of questionnaires among the participants of construction
project configuring experiences and positions mentioned in
earlier section. The 25 respondents have responded for the
same. After scrutinizing the data of responses of respondents
the following findings have been mentioned in detail.
The eight questions have been asked also optional points for
some questions are provided to them.
As per the responses of respondents the most important
quality tool used at construction site is check lists followed by
flow chart, pareto analysis, check sheets, statistical analysis,
histogram, control chart and scatter diagram.
The quality control measure used on construction site is the
quality of workmanship in all construction activities followed
by quality Control laboratory at site, Maintain sequence of
construction, Regularly maintain the formats, Study duties and
responsibilities, Site review meetings with staff, Observe
regular schedule, Do proper sampling and testing, Set
procedures to control quality, Keep spare parts/materials for
laboratory equipments, Follow the prescribed curing and
deshuttering schedules, Practice sound housekeeping methods
and Coordination with the project purchase department.
As per responses of respondents the important aspects of
quality management during planning and designing phase of
construction projects are Observe regular schedule followed
by Review meetings, coordination with the all activities and
Maintain sequence of construction drawings.
The analysis of next question indicates that the barriers to
working of project team with respect to quality as Lack of
customer focus followed by Poor Planning, Lack of proper
Advances and Research in Civil Engineering and Technology - Construction Management
training/Inadequate Human Resource Development, Bad
attitudes/abdication of responsibility/management infallibility,
Competitive markets, Lack of leadership for quality, Lack of
effective measurement of quality improvement, Lack of
management commitment, Resistance of the workforce and
Deficiency of cultural dynamism.
construction projects is based on Customer satisfaction
followed by Stakeholders satisfaction, Competitive markets,
Management commitment and Client satisfaction.
Also the importance is given for test reports from suppliers
by the respondents and they believe on implementation of
quality management plan on site.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
The very strongly quality tool used at construction project is
check lists. The quality control measure used at site is quality
of workmanship in all activities. Very strongly respondent’s
responses as observe regular schedule for Quality management
during planning and designing phase of construction projects.
The Barriers to working of project team with respect to quality
is poor planning. Also respondents have very strongly given
importance to the customer satisfaction. As per opinion of
respondents implementation of quality management plan on
site is also important and also more importance is to be given
for test reports from suppliers instead of physical testing on
site.
The survey suggests that customer’s satisfaction is always
important provided that satisfaction of all other participants of
project is also important.
It also reveals that importance of total quality management
at construction projects.
After study of all above points the researcher reached the
following concluding remarks as below,
 Satisfaction of all stakeholders in the industry.
 Better understanding on quality control procedure.
 Satisfaction of Client.
 Suitable quality control method for the project.
 Development of the quality of strength in construction.
 Total Quality Management at construction projects.
REFERENCES
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[2] Abdul Rahim, A.H et al. (2004). Integration of Safety, Health,
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[6] Giles, R. 1997. ISO 9000 perspective for construction industry in the
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Dr. J. R. Patil Mrs. J. P. Patil

Guide (Head)
Department of Civil Engineering

Advances and Research in Civil Engineering and Technology - Construction Management 327
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