A framework for building quality into construction projects - Part I

Marketplaces worldwide have become very competitive in most sectors, and companies have realised that a key area to ensure commercial success is good product quality. Several methods to help in this regard have emerged under the total quality management (TQM) umbrella. However, to date, associated research in the construction sector has received little attention by comparison to say, manufacturing. Some approaches that have been proposed for use in construction have limitations with regard to their applicability. In an attempt to bridge this gap, a new framework has been developed to help build quality into projects. It not only addresses the limitations of current approaches but also incorporates manufacturing improvement methods suited to construction projects. The resultant framework includes quality policy, product and service quality, the construction process, people and their culture and quality improvement methods. A set of guidelines for implementing the latter has also been developed.