The management and cost of quality for civil engineering projects

The terms quality cost and quality management are relatively new to the construction industry. Their successful use in manufacturing and other service industries has helped reduce quality related problems, improved customer-supplier relation and increased productivity and profitability. In this thesis the author describes an examination of the applicability of quality cost, especially the cost of non-conformance, to construction and the development of a practical method to capture this cost. The research also covered quality management and project management issues that influence and improve project quality. Two hypothetical case studies, using computer simulations, helped establish the use and effect of quality costs. Research of two real case studies focused on quality from the contractor's perspective and two others related more to design. Another case study related to the use of good management practices throughout a project. A questionnaire and interviews were used to validate issues raised from the case studies and preliminary investigations. The author also examines the need for quality management and how this should be implemented in the construction industry of a developing country by taking Malaysia as an example. Results of the investigations into quality cost indicate the applicability of a matrix developed to capture the cost of non-conformance and the effect of poor quality on project cost and time. Poor quality cost is found to be inevitable under current project environment but most of the nonconformances identified were found to be avoidable. The investigation into quality management issues reveals that while every aspect of a project affects quality there is an urgent need to address certain aspects of construction practices including: cooperation between all members of the project team, client's role and involvement, the use of good management practices throughout construction and the need to employ personnel committed to quality. More use of design-and-build or partnering is advocated (when applicable) to increase cooperation and to reduce conflict between construction and design stages. It is vital for a project team to improve and maintain a consistent quality management approach in order to remain competitive in the free market.