A framework for building quality into construction projects

Marketplaces around the world have become very competitive in most sectors. Manufacturing companies, for instance, have realised that a key area to ensure commercial success is good product quality and 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. This project concerns the development of a new framework to ensure that quality is built into construction projects. Various approaches that have been proposed for use in the sector had limitations related with their applicability. The framework developed in this work addressed these as well as incorporating manufacturing improvement methods that were suited to construction projects (these methods were established from a postal survey carried out in the UK and in Mexico). The resultant framework incorporates quality policy, product and service quality, the construction process, people and their culture and quality improvement methods. A set of guidelines for the implementation of the latter was also developed. An evaluation in five construction companies verified that the framework was simple, easy to understand, systematic, well structured, practical and applicable t the construction sector. An empirical study at one of the five firms involving the design of a children's nursery, used the design stage of the framework. This exercise resulted in better communication with customers, a better understanding of customer needs and a list of their main requirements. Overall, the objectives set at the outset of this research have been achieved.