The importance of quality assurance procedures : a case study

Abstract

As structural engineers, a strong commitment is undertaken towards predicting the behaviour that the designed structure will be subjected to. The materials or elements used in a construction project, as well as their assembly and delivery, are crucial to all parties involved, regardless of project size. This study seeks to shed light on how quality compliance is managed in the local building sector. Using data collected through contractors within a local construction organisation, a comparative analysis was carried out with an outcome to examine the standards being used internally to their procedures against industry standards. Data demonstrated that when compared to ISO standards, management processes, as well as assessments, may be used to enhance an organisation’s quality management system (QMS). A case study approach was adopted in this research where both primary and secondary data were utilised. Results showed that the effectiveness of a project is impacted when QMS procedures are ignored. Furthermore, poor workmanship and negligence were found to be the number one driver of this ineffectiveness. The study’s findings advocate creating confidence in the sector in order to promote and encourage organisations to perform construction inspections. Analysis of the works alongside estimates in scheduling and financial cost control are also made available in this study to give an insight into how quality conformance might help firstly, the organisation conducting the site work and most importantly the industry to enhance the entire quality assurance cycle.