An Appraisal Of Quality Assurance Methods Used In Construction Industry And Its Effect On Project Outcomes/Deliverable

ABSTRACT

The aim of every client at the beginning of any project is to have at the end of the day a quality structure delivered on time and within budget. However, researches have shown that in most cases this aim is not met. The aim of the study that formed the basis for this paper was to identify and assess procurement methods in use in the Nigerian construction industry and identify the factors that affect the choice of the variants under the traditional and the non-conventional procurement methods. Data were collected using well-structured questionnaires administered to professionals in Lagos metropolis. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study reveals that the variants of traditional method of contract procurement are the most adopted in project execution in Nigeria. In making choice of procurement method, the study reveals that project completion at estimated time ranks as the highest factor considered for traditional method, while quality assurance ranks highest with non-conventional method.

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

ABBREVIATION

CHAPTER ONE

1.0      INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.2    PROBLEM STATEMENT

1.3    AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1.4   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

1.5    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.6    LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• DEFINITION OF QUALITY
• WHAT IS QUALITY ASSURANCE?
• PRACTICES OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT
• MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT IN QUALITY MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION
• PROBLEMS IN QUALITY MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION
• PURPOSE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE
• HOW TO IMPLEMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE
• IMPORTANCE OF USING QUALITY ASSURANCE IN DESIGN
• BENEFITS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE TO CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES

CHAPTER THREE

3.0      METHODOLOGY

3.1      INTRODUCTION

3.2      RESEARCH DESIGN

3.3      DATA TYPE AND SOURCES

3.4      SAMPLE AND SAMPLE TECHNIQUES

3.5        DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT

3.6        DATA ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1     `RESULT

CHAPTER FIVE

• CONCLUSION
• LIMITATIONS
• SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

1.1                                           BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The concept of quality assurance management is to ensure efforts to achieve the required level of quality for the product which are well planned and organized. From the perspective of a construction company, quality management in construction projects should mean maintaining the quality of construction works at the required standard so as to obtain customers’ satisfaction that would bring long term competitiveness and business survival for the companies (Tan & Abdul-Rahman, 2015). Quality assurance is critically required for a construction company to sustain in current construction market which is highly challenging and competitive. Harris and McCaffer (2011) explained that quality assurance has to provide the environment within which related tools, techniques and procedures can be deployed effectively leading to operational success for a company. The role of quality assurance for a construction company is not an isolated activity, but intertwined with all the operational and managerial processes of the company.

The main aim of this research is to let readers know how useful quality assurance is and its benefit to the community. To guide construction industries on how they can assure quality in their constructions and also how building industry to can achieve minimum loses and avoid risk on site. Furthermore, to also let contractors satisfy the need of their clients.

1.2                                                  PROBLEM STATEMENT

Statistics has revered that lot of problems facing construction work is due to the fact that, Quality is not assured in construction. In my point of view, quality assurance can be done if we avoid all the following problems:

Quality Assurance is one of the major areas in construction in which much attention must be drawn into. As a result of this, it is my duty to figure out how quality can be assured in the construction industry. Generally speaking, there has been complains, delay and financial losses in construction companies due to lack of quality in the construction industry.

Again, if a project lacks quality assurance, the consequences of a time overrun are always serious and hard to resolve. It also distracts a project from meeting deadlines and this brings financial losses to the users and, more often than not, it has a negative impact on the profitability of the project for the promoters.

Besides the above mentioned problems, lack of quality assurance in construction is causing litigation among architects, engineers, subcontractors and material supplies since each party is blaming each other for the problems at the building site.

As a matter of fact, the positive feeling and understanding of enjoying the beauty of a house is to give a full comfort and safety of the client but due to lack of quality assurance in construction, this comfort cannot be fulfilled. In addition to this, my argument will be basing on quality assurance in design and project scrutiny.

Poor coordination of subcontractor’s work, unable to supervise and verification on site, lack of communication among architects, engineer, subcontractors and material supplies, uncertain instructions and unqualified operators and also misinterpretation of drawings and specification.

As a matter of fact these problems can cause frequent delay in project, financial loss in companies and loss of confidence in contractors as result of inefficient quality assurance.

The main motive behind this research is to produce a reliable source to identify the need for Quality Assurance in Design (Construction).

1.3                     AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this study is to access the quality assurance methods used in construction industry and its effect on project outcomes. The objectives are:

1. To identity methods of ensuring quality designs in building industries.
2. To let readers know how useful quality assurance is and its benefit to the community.

• To guide construction industries on how they can assure quality in their constructions and also how building industry to can achieve minimum loses and avoid risk on site. Furthermore, to also let contractors satisfy the need of their clients.

1.4                             SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will serve as a medium for construction industry could improve upon its performance. Besides, since construction work is team work and all members need to contribute to its effectiveness and quality of the construction, therefore this will allow the members of the project team to identify the main objectives of quality in a project.

Also, to establish techniques for modeling the relationships between the project environments, objectives, control systems and feedback in the construction process.

Finally, to make recommendations to clients of the construction industry and their advisers and about how to make sure projects are quality controlled and assured.

1.5                                                  RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. How can quality be assured in design?
2. Is problems affecting construction industry as a result of lack of quality assurance?

• What are the factors affecting the quality of construction?

1. What are some strategies for building quality into projects?
2. Why quality management systems are important for construction projects?

 

1.6                               LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This research will be limited within the information gathered on the internet, general observation and existing information from the researchers and will provide answers to the questions in the problem formulation.