Koch, C and Vogelius, P (2006) Evaluation of web and pda-based quality assurance system on a building site. In: Boyd, D (ed.) Proceedings of 22nd Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2006, Birmingham, UK.
Abstract
Quality assurance tends to dangerously balance between redundant externalized paperwork and real life problems in everyday processes of design and construction. This leads to too many failures and complaints from customers. This paper describes an evaluative study of the implementation and use of a new ICT system based on the use of Personalized Digital Assistants (PDAs) on the construction site supporting in-process quality assurance. In the pilot project we followed bricklayers using the PDAs while they where working at a line of bathrooms. The central idea of the PDA based system (developed by the small Danish company ETJEK) is to lift the standard quality procedures from the paper based platform to a real-time database with direct access. The evaluation shows that system in facts works, and the introduction on the workplace was smoother than could be expected. The perspective of the evaluation is that the PDA system not only enables in-process quality assurance, but also integration and data transfer between building workers , foremen, manager and the construction company. Hereby a smoother process a more efficient handling of errors and competence development amongst building worker is enabled
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | craftsmen; quality assurance; pda; software design |
| Index terms: | building site, database, complaint, bricklayer, construction site, competence, platform, construction company, quality assurance, design and construction, implementation, manager, craft worker, integration |
| Subjects: | conflict resolution, practitioner, organization, quality assurance, work location, organizational analysis, site and location studies, contractual arrangements, digital design, personnel development, data management |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Procurement, Geographical Context, Site Management, Quality Management, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here