Delgado-Hernández, D J (2005) A framework for building quality into construction projects. PhD thesis, University of Birmingham, UK.
Abstract
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.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | improvement; quality management; service quality; total quality management; Mexico |
| Index terms: | total quality management, construction company, Mexico, survey, design stage, service quality, construction process, construction project, construction sector, exercise, quality improvement, children, product quality, empirical study, implementation, quality management |
| Subjects: | building construction, demography, quality assurance, industry analysis, research methods, performance measurement, production management, Geography, project delivery, evaluation methods, professional practice, contractual arrangements, organization, data collection methods, health behaviours and lifestyles |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Project Management, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Procurement, Urban Studies, Design Practice, Site Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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