Staples, C and Spillane, J (2019) Exploring the potential improvement of quality control in the construction industry with the use of digital technology. In: Gorse, C and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 35th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2019, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
The construction industry has traditionally relied on paper to manage quality records, which has resulted in data analysis being challenging. To overcome this issue, the industry has started deploying digital-collaboration and field-mobility solutions.This research was aimed at critiquing the application of digital technologies for the potential improvement of quality management in the construction phase of civil engineering projects.To address the aim, two objectives emerged. The first was reviewing digital technologies that were available for use in quality control that could assist in the reduction of defects. The second was seeking the viewpoint from construction professionals to develop a quality management framework employing the most applicable digital technologies.In support of the objectives, a qualitative research approach involved multiple sources of data collection, gained from literature and interviews. Participants in the interviews included digital engineering specialists, designers, main contractors and subcontractors. The data accumulated was analysed from both the answers to direct questions and by coding to provide a quality management framework of the most applicable technologies.The key findings showed that implementation of digital engineering for quality assurance was at an early stage of development. Applicable digital quality applications were identified as electronic document management systems, personal digital assistants, building information modelling (BIM), mobile construction application products (apps), clash mitigation using BIM, real time performance information, point clouds of as-built construction, three-dimensional vision on mobile phones and barcodes.Implications for practice indicated that training, visible use of digital technologies on site and the provision of an effective common data environment were paramount in instigating digital applications. Also, academia could assist in providing this common data environment. Once the appropriate technologies, readily available from vendors, were appreciated by company management, the most significant outcome was company willingness at director level for the adoption of digital engineering.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | digital technology; information management; information technology; quality; total quality management |
| Index terms: | appropriate technology, subcontractor, information technology, digital technology, construction phase, quality control, implementation, quality management, construction industry, common data environment, academia, mitigation, collaboration, construction professional, qualitative research, real time, quality assurance, designer, point cloud, data analysis, management system, mobility, building information modelling, interview, total quality management, main contractor |
| Subjects: | educational institutions, project controls, information systems, quality assurance, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, management, professional development, financial risk, digital design, project delivery, evaluation methods, contractual arrangements, data analysis and analytics, research design and methodology, technological development, data collection methods, profession, computing systems, practitioner |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Education, Time Control, Quality Management, Urban Studies, Digital Applications, Procurement, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Project Management, Research Practice, Information Management, Cost Management |
| 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