Landin, A (2000) ISO 9001 within the Swedish construction sector. Construction Management and Economics, 18(5), pp. 509-518. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
This study analysed how the ISO 9000 framework could be employed in the construction process. Interviews were conducted at twelve companies in Sweden that utilized the quality system standard ISO 9001. Many of the concepts contained in the quality system standard were experienced as being too abstract and too difficult to comprehend. Frequently quality mangement was considered as serving the function of improving the company's competitiveness and allowing the company to be more efficient. It appeared difficult, however, in view of the many stages the construction process encompasses and the diverging interests represented, to meet the needs of the construction sector by the use of ISO 9001 alone. Some of the paragraphs it contains also tended to be confused with one another and to be misinterpreted. Others, although useful elsewhere, appeared scarcely to find application in the construction sector. Developments in the area appear to be going in the direction away from using large bureaucratic inspection systems and quality handbooks aimed at impressing customers and towards employing more diversified systems. Certification was found to be a matter of concern to all of the companies investigated.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | certification; construction; iso 9000; quality management |
| Index terms: | quality management, competitiveness, Sweden, inspection, construction sector, construction process, certification, ISO, interview |
| Subjects: | Geography, market analysis, building construction, industry analysis, administrative processes, quality assurance, data collection methods, standards development |
| Topics: | Site Management, Contract Administration, Quality Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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