Ofori, G and Gang, G U (2001) ISO 9000 certification of Singapore construction enterprises: Its costs and benefits and its role in the development of the industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 8(2), pp. 145-157. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
The construction management literature discusses the benefits which companies derive from having their operations certified to the ISO 9000 series of quality management systems (QMS). In Singapore, quality has been a topical issue in the construction industry for the past decade. ISO 9000 certification, which has been a major part of the construction quality development programme, is now mandatory for large construction contracting and consultancy organizations wishing to register to undertake public-sector projects. This paper reports on a study on the role which ISO 9000 implementation plays in the quality development of Singapore's construction industry by ascertaining the perceptions, objectives, motivations and experiences (including benefits and problems) relating to quality in general, and to ISO 9000 certification and implementation in particular. A questionnaire-based survey of large construction companies was conducted. It was found that construction firms benefit from QMS certification, and face no significant problems with it. Recommendations are made for enhancing the benefits of ISO 9000 and ensuring that it has a positive long-term impact on the development of Singapore's construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | benefits; construction industry development; implementation; ISO 9000; motivations; Singapore |
| Index terms: | questionnaire, consultancy, construction quality, ISO, certification, face, programme, motivation, survey, construction company, construction firm, quality management system, implementation, construction industry, Singapore, construction industry development |
| Subjects: | quality assurance, administrative processes, industry analysis, project controls, development economics, Geography, project delivery, contractual arrangements, standards development, psychology, organization, data collection methods |
| Topics: | International Construction, Quality Management, Human Resources, Contract Administration, Time Control, Organizational Design, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Procurement |
| 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