Quality in Construction Industry -Objectives, Factors Affecting Quality
Gopal Mishra
Reading time: 1 minute
Quality in construction industry can be defined as the attainment of acceptable levels of performance from construction activities. This performance would be attained when the activity meets or exceeds the requirement of the client or the owner. The quality of any product or service is achieved when it conforms to the desired specifications.
Achieving quality in construction industry in long run is a tough issue and has been a problem. Inefficient or no practice of quality management procedures will result in great loss of time, money, material, resources.
For example, in construction site, the designer would specify a particular grade of concrete. The contractor will use the ingredients of the concrete such that the desired grade of concrete is obtained.
Objective of Quality in Construction
The quality in construction relates to the following objectives
Satisfaction of Contract Specifications
Completion of Project within Time
Enhancing Customer/ Owner Satisfaction
Motivation and Empowerment of Employees
Avoiding Disputes and Claims
Performance based on Purpose
The Quality schemes will carry out the studies for
Selection of types of material and methods to be included in design,
Ensure design in accordance with all applicable codes and regulation
Control construction on the project based on standards and contracts
The method chosen will vary from the automated documented through computer to statistical quality control in the field.
Read Article: Check Quality in Concrete Construction
Quality Assurance(QA) in Construction
Quality assurance are certain schemes that is implemented in construction in order to maintain the standard or the quality of the work in a consistent manner. Quality assurance forms the integral management system in a construction company.
The companies generally will have a quality assurance chart that will specify various checks at different levels. In general, a quality assurance plan will involve the following:
Training Programs for Workers and Employees
Efficient Safety Programme
Effective Procurement system to obtain quality resources and suppliers
Reward scheme for innovative works
A competitive career progress scheme
Quality Control(QC) in Construction
Quality control in construction involves periodic inspection of the construction activities and facilities in order to meet the desired standardisation as per the contract. Quality Control is undergone by the team of QC engineers or special trained teams.
For example, the quality control for compaction work conducted for highway project is performed by measuring the soil density. Slump test helps in determining the workability of the concrete.
Quality assurance forms a scheme for good management of construction activities while quality control undergoes inspection or sampling processes.
Quality control focuses on:
Setting and Practicing specific standard for construction
Determining the deviations from the standards
Bringing and taking corrective measures to reduce variation
Standard Improvement with time
Elements of Quality
The basic element of quality in construction is
Quality characteristics
Quality of design
Quality of conformance
1. Quality Characteristics
A quality characteristic is related to the parameters with respect to which quality – control processes are judged. Quality characteristic includes strength, colors, texture, dimension, height etc. Example in compressive strength of concrete, usability of concrete in slump, etc.
2. Quality of design
It refers to the quality with which the design is carried out. It primarily related to meeting the requirement of the standard, functionally efficient system and economical maintainable system.
3.Quality of conformance
 It is referred to the degree to which the constructed facility conformed the design and specification. Quality of conformance is affected by field construction methodology and Inspection
Factors Affecting Construction Project Quality
The quality of construction project is influenced by various factors which are mentioned below:
1. Project Requirements
Quality of any construction project is meeting the respective project requirements. This will satisfy the designer’s requirements, the constructors & the owner’s requirements. Below figure-1 shows the basic project requirements.
Fig.1.Project Requirements - Factors Affecting Quality in Construction
2. Construction Organisation
Based on different studies considered it is concluded that the commitment and the leadership criteria of an construction organisation will affect the quality of the project. There is decline in construction productivity, if the management practices are poor.
3. Quality Teams
A structured environment is provided by having quality teams for the project. Practices are implemented structurally and continuously with regular quality checks. Quality teams will have structural engineers, environmental engineers, electrical, civil engineers, architects and owners to bring quality goals.
4. Participation of Team Members
The participation of the quality team members are not only important in the planning stage but also during the construction phase of the project.