BASIC QUALITY CONCEPTS

The basic concept of Quality Assurance and Quality Management is to be encourage the individual operator to be responsible for their own work.

GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME so that there is no need for an inspector or supervisor to check all work and identify errors or oversights.

QUALITY TERMINOLOGYQuality: Fitness for a purpose

Reliability: How well a product or service is given, even under adverse conditions.

Maintainability: The speed and quality of replacement when necessary.

Supplier: A person/s giving reliable, guaranteed service and/or products.

Customer: a) Internal:- The person who receives your work next.

b) External:- The person who buys the goods or service you produce.

QUALITY TERMINOLOGY

Quality Policy:

The overall quality intentions and directions of an organisation as regards quality, as formally expressed by top management.

This means that the people in charge of the business will decide what the organisation will aim to do about quality. This will ensure that the organisation can operate with an assurance of quality.

QUALITY TERMINOLOGY

Quality Management:

The aspect of the overall management function that determines and implements the quality process.

This means that the people who are concerned with the day to day running of the organisation will put in place a quality system that will achieve the aims of the quality policy.

QUALITY TERMINOLOGY

Quality System:

The organisational structure, responsibilities, procedures, processes and resources for implementing quality management.

Quality Control:

The operational techniques and activities that are used to fulfil requirements for quality.

This is the checks and measures to determine whether the quality system is working and that the standards of quality are being met.

Quality Assurance:

All those planned and systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that a product or service will satisfy given requirements for quality.

Once all the decisions, systems and checks are proven to be sound, as assurance can be given to customers that products and services of the organisation are up to a level of quality.

QUALITY TERMINOLOGY

QUALITY COSTS AND BENIFITS

Costs of Quality:

The cost associated with quality assurance in building and construction are usually related to materials and labour.

Materials:

Materials manufactured to a high standard, which may be subject to a manufacturer’s quality assurance usually, cost more than materials not associated with quality assurance.

QUALITY COSTS AND BENIFITS

Labour:

Skilled labour with a minimum degree of supervision will cost more than unskilled labour with a high level of supervision. However, the benefits of timely completion and the good will associated with a quality project will be enjoyed long after the completion of the project.

COST BENEFITS DURING CONSTRUCTION

Reduction in the replacement of faulty materials or wrongly constructed work.

Elimination of labour to remove and replace poor quality work.

Decline in site overheads associated with delays in construction.

No dispute with clients adding to the costs of the building in the form of delayed payments.

Cost on borrowed money minimised due to the prompt payment by satisfied clients.

COST BENEFITS AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

Increased goodwill affecting follow-on business

Reduced maintenance costs, labour and materials.

No legal costs arising from disputes.

No withheld final payments.

BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN WORK

Tradespersons and sub-contractors must take responsibility for their own work. This is a basic concept of quality assurance and quality control.

Areas of Responsibility Include:

Performing to State Tolerances.

Correct use and application of Materials and Products.

Complying with Statutory requirements.

Maintaining schedules and timetables.

Prevention of damage to work done by others.

Ensuring safe work practices are observed.