ACCRA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

(AIT)

JANUARY TRIMESTER

COURSE: PROJECT QUALITY MANAGEMENT

COURSE CODE: EMQM5103

COURSE ASSIGNMENT 1

BY: STEPHEN KOFI ASARE, MPM

Quality, according to project management institute is the degree to which a
set of inherent characteristics satisfy requirements. According to PMBOK
‘Project Quality Management includes the processes and activities of the
performing organization that determine quality policies, objectives, and
responsibilities so that the project will satisfy the needs for which it was
undertaken’.

Quality practice should be embraced in all organization irrespective of size.

Failure to comply with quality standard in an organization can be very
disastrous and tarnish the image of the organization. A customer who buys
an inferior good from a shop at a high cost and suffers the consequences
may vow not to visit the shop again and may spread the news to his/her
friends not to do likewise. Similarly, the retailer will also reconsider his/her
decision not to visit the production industry anymore but look elsewhere.
These will lead to lose of customers and even undermine the company’s
track record.

CONSAR Ltd is a construction company which executes both road and

building construction projects. The hierarchical structure of the company is
made up of the top management, middle level management and the lower
level management.

BOARD OF
DIRECTORS

MANAGING
DIRECTOR

HUMAN RESOURCE FINANCE PROJECT

PLANT MANGER MANAGER LEGAL ADVISOR
MANAGER MANAGER

PRODUCTION GENERAL PAYROLL,/ACCOU

ENGINEERS ADMINISTRATORS NT OFFICERS CIVIL ENGINEER MECH ENGINEER

PLANT OPERATOR LAND SURVEYOR PLANT FITTERS

QUANTITY
ARCHITECT
SURVEYOR.

CLERK OF WORK

ELECTRICAL
STRUCTURAL ENG.
ENGINEER

ELECTRICIANS
STEEL BENDERS

SAFETY AND
SITE ENGINEER QUALITY
INSPECTOR

LABORATORY
FOREMAN TECHNICIAN

TRADESMEN &
LABOURERS
The top management consists of the board of directors and managing
director who take strategic decisions and set the goals and visions for the
organization. The middle level management comprises of the plant
manager, project manager, human resource manager, finance manager and
the legal advisor. The lower level management consists of the management
with specific technical skills.
They include site engineers, structural engineers, architects, quantity
surveyors, civil engineers, production engineers, mechanical engineers and
electrical engineers.
Also, below the lower level management is the technical force which
consists of the foremen and their tradesmen. For example, electrician, steel
benders etc.

Ideally, everyone within the building team is responsible for project quality.
However, the project manager is the overall in charge of the project
including the laisoning and coordinating with other professionals. That is the
structural engineer, architect, site engineer, quantity surveyor, mechanical
engineer and laboratory engineer. The Project Manager is mainly in charge
of quality control to specification conformance and client satisfaction. He
plans and prepares the work schedule of the project and makes sure that
the project progresses according to the planned schedule in order to meet
the stipulated project completion period.

Conformance to specification is the top priority of CONSAR Ltd. since failure

in constructed facility can result in very huge cost. Even in minor defects, re-
construction or rework may be required and facility operation impaired.
Nonconformance to specification can lead to accident both during
construction and even after completion. The cost of rework and correction of
defects can not be over emphasized. Good Project manager try to
coordinate with all the building team professionals to ensure conformance to
specification.

Quality management begins during the preliminary stage of the project

where the project team identifies which standards or specifications are
relevant to the project and determine how to satisfy them. This is achieved
by studying and analyzing the contract document to familiar with the
contract drawings, bill of quantities, conditions of contract etc. which give
detailed information about the client’s specifications. The bill of quantities
(BOQ) gives the detail description of each work item together with
measurement and work quantities in a systematic and recognized manner.
The description specifies the method of construction and type of materials to
use. The contract drawings also give the general picture of work outlook and
materials and dimensions specifications. The condition of contract provides
details of all matters and clauses that affect the contract. These information
enable the project manager to identify work of special nature in order to
choose suppliers, subcontractors and other professionals. Also the BOQ
enables the project manager to plan for job and material scheduling from
the project inception to the completion.

In order to ensure conformance, materials or products brought to site for

construction are tested by the laboratory technician to verify its workability
by comparing the materials and products quality to the international
organization for standardization’s ISO 9000 requirements. ISO emphasizes
good documentation, quality goals and a series of cycles of planning
implementation and review. The laboratory engineer assesses the strength
of each work components through a series of tests such as steel tensile test,
concrete test (cube, slump etc), soil bearing capacity test etc. This is to
ensure that all components conform to the project’s regulations and
standards to avoid nonconformance and cost appraisal.

The project manager achieve quality by coordinating and monitoring the

activities of the various work section supervisors like the electrical engineer,
mechanical engineer, structural engineer etc.
The work section supervisors interpret the details of the drawings and the
bill of quantities which offer enough information on the client’s requirements
to their subordinates who are directly responsible for work execution.
Subordinates understanding of the work details and specifications lesson the
supervisory role of the supervisors and also motivate artisans to work
according to specifications with confidence.

However, the foremen of each work section keep a close look at work
progress and give early advice on any anticipated defect. They also make
sure that, the work progresses strictly to meet the drawing’s specification
and do not allow room for any assumptions. This prevents defects and
rework which exerts a lot cost pressure on project.

Generally, each work section supervisors are responsible for ensuring

specification conformance to ensure prevention of defects and reworks.
Therefore, supervisors go all out to make ensure that the work being done
conforms to specifications.

Also, the site engineer and the quality and safety inspector, usually acts as
an internal quality inspector who inspect the various work sections of the
project to ensure that the work progress conform to specifications and meet
the ISO standard. During the inspection, any observations on
nonconformances are recorded and advised for early correction before the
project continues.
Periodic training and refresher courses are organized for both management
and the production crew to broaden their knowledge on the new methods
and skills of management and production. This ensures continuous quality
control and improvement.

Finally, the project manager prevents nonconformance and cost appraisal

through effective supervision, accurate definition of responsibilities and
effective quality management plans i.e. quality planning, quality control and
quality assurance, which monitor and control the project cycle.