Quality Control

and Quality
Assurance

What is Quality ?
Inmanufacturing, ameasureof excellence or a state of being

freefromdefects,deficienciesandsignificantvariations. It is
brought about by strict andconsistentcommitmentto certain
standards thatachieveuniformityof aproductinorderto satisfy
specificcustomeroruserrequirements.
(http://www.businessdictionary.com )

the totality offeaturesandcharacteristicsof a product

thatbearsitsabilityto satisfy stated or impliedneeds.

(ISO 8402-1986)

orservice

Common Meanings of Quality

Quality

is fitness for use

Quality

is meeting customers
expectations

Quality

is exceeding the customers

expectations

Quality

is superiority to
competitors

Quality Control (QC)

- The standard(s) to which the construction or assembly of a
building component has been incorporated into the projects
design.

Quality control is concerned with the

operational activities and techniques that are
used to fulfill the requirements of quality.

The quality control process includes the

activities which ensure a high quality product.
These activities focus on identifying defects
in the actual product being produced.

Quality control functions start once the

project work has begun. Quality control is a
reactive approach and helps you find defects
in deliverables.

Quality Assurance
(QA)
- Is all those planned and systematic actions
necessary to provide adequate confidence
that an entity will fulfill requirements for
quality.

Quality assurance is a process based

approach whose prime objective is to prevent
defects in deliverables in the planning
process itself to avoid the rework, which costs
a lot.

Quality assurance is a proactive process, and

it starts at the very beginning of the project
to understand the products stated and nonstated requirements and expectations, and
then develop the plan to meet these
requirements and expectations.

Quality audit is an example of a quality

assurance process. Other examples of quality
assurance are training, process definition,

The Difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

QA

In quality assurance, you

plan to avoid the defect in
the first place.

On the other hand in quality

control, you try to find defects
and correct them while making
the product.

Quality control is all about

the detection.

QC

Quality assurance is all about

prevention.

Quality control is a product

based approach.

Quality assurance is a
process based approach.

Quality assurance involves

processes managing quality.

Quality control is used to

verify the quality of the
product.

The Difference between Quality Assurance and Quality

Control

QA

QC

Quality audit is an
example of quality
assurance.

Inspection and testing

are examples of the
quality control process.

The goal of the quality

assurance process is to
develop a process so
that defects do not arise
when you are producing
the product

Quality control identifies

the defects after the
product is produced but
is not yet released or is
still in the production
phase.

The Benefits of Quality Assurance and Quality Control

It gives you a high quality output.

It increases the efficiency of operations.

It brings customer satisfaction, which affects

your brand and helps you grow your
business.

If your product is of good quality, you will not

need much rework and there will not be much
after-sale support required. This will help you
save a lot of money.

A high level of confidence and a motivated

team.

Quality Begins
with Quality
Design

Quality Design
- It means the intentions of the designers
to include/ exclude features in a product
or service i.e. the degree to which the
quality characteristics are embedded into
the product/ service.

FMI/ CMAA Survey

The process of computer-assisted design has not only greatly

increased productivity but has also resulted in less attention to single
elements w/in the design process.

Owners, demanding compressed design time, compound the lack of

attention to details and problems associated with coordination issues.

Tremendous pressure on design fees leads to less experienced

individuals working on design details.

Mechanical and electrical subcontractors and their manufacturer

representatives often more aware of technological advances than
design engineers.

The advances in materials and systems make design more complex;

therefore, shop drawing s are more accurate in detail than the designs
created by the architect.

Total Quality
Management (TQM)
-

Encompasses elements that form the basis of a

company wide focus on quality- elements that
extend from the office to the field.

Elements of Total Quality

Management in Construction
Process
MANAGEME
NT
COMMITMEN
T &
LEADERSHIP
TRAINING

STATISTICA
L
METHODS

TEAMWORK

TOTAL QUALITY
MANAGEMENT

CUSTOMER
SERVICE

SUPPLIER
INVOLVEME
NT

COST OF
QUALITY
CONSTRUCTIO
N INDUSTRYSPECIFIC
FACTORS

Management Commitment & Leadership - TQM is a culture and

philosophy that must permeate an organization as the method of
management. It can thrive only under a senior management that
establishes TQM as a top priority. This commitment must be coupled
with a thorough understanding of TQM. Only if supported by this
commitment and understanding, can senior management lead the
company toward the realization of higher quality in its undertakings.

Training - There should be customized training plans for management,

engineers, technicians, home and field office staff, support personnel
and field labor.

Teamwork - TQM concept to the parties mentioned above in the form of

joint teams achieves higher customer satisfaction. These joint teams
are responsible for establishing joint goals, plans, and controls.

Statistical Method - provide problem-solving tools to the TQM process.

Cost of Quality - the primary tool for measuring quality. (Crosby, P. B., Cutting the

Cost of Quality. Farnsworth, Boston, 1967. ; Juran, J. M. (Ed.), Juran's Quality Control Handbook, 4th edn.
McGraw-Hill, New York, 1988. )

Supplier Involvement - The ability to produce a quality product largely

depends on the relationship among the parties involved in the process; the
supplier, the processor, and the customer.

Customer Service - Customers may be either internal or external. Satisfying

the needs of these customers is an essential part of the process of supplying
the final external customer with a quality product.

Construction Industry- Specific Factors

1. Quality of codes and standards - According to the ASCE manual, 2 the

primary
purpose of codes and standards is to protect the public's health and
safety.
2. Quality of drawings and specifications- Drawings and specifications are
the two
sets of documents given to the constructor that provide technical
information on
materials, performance of the constructed facility, and
quality requirements.
3. Constructability of design-the design professional must consider the

Benchmarking
- Is the procedure where a company seeks out and
studies the best practices in order to produce a
superior performance.

Forms of Benchmarking
Internal

Benchmarkinginvestigates the practices and

performance within the company.

External

Benchmarkingcompares the companys

practices and performance with
world-class performers.

External Competitive Benchmarking- is

comparison of companys activity with
direct competitors

External Industrial or Functional

Benchmarking- compares companys
functions with functions of other
companies.

External Generic Benchmarking- broadens

fields of application of benchmarking
process beyond the limits of specific
company and industry it belongs to.