Quality management system deployment propose for contracting firms to implement medium/large scale construction projects

Turkish construction industry, with the projects that it developed, contracted and constructed, plays a key and leading role in the development of Turkish economy. Instead of its significant functions in Turkish economy, supported with their experiences gained in the global construction projects, Turkish construction industry don't approach to construction projects from the point of quality and efficiency. But at this century one of the key tools of construction project management and company management is to apply total quality approach at all functioning parts of an organization. Thanks to this approach; organizations response and reacts to owner's requirements in a manner that will also satisfy end user. For such reactions, construction contractors should clarify their way of doing business by procedures and plans, develop and improve their procedures in sustainable manner, open the communication channels between project particapants and get maximum benefit from their professionals with the help of quality oriented project managemet mind shaped within organization. Modern quality control activities in products and materials were started in 1900's in wordwide, progressed with usage of statistical data analysis and control. As of today, organizations consider quality as establishing mechanisms for systematic efficiency improvements within the companies' activities by also satisfying end user through providing reliable products at right time, right price by achieving company targets. For being successful in such way of quality considerations, organizations should focus on sustainable process improvements by establishing effective internal communication mechanisms, using statistical quality control tools, benefiting all time learning programs under the support and supervision of top management. In this master thesis, quality management system development methods proposed to be implemented on medium and large scale public or private construction projects. Through development of system offer, the complexity of construction project was also taken into account by considering the employer, contractor and sub-contractor involvement. Master thesis consists of six main chapters. In the first three chapter general literature survey conducted. In the fourth chapter quality in construction industry is investigated. At chapter five and six; quality management system develoment roadmap suggested and for sample activity detail quality plan formed. At first chapter quality related problems faced in construction industry investigated declared and the scope and purpose of thesis stated. In the second chapter overall literature about quality and its development history were being investigated. Throughout investigating the development stages of quality concepts, famous quality guru's were detected and their contributions to the quality consious society revealed. At third chapter total quality management and its fundamental concepts investigated. Based on this investigation, ISO 9000 series of quality management systems standards examined and differences between standards stated. At chapter four; main differences between a production line and construction project environment investigated. Quality in construction industry defined by considering complexity of construction projects and parties of construction contracts and those parties' interests. Importance of quality aware owner is stressed. Significant points that can create deviation from quality targets at design and construction phase detected and these deficiencies controlled by suggesting quality mechanisms. Most of the issues that can create deficiency can be controlled and diminished with the help of effective and applicable quality management systems. Variations within the basic system inputs such as project scope, target, design, technical requirements were considered and its effect on the quality management system were evaluated. Last but not least, at the end of this chapter based on general literature and experience of researcher; current practises and situation in the construction projects in terms of quality management reviewed and execution of construction quality controls on site examined. At chapter five, quality management system, which can be implemented in medium to large projects under public or private ownership, suggested for contracting firms, by considering total quality management practises, ISO 9000 series of quality maagement systems standards, standards of practise which was developed by Construction Management Association of America. Sample organizational structure is defined and quality responsibles are determined in the light of public works general requirements. System procedures defined for contractors and system implementation is defined on four phases of construction project as of preparation before bidding stage, after bidding before construction stage (submission of quality management procedures, material submissions, method statements, detail quality plans), construction stage (control of materials and end product) and taking-over stage. At this chapter based on sample organizational structure, conforming to Turkish contractors organizational structures, responsibility matrixes formed and flow of works through preparation, reviewing, internal and external approval and implementation of quality procedures, material submissions, method statements, product control and taking over practises., are schematized and explained. In the sixth chapter, detail quality plan is prepared for ceramic wall cladding and floor covering works. Details and technical requirements related with chosen activitiy, where activity code is 26.008/059A., is taken from the list of analyses and unit prices of activities that belongs to Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning. By this way, detail quality plan for ceramic wall cladding and floor covering work is explained, related documents, quality procedures and standards that need to be examined in conjuction with detail quality plan referenced, scope and purpose of detail quality plan clarified and materials, equipments and machines that will be used through construction is defined. Afterwards method of construction to do cladding and covering works stated, installation test plan prepared, sample quality control forms/inspection checklists prepared and risk assesment was made base on considering occupational health and safety and enviromental protection regulations. As a result; to prevent the occurence of quality related failures, that can create minor or major impact on owner, contractor, sub-contractor and end-user, total quality oriented quality management system developed and proposed. Only sustaining the quality of the all materials and end products shouldn't be considered from the total quality oriented proposal. Main target of developed approach is to provide error prevention mechanisms by describing construction related processes and assessing them for sustainable process improvements. Together with material and installation controls, education programs, upper management support and leadership in quality imlementations and incentive to increse efficiency of organizational processes are also taken into account through deploying proposal. For that purpose data and feedbacks collected from quality control activities with the help of quality control forms are considered the main source of sustained process improvement mechanism. Various, all time improvaeble procedures described and proposed to be prepared, controlled, submitted to owner and followed through application by organization's responsibles. Those procedures are as of stated here procedure of document preparation, procedure of contractor reviews, procedure of managing changes, procedure of worker education program, procedure of internal control mechanisms, procedure of controlling non-conformities and taking preventive actions, procedure of calibrating test equipment and measuring devices, procedure of protecting materials at site, procedure of material and construction control, procedure of temporary and final operational acceptance. Throughout deciding the procedures and describing them mainly ISO 9000 quality management systems requirements, total quality management princibles, regulatory procedures, for proper functioning of quality system with involvement of construction project's parties, construction processes related procedures described and proposed to be implemented by contracting firms. With the help of those procedures which are listed above many quality deficiency can be restricted and the effect of variables that exists at construction stages can be minimized to a level that will not effect project scope and goals. With the proposed system, organizations can reap lasting benefits from improved company image, proper described responsibilities, sustained communication and control channels between owner and contractor, efficiency reached in company processes, tight controlling of subcontractors, performance analysis of wokers… etc. For getting those benefits of quality management systems, it is very important to orient working staff's ideas with the new quality concepts and deploy functioning quality management system. Benefits of such organizational targets are in excess than the lack of having it. By this way Turkish contractors will describe all their operational procedures, develop them with the help of data collection and quality control observations and improve their organization's reputations and increase their competitiveness against their global rivals. Drastic mental shift about quality in construction industry will also protect end-users and provide homes that are in good quality and safe against natural disasters.