The present development strategies throughout the world demands formal quality management system as a necessary attribute for any business. The main objective of quality management system is to make sure that the management system to be proficient
When talking about the history of evolution of standard administration systems; a large number of national standards were developed as a part of standard assurance in 1970s in the area of manufacturing, military and in industries. Later this was extended to service industries and professional organization.
But it was difficult to implement in the services that were granted by the construction professionals like the engineers, architects, quantity surveyors. As it is not related to a product that is obtained from a manufacturing unit.
In order to develop formal standard administration systems in construction industry, standard assurance and related are registered with certified bodies. They seek third party certification based on the ISO 9000 standard standards.
Among the ISO standards, the most relevant quality management system to be implemented in the case of a building professional is the ISO 9001. For contracting organizations, ISO 9002 is more relevant.
The quality management systems comprise the following standards.
1. ISO 9000 : This section gives the guidance to select and use the Quality administration and quality assurance standards
2. These stages include design, development, production, installing and the final service. ISO 9001 : This standard section helps in specifying quality assurance in different production stages.
3. ISO 9002 : This specifically deal with the standard assurance in the production and installation stage of the task.
ISO 9003 : Quality assurance in the final stage i.e. 4. the final inspection and testing stage is guided by the standard.
5. ISO 9004 : Quality administration and quality system elements is dealt by this standard. This form the last part of the ISO 9000 series.
The ISO 9000 standard helps in documenting standard procedures by providing accepted accounting principles.
Generally, the certification is given for two standard standards for a building organization. They are:
This certificate is provided for companies who carry out design activities as the major business operation. These companies carry out the design, development, production, installation and the final servicing.
These are offered for the companies that does not carry out design activities. This includes production and installation.
There are twenty different areas a company have to focus and pass in order to get certified as a ISO 9001 certified company.
To get a construction industry ISO certified, the following 20 requirements determined by the standard must satisfied:
A clear idea on the standard policy must be stated by the firm to the management. Well defined responsibilities and duties must be established on the staff members who are involved in the standard management.
The management must also make sure that for the verification of the performance activities, the resources and the personnel are available when needed.
The quality supervisor must be given the right and authority by top administration to bring up decision that will affect the quality of the services that is carried out within the organization.
The continuing suitability and the effectiveness of the organization is ensured by having periodic review of the quality system of the firm.
The quality system practiced and to be practiced must be documented in the organization. This help in ensuring that the services are carried out properly and consistently.
The documentation of the quality system includes the following:
This requirement forces the firm to make a project plan. This must undergo periodic project reviews which help in having service that accord with the client’s current contractual, administrative and the financial requirements.
This help in the service to be compatible, clearly defined and documented. Pre-planning of the service is made which ensures the adequate resources and the support.
The design services and other work taken by the firm includes:
Other areas of concern will include are in the:
An approved format of the standard system and the related documents must be presented. This will enable in:
These quality documents can be issues and made available for the staff members who are involved the quality management system. The documents that are obsolete will be removed immediately.
In situations, necessary for special work requirements, a firm shall maintain a register of specialist firm. Based on which personnel can be appointed based on the ability to offer the required service.
The documents relating to the subcontractors can have the details of such specialist firms. The document will include:
Details regarding the information given by the client, agents, and the consultants must be recorded by the firm. This include the instructions, drawings, specification, minutes of meetings, schedules etc.
A standardized system to identify, revise and control the undertaking documents must be maintained by the firm. The undertaking documents must be stored such that easy retrieval and traceability is possible.
The firm must make sure that the activities that conforms to the standard is done based on the documented work procedures that is implemented by the firm. For special activities, continuous monitoring must be carried out.
This is dealt with the documents that are offered by the other organizations. These documents must be verified as per the client supplied information. The work carried out by the firm must be verified at predetermined stages of the project
The inspection and the testing of the measuring machinery must be conducted in the sound condition. This must be done with utmost accuracy to ensure the standard in the service.
Inspection and the examination of the documents and the service that are offered must be done at every stage of the undertaking.
Those work that is non-conforming must be identified. Those document that do not comply with the requirements specifies have to be prevented.
Wherever a deficiency is identified there must be certain processes that have to be maintained by the firm to correct it. There must be a means to review any sort of non conformance “feedback” system in the construction organization.
The products that are outgoing must be properly addressed. They must show no chances to bring any damage.
The firm must have the following storage of:
The review of all the aspects of the quality system of the firm is done through periodic internal audits. This will show that the quality system is effectively used by the firm.
The firm must identify the need for training for the individuals who are working for quality working system. It is recommended that the professional staff must undertake a minimum training attendance for continuing professional development that is put forward by the firm.
The details of the staff qualification, training, and their experience have to be recorded.
All the services offered by the firm to the client must be documented.
Random sample techniques can be carried out for the standard control and monitoring of the activities. The standard level can be determined early through the sampling frequency.
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