Quality Management in Construction

Citation

Wynn, P. (2005), "Quality Management in Construction", Structural Survey, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 237-237. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2005.23.3.237.1

I have been searching for a suitable book describing the setting up and operation of quality systems to ISO 9001:2000. Most of the texts I have seen so far have been disappointing. They have usually been reworks of editions previously written for ISO 9001:1994 with little evidence that authors have appreciated the changed philosophy of the 2000 issue of the standard.

Thorpe and Sumner's third edition does not fall into that category. It is clear that the author's have fully understood and put across the standard's increased emphasis on customer focus and satisfaction together with its process approach.

They take a step‐by‐step approach to establishing a quality management system. They do not do this, as some authors do, by going through ISO9001 clause by clause. They suggest an action plan that starts with obtaining commitment of top management, a fundamental requirement of the 2000 version of the standard. They then enlarge on the key actions needed to establish the system, placing these in the context of a hypothetical, but realistic business organisation.

Perhaps the construction industry is more project‐oriented than most. A separate extensive chapter covers these, importantly starting at the tender stage and showing that their preparation is aided by the possession of an overall quality management system.

Guidance is given on audits, both internal and external, and management review. The approach used by the authors is not that of “getting through the audit” so much as how the whole quality management process enables the organisation to remain competitive.

A closing chapter looks forward to the future with the benefits of integrated management systems. Although the environmental management standard ISO14001 has been mentioned, I feel that greater emphasis could have been made of the parallels between the two standards and the fact that many organisations now have such integration. Whilst the authors have stressed the importance of the CDM Regulations throughout the book (possibly unfortunately to the extent that readers may gain the impression that there are no other legislative requirements to be satisfied), I am also surprised that no specific mention of ISO18001 has been made in this chapter.

Overall I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone seeking clear guidance to the philosophy of the current quality standard and its application to the construction industry.