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 non-stated requirements and expectations, and then
develop the plan to meet these requirements and expectations.
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Quality audit is an example of a quality assurance process. Other examples of quality
assurance are training, process definition, selection of tools, etc.

The Difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

QA
In quality assurance, you plan to avoid
the defect in the first place.
Quality assurance is all about
prevention.
Quality assurance is a process based
approach.
Quality assurance involves processes
managing quality.
Quality audit is an example of quality
assurance
The goal of the quality assurance
process is to develop a process so that
defects do not arise when you are
producing the product
QC
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.
Quality control is a product based
approach.
Quality control is used to verify the
quality of the product.
Inspection and testing are examples of
the quality control process.
Quality control identifies the defects
after the product is produced but is not
yet released or is still in the production
phase

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.
Total Quality Management (TQM)
Encompasses elements that form the basis of a companywide focus on quality-
elements that extend from the office to the field.

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Elements of Total Quality Management in Construction Process

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. )

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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, 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
requirements of the constructor. The project must be constructible by those
retained to build the project.
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 Benchmarking- investigates the practices and performance within the company.
External Benchmarking- compares 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.
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