| dc.description.abstract | "Quality is never an accident, it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort,
intelligent direction and skillful execution. It represents the vvise choice of many
alternatives. " -- Willa Foster
Changing client demands, increased general awareness and increasing globalisation
have seen a gradual change in the way building products are perceived. The processes
involved in delivering these building products have also come under scrutiny with a view
to meet the new and changing demands of a more demanding and informed society in a
rapidly developing technological time.
This study focuses on the application of quality management systems to the design
process of delivering built products in Kenya. Previous studies have focussed on the
building stage and this study seeks to examine the awareness of quality management
systems during the design processes, investigate the extent of use of such quality
management systems at this stage and seeks to identify the barriers to the implementation
of quality management systems during design. While this is not a guarantee of eventual
quality built products, it is premised that this enhances the chances of the same being
accomplished. This study is undertaken with a view to recommend strategies of
enhancing the knowledge and implementation of quality management systems during the
design process of construction.
The study bases its theoretical framework on quality concepts as utilized in the
manufacturing sector. It examines the evolution of quality management through various
stages and as postulated by various pundits over time. An understanding of the
construction industry- its uniqueness and difference as compared to manufacturing is
sought and application of quality management systems at various stages of delivery of the
built product in particular, during the design process, is also examined giving an
indication of the challenges posed therein.
Data was collected from architects who are the main design consultants during the
design process through questionnaires and from key informants who included an engineer
and a client through interviews. The analysed data indicates that there is a general
understanding of quality as a concept and there is a perceived need of sorne forrn of
quality management systems during the design process. further analysis indicates that
despite the affirmation of the need of quality management, quality management systems
are barely used in the design process mainly due to lack of knowledge of the same and
when this knowledge exists, an improper understanding of the implementation of quality
management systems during the design process. This is attributed to the rudimentary
understanding of quality management systems which are geared towards inspection of the
product being built rather than inbuilt quality and relegated to the contractors as the
building entity instead of being the responsibility of all building participants as postulated
in the theory of Total Quality Management.
The study concludes with the recommendation of a shift in attitude and culture of
quality management amongst architects through the training of quality management
systems and the application during the design process along the principle of building in
quality and involvement of all stakeholders in the pursuit of a quality built end product.
This training will hopefully facilitate proper understanding of quality management | en_US |
