Vital conditions for quality Vital conditions prerequisite to ensuring project quality are: - Profound knowledge and a deep understanding of agreements, contracts and procedures
- Observance of the order of importance of agreements, contracts, procedures, etc. These are ranked on the basis of the most important to the least important
- The applications of these principles in a proper manner (Van Roermund, NORDNET, 1997).
The implementation of these conditions occurs at various levels of management: Policy. Adherence to the internal and external influences and conditions that will affect the project Management. Meeting all the vital conditions Administration. Application of sound monitoring and control systems Execution. Maintenance of acceptable standards and conditions (Van Roermund, NORDNET, 1997). Quality will be successfully achieved only when the following aspects are also dealt with in the management process (Van Roermund, 1997; Humphreys, NORDNET, 1997): - Quality and effective leadership
- Internal and external reviews and auditing
- Quality education and training and effective support for team members.
Other conditions that need to be addressed regarding quality management in construction projects, both locally and abroad, are: - Accommodating different cultural preferences and protocols
- Achieving government investment objectives
- Building facilities fit for specific clients and according to the needs of specific communities
- Estimating project costs, which take cultural, technical, legal and climatic conditions into account
- Selecting equipment which is (locally) available (if possible)
- Applying available cost data with adjustment to suit specific projects, if necessary
- Taking account of local productivity statistics, weather conditions, religious and construction practices
- Management of risk, with specific reference to price and time schedules.
Furthermore: - Management with a view to quality is an integrated pro-active process
- Quality can be achieved only if the team adheres to a strategic approach in respect of the determinants and conditions influencing both quality and outcome
- The team must recognise its own shortcomings in respect of knowledge and skills and address these constraints.
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