Monday 6 September 2010

Some Main Factors Affecting Quality of Construction Projects: A Case Study of Expanding Phase III Port – Petroleum Technical Service Base in Vung Tau

In recent years, Vietnam have been investing and constructing many big projects by many different sources of capital: national budget, ODA, public private capital. However, we have to admit the fact that there have been some of those projects received rather much claims or comments from public. On the other hand, some of construction works have had disadvantages and is unsuitable to current demands. In circumstances, the schedules of those projects are always the question mark for users.

Those above problems shown us the fact that the Quality issue has not been cared properly by Viet Nam Project Management teams. What are the main factors affecting Project Quality and how influencing in each phase of project life cycle?

A successful project begins with the owner (or the official representative of the owner). The broad responsibilities of the owner to achieve a quality construction projects include two main factors. The first is the development of complete and realistic requirements and objectives for the project. The second factor is to provide a thorough understanding to other team members of the objectives, expectations, role and responsibilities of the owner.
The owner is substantially responsible for the quality and success of any constructed project.

The key to fulfilling an owner’s objectives and expectation is being known and understood what they are. Objectives are likely to be easily understood and quantifiable. On the other hand, expectation, though very important to the owner, may be abstract and difficult to understand.

By analyzing the framework of Project Quality Management in its life-cycle, Mr. Pham Xuan Thinh, the author, tried to raise out some main factors affecting the Quality of a construction project.

Based on that framework, he dissected the Quality management of a specific constructed project named: “Expanding Phase Iii Port – Petroleum Technical Service Base in Vung Tau, Vietnam” and specified the issues which have impacts on conformance to quality requirements. The final objective of his study is to find out the best solution of each issue and recommend to relevant subjects in some similar projects.

Conclusion

As discussed, quality in construction is directly related to time and cost, and vice-versa. A poor quality managed project can result in extra cost and time extensions, a poor time and cost controlled project can affect the conformance of requirements. Therefore, it is vital to understand the client’s requirements in terms of cost, quality and time.

Management has to be aware of customer requirements and be responsible for creating the right environment for a stewarded and progressive improvement. It also has to produce realistic estimates that match these requirements.

In Viet Nam, the project managers completely have awareness of the importance of Quality management and its efficiency for success of the project. However, they find difficulties to conform factors: cost, time, quality with Client’s requirements.

Recommendations

Mr. Pham found out that the reasons below have to be changed and improve drastically if the company would like to have a good project management:

• Lack of Communication.
• Responsibilities are not assigned clearly enough to all members: client, design professional, consultancy, project manager, and constructor.
• Cost estimate in national norm is not appropriate with actual case.
• Complex legal procedures.

His thesis abstract is copied and posted.

Abstract

The concepts and practices of Quality management in construction industry have been used and applied widely in Viet Nam also for long time ago. But how can apply sufficiently in managing Viet Nam construction projects still have some issues for discussion.

In the industrialization, modernization and global integration and in particular construction industry, Vietnamese authority agencies and project management teams have been finding out the best solution to execute projects efficiently. So far, we have had many definitions of project quality management, ways of understanding as well as applying it into each real case.

Look at some recent construction projects and some initial achievements we have obtained, Project Quality management has been promoting considerably. However, we have to continue improving and adjusting to modern management model. To do that task, the project team has to know and understand The Factors influencing Quality of Construction projects and what are consequences and how to solve?

2 comments:

Barton Wilson said...

It’s good to hear how Mr. Pham mainly focuses on the quality of the construction. This is really important, because the construction industry can be quite challenging. The quality assessment doesn’t only end with the product itself, it can reach as far as affecting the stakeholders as well.

Barton Wilson @ International Standards Authority, Inc.

Zab said...

This is something that I want to study further. Thanks for giving this idea.
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