Quality Management System For Supervising Consultants For Managing Performance Of Highway Contractors In Vietnam

Construction quality is a critical factor in determining project acceptance and resultant contractual payment levels. Participants in the construction industry have become notably conscious of the role of quality as an essential means to achieve client satisfaction and gain a competitive advantage. Acceptable quality levels in construction have long been a problem to attain on time and within budget in a highly dynamic, complex, and competitive environment. With inefficient or nonexistent quality management procedures, significant expenditures of time, money, and resources are wasted on construction projects (Rounds and Chi, 1985).

Over the past several years, the construction industry has expanded very fast in Vietnam. The construction industry mainly focuses on profit. Due to intensive competition, customer’s requirements are overlooked. It is crucial to the industry to attend to quality and service ability. An example is the 2007 Can Tho bridge disaster. It is not only the responsibility of the participants but of the industry as a whole. No matter what the scope of projects, they have to take people into account because construction is for utilization by people.

Mr. Lu Dinh Vu made a case study which main objective is to develop a QMS framework for supervising consultants that can be effectively used to manage the performance of highway contractors in vietnam. In his study, he investigated the construction methods associated with quality control. The quality control framework was prepared based on the vietnamese standard and regulation. This contributes to compiling important standards and regulations directly affecting quality control in construction. In addition, his case study also analyzed the communication process of managing quality which showed the relationship and duties of the participants in the construction project. Each participant in the project has different roles, but the same objective towards construction quality.

Mr. Vu’s findings regarding the problems on implementing quality on project and its solution can be seen on the table below.

His thesis abstract is copied and posted.

ABSTRACT

The study discusses the quality management system of the consultant supervision function as implemented in highway construction projects. This function is shown as an interconnected system that recognizes the main quality system management activities. Documents and records used in these activities are also reviewed. A model for high quality system management is defined, including supervising consultants and contractors.

The model depicts the quality management system responsibilities and roles in a scheme relating construction quality control, quality assurance, and the interface between them. The scheme can be applied to any construction domain and quality management organizational structure. The study advances the understanding of how quality management is performed and engages participants at several management levels.

The main objective of this study is to develop a quality management system framework for supervising consultants that can be effectively used to manage the performance of highway contractors in vietnam.

An exploratory approach by reviewing the available literature to develop a QMS framework for supervising consultants and test the applicability and effectiveness of this QMS framework in a real case study project. The case study project aims to answer following questions:
- Is the QMS framework applicable?
- Is the QMS framework effective?
- What are the problems and obstacles in implementing the QMS framework?

For the QMS framework to work effectively the role of the supervising consultant is very important, QMS framework must be implemented on a step by step basis, including inputàprocessàoutput.

- In case study, the major highway construction works have been presented. They are guidelines for contractors who implemented them to achieve construction quality.
- A case study has been conducted to investigate the building methods associated with quality control. The quality control framework as presented in the report was prepared based on the vietnamese standards and regulations. This contributes to compiling important standards and regulations directly affecting quality control in construction.

Corporate Social Responsibility in Real Estate Construction: A Case Study Of Preuksa Real Estate Public Company Limited

In the past, developer companies usually engaged on CSR depending on management priorities or market drivers such as laws and regulations, and stakeholders. They always make their own strategic choices regarding how they want their image to be in the market. Even though companies know how to develop CSR, they will still face problems such as when should companies be considered as being a socially responsible business, how to put CSR concept into practice, and when should CSR questions be raised, companies are not ready to answer and often lack of information and knowledge (Panapanaan, 2006).

It shows that although companies know their goal and how to promote CSR, it is still difficult to succeed on CSR effects. One of the most important things that can lead companies to fail on their business achievements is how company’s mission, vision, and strategy apply in practice level. These can cause companies to face problem on both internal and external companies caused by owner or director’s decision making.

In order to overcome these problems, Mr. Jirachai Thaewthiang made a study that focused on developing the information for Developer Company to succeed their goals on CSR. His objectives are to (1) determine how developer company succeeds in real estate construction with Corporate Social Responsibility; (2) identify mechanisms and problems faced when developer company conduct business with Corporate Social Responsibility; and (3) propose recommendations to improve the implemented Corporate Social Responsibility.
He found out that generally, the developer company’s objectives are to construct and sell projects to customers. Evidently, this type of business dealing with real estates and construction projects in Thailand is in a highly competitive market and rivalries.

Therefore, there should be some mechanisms that can ensure or, at least, promote the successful housing business. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a tool that many succeeded developer companies employ in their business conduct. Preuksa Real Estate Public Company Limited applies this concept and prospers in its business.

In Mr. Thaewthiang’s study, he discussed on how company conduct its business on CSR. Five CSR areas are mainly focused for its long term succeeds: customer, community, employee/worker, environmental and subcontractor/supplier area. However, customer area is still the major target area that company focuses for CSR involvement according to market target. Yearly budget generally allocates from yearly target sell for CSR activities. This is the main key that easily brings company conduct business on CSR. Although there is high investment, it can improve company image and value for long term succeed. Finally, there are four easy steps to improve on CSR involvement through these improvement factors: understanding, identification, development, and integration. These steps can easily understand and conduct business on CSR and also how to involve step by step.

His thesis abstract is copied and posted.

ABSTRACT

Generally, the developer company’s objectives are to construct and sell projects to customers. Evidently, this type of business dealing with real estates and construction projects in Thailand is in a highly competitive market and rivalries. Therefore, there should be some mechanisms that can ensure or, at least, promote the successful housing business. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a tool that many succeeded developer companies employ in their business conduct. Preuksa Real Estate Public Company Limited, for instance, applies this concept and prospers in its business. Accordingly, this study investigates and observes how this particular company implements its CSR in the current project site as well as in its administration.

The purpose of this study is to: 1) determine how developer company succeeds in real estate construction with CSR, 2) to identify mechanisms and problems faced when developer company conduct business with CSR, and 3) to propose recommendations to improve the implemented CSR.

The data was collected in all levels from the top to the bottom levels, which comprise everything from the mission statement to the public interaction of the selected companies by interview, observation, and documentation on how it conducts housing business using CSR. This study’s findings are discussed and analyzed in detail to propose recommendations to improve housing business on Corporate Social Responsibility.

High-End Residential Property Project Development Process: A Case Study of High-End Residential Property Projects In Bangkok

In Thailand’s attractive cities such as Phuket, Pattaya and Samui, most high-end residential property products are developed by foreigners, large real estate companies from Bangkok and by local Thai developers who joint with foreigners for brand credit. All developers have already known this process but the key factors and particular property development process for this market is still ambiguous for local Thai developers.

It is impossible to provide the guideline for local Thai developers in order to promote their competitive potential without understanding the whole process of property development. Ms. Surangkana Trangkanont made a case study to investigate the high-end residential property project development stages to know the key factors of successful project are. Her three sub-objectives are to (1) investigate how the high-end residential property project development process is developed; (2) identify the significant keys in high-end residential property project development process; and (3) propose the high-end residential property project development process and significant keys the high-end residential property project development.

She found out that the project development process is one of the important issues for high-end residential property project. To be competent, the local investors and developers have to scrutinize on how the high-end residential real estate development project process is done. The high-end real estate project development process conducted feasibility study which is related to saleable area, source of fund and term of repayment, project cash in and out flow or project cost and revenue including project return rate. The more details of feasibility study, the more possible successful project is. The database of feasibility study derived from the developer company database or the results of marketing analysis in terms of project concept and absorption rate. If the result of feasibility studies satisfies the developer, the project concept will follow. Project master plan, project landscape, project facilities and amenities including project unit and project unit models are appeared on blueprint. The project management team is only emphasized on construction works and sale. However, the project management team becomes the most important when the project execution and control are run.

Her thesis abstract is copied and posted.

ABSTRACT

Currently, some major cities in Thailand become more attractive to prosperous people both Thais and foreigners. They want to live in there but the native developers fail to meet their needs. This is because the native developers lack of the high-end residential property project development process system. The research; therefore, firstly aims to investigate the high-end residential property project development process. Secondly, it aims to identify the significant keys in high-end residential property project development process.

Finally, the high-end residential property project development process and the significant keys of high end residential property project development are proposed. To be systematic investigation, the theoretical framework is created and become the roadmap of the research including which issues should be concerned. Next, the case study research methodology is conducted in order to comprehensive the high-end residential property project development process.

After that, five high-end residential real estate projects in Bangkok and perimeter are investigated their project development process. Each project development procedure of each project case study is compared to one another by using logic models and cross case synthesis technique in order to examine the project development process and draw the
phenomena respectively. The results of the research show the key parameters, factors and
influences of each project development procedure. Then, the high-end residential property project development process is proposed including the significant issues concerned by developer.

Risk Management In Offshore Platform Installation Projects: A Case Study Of Ptsc Offshore Services

The development of petroleum industry during past years has created bigger demand, bigger market on both size and scale. Vietnam is a nation with enormous oil and gas resources. These opportunities have attracted international oil and gas companies to invest in the oil and gas sector in Vietnam. Production of oil and gas is probably the most demanding aspect of offshore operation. At the end of the day, we have to deliver the project safety, smoothly and profitably. In order to improve quality, safety and commercial issue of an oil and gas project, service companies continue to investment lots of new equipment including multiple offshore support vessel, accommodation barge, heavy crane barge, anchor handling tug and towing tug vessel.

However, in term of safety, technical and commercial aspect, the oil and gas service company now is dealing with some problems in offshore platform installation activities such as heavy investment in offshore platform installation project and the need in a very careful risk management to ensure that the offshore platform installation work can be successful implemented.

Mr. Do Hong Hai made a case study to (1) identify the risk factors in the offshore platform installation project; and (2) conduct a risk management study for offshore platform installation project.

He found out that the offshore platform installation is normally performed by Contractor to ensure that the work is completed successfully before handover to first oil activities and put project into operation stage. Risk factors in offshore platform installation project are Politics, Economic, Health and Safety, Commerce, Environment, Financing, Natural Events, Contract Condition, Software. The Offshore platform installation is one of the very important stages of exploring and exploiting petroleum activities in the continental shelf with much money in total investment.

He also conducted a risk management study for the real offshore platform installation and simulate with the frame work that referred before. The Compression Module installation project in this case study utilized the systematic approach to manage the main risk. The Compression Module project had a very successfulness in risk management and met the expectation of client BP. The involvements of some stakeholders as client, contractors, and subcontractor have very good attitude in the risk management.

His thesis abstract is copied and posted.

ABSTRACT

In the Project management, risk management is a very important sector using particular method to achieve the best practices in the project of company. Risk management is a systematic approach to managing unexpected related to a threat, through a sequence of human activities including: Risk identification, Risk classification, Risk control, Risk monitor, Risk evaluation.
In the organization, there are some ways of risk dealing such as transfers the risk to another party, avoiding the risk, reducing the negative effect of the risk, and accepting some or all of the consequences of a particular risk. Some kind of traditional risk managements are focused on risks stemming from physical or legal causes (e.g. natural disasters or fires, accidents, death and lawsuits).
The purpose of risk management is to reduce different risks. It may refer to numerous types of threats caused by environment, technology, humans, organizations and politics. On the other hand it involves all means available for humans, or in particular, for a risk management entity (person, staff, and organization).

Factors Affecting Project Delivery Time Delays And Cost Overruns Of Project Development At The Royal Irrigation Department Of Thailand

In Thailand, water management is considered as one of the major problems. To solve these problems, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) was created. The Royal Irrigation Department construction projects are government projects that provide water resources to the community in Thailand.

Mr. Rathsayam Tiyarathtagarn made a case study to identify the problems related with project time delays and cost overrun in irrigation projects and also to develop a framework for managing irrigation project effectively. His three sub-objectives are (1) to investigate the project life cycle of irrigation project development; (2) to identify specific factors causing time delay and cost overruns for irrigation project development; and (3) to propose recommendations for effective managing the delivery time and cost in the process of irrigation project development.

Mr. Tiyarathtagarn found out that the major factors affecting RID’s project delivery time delays and cost overruns are project approval, land acquisition and asset compensation, design change and change order, increasing of material prices, failure to timely site access and poor planning and management.

His thesis abstract is copied and posted.

ABSTRACT

It is very important for public projects to be completed on time and within budgets. Normally, achieving the project within predetermined time, budget, and quality is the basic purpose of construction project control. Unfortunately, many construction projects at the Royal Irrigation Department can not be delivery within specified time and budget. Many projects show massive cost and time overruns. In cases, the government had to increase project time and cost. In general, the problem involved with project delays and cost overruns are avoidable. In an attempt to solve these problems, there are various strategies have been applied. Among them, many factors were found as the main source lead to manage time and cost in project efficiently.
This study wants to find out the factors causing project delivery time delays and cost overruns of project development at the Royal Irrigation Department construction project.
In order to understand the irrigation construction process, therefore the objectives of this research are established to 1) investigate the project life cycle of irrigation project development, 2) identify specific factors causing time delay and cost overruns for irrigation project development, 3) propose recommendations for effective managing the delivery time and cost in the process of irrigation project development.
The data was collected from interview survey by case study in three large scale projects of RID; PASAK, KAWNOI and NAMKUMN Project. The interviewee has been conducted in the viewpoint only of Royal Irrigation Department. The findings found that the factors pertinent the executive’s role or project sponsor in the conceptual and planning phase and factors pertinent project manager in planning, construction and closing phase. The recommend are the executive’s role need to more attention during conceptual and planning phase and work closely with project manager during construction phase. The project manager should more consider in detail work by using Work Breakdown Structure during planning phase. More controlling and monitoring in construction phase are very important. Every problems, obstacle and lesson learn during construction must be present by project manager in term of summary reports or seminars need to be conducted after project had closed.

A Study of Project Management Personnel and Competence Need For Infrastructure Development In Dongnai

Vietnam economy gains strength everyday. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, many infrastructures have been built since the country entered WTO. Dongnai Province is also aiming to be economically and socially developed in 2010. Thus this province focuses on the maintenance and development of the infrastructure sector in order to attract foreign investments. As a result, there have been many construction projects for building from 2000 up to this date. However, Dongnai province is now facing problem regarding slow progress and poor quality infrastructures. Therefore, the development of human resources to meet the above target is needed for consideration.

Mr. Truong Vinh Hiep made a case study which primary objective is to survey and to assess adequacy human resources in public infrastructure projects. His two minor objectives are (1) to estimate adequacy project management personnel; and (2) to assess the current competency of the project management individuals, teams, and organizational.

He found out that the project management personnel need one million dollar in order to forecast the number of total construction personnel at three organizations: owner, designer, and contractor in Dongnai province in 2007. In terms of the project management competency level, the individual contractor needs to be a good example, to get the support staff, project sponsor, technical personnel, functional manager, and project manager to manage the scope, time, quality, communication, and human resource. However, the capacity of the project manager is only fair within some areas for instance the cost, risk management, and motivation their staff. Hence, these fields they need improvement in order to meet the high requirement for the projects in the future.

Another conclusion regarding the project management competency is that the individual, team, and organization in the owners and contractors of the large-scale projects are higher than small-scale projects. However there is no significant difference in the individuals, teams, and organizations in the designers between large-scale projects and small-scale projects.

In assessing the project management competence among different projects such as building, road, and water supply system projects using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mr. Hiep found out that there is a significant difference in project management competence among these projects. This means the capacity of the individual to do their jobs on the projects; cooperation of team members or commitment to complete the project requirement in the team as well as the organization’s support for their workers to execute jobs effectively among buildings, roads, and water supply system projects have seemed difference. While the capacity and ability of the individual to do their works or the cooperation of the team members as well as the organization’s support for their workers to execute jobs effectively between the designer and contractor does seem the same.

His abstract thesis is copied and posted

Abstract
The current competence assessment of the project management personnel in the construction field is necessary for Dongnai province to meet the demand of economy and sociality development to 2010 and 2015. Therefore, this study will provide the information regarding the project management personnel for infrastructure development in Dongnai province. The author observed and interviewed the project managers in the twenty construction projects within three organizations: the owner, designer, and contractor and get the following results:
In term of the project management competency between large-scale projects and small-scale projects, the Mann-Whitney test found that the individual work on the projects, the cooperation of these group members as well as the organization’s support for their worker in the large-scale projects seems to be higher than that of the small-scale projects. When we compare the project management competence among three project types: water supply system, road, and building projects from the Kruskal-Wallis test, there is a significant difference among these project types. But the post-hoc test doesn’t find significant difference in project management competence among these projects. However, when we compare the project management competency among different organizations: the owner, the designer, and the contractor from the Kruskal-Wallis test, there is a significant difference among these organizations and the post-hoc test also finds that the project management competence of the owner is higher than designer. But there isn’t any significant difference in the project management competence between the designer and the contractor.
For this study, the author assessed the current competence of the human resources in the construction field in Dongnai province. And it also provides the data for further research in the future to find the negative cause to affect the project management competence and to setting up the plans to improve these areas which the project management competence level is low as well as find the processes to manage the projects more effective.
Keywords: project management, competence, infrastructure, assessment, organization, personnel.

Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Management (AIT Thailand) August 2009 Intake

The Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Management field of study accepted 16 applicants for Masters Program and 1 applicant for Ph. D. for August 2009 semester.


No - Name - Degree - Country

1. Mr.Asmat Nabi Hotaki - Master - Afghanistan
2. Mr. Hout Venghong - Master - Cambodia
3. Mr. Puoy Puthitha - Master - Cambodia
4 . Mr.Timo Juhappeka Myllynen - Special - Finland
5. Ms. Kyawt Phyu Phyu - Master - Myanmar
6. Mr. Kyaw Min Thu - Master - Myanmar
7. Mr. Pye Phyo Moung - Master - Myanmar
8. Mr. Mukesh Khadka - Master - Nepal
9. Mr.Hassan Ashraf - Master - Pakistan
10. Ms. Supatchana Pumpipat - Master - Thailand
11. Mr.Janeyut Naiyarat - Master - Thailand
12. Mr.Wattanachai Tanjedreu - Master - Thailand
13. MissPorntanat Kongsrisawat - Master - Thailand
14. Mr.Thanapon Buaklom - Master - Thailand
15. Mr.Kittawat Sukosi - Certificate to Master - Thailand
16. Ms. Mai Tuyet Vu - Master - Vietnam
17. Mr. Somjiat Sudprasert - Doctor - Thailand