Factors That Affect Process Quality in the Life Cycle of Building Projects

Abstract

The factors that affect process quality in the three phases (design, construction, and operation) of the life cycle of a building project are identified and ranked by degree of importance. The perceptions of long-time practitioners are obtained by means of a questionnaire survey. The findings indicate that management commitment to continuous quality improvement, management leadership in promoting high process quality, quality training of all personnel, efficient teamwork to promote quality issues at the corporate level, and effective cooperation between parties taking part in the project are generic factors that affect process quality. Industry-specific factors that are perceived by practitioners to enhance the quality of the building process include drawings and specifications that are consistent, designers and contractors that are selected on merit, communication practices between the parties that are effective, inspection of quality on the construction site that is diligent, a building operation manual that is thorough, and an adequate operation and maintenance budget that is planned as early as in the design phase.