Construction Quality Management

6. QUALITY AUDITS

m QUALITY AODflT^ 6.1 Introductio n In Chapte r 5 , quality indicators , suc h a s PASS, were discussed . Qualit y indicators are used to assess the quality of finished products. Quality audits, which will be discussed in this chapter, however, are used to assess the quality management systems (QMS) of construction organizations. Figure 6.1 shows the relationship. Quality indicato r (e.g. PASS) Assesses Finished produc t Controls Quality audi t Assesses Quality managemen t system Figure 6.1 Relationshi p among PASS, audit, QMS and finished product 7 0 CONSTRUCTIO N QUALITY MANAGEMENT Quality audit is therefore a management proces s t o confirm an d evaluat e activities relate d t o a quality managemen t system . A s soon a s a qualit y management syste m has been developed and implemented, audit s shoul d be carried out to validate the system and identify the unsatisfactory activities. This chapter highlights the importance and the scope of quality audits. 6.1.1 Wha t I s a Quality Audit? BS 4778 / ISO840 2 define s audi t a s " a systemati c an d independen t examination t o determine whethe r qualit y activities an d relate d result s comply with planne d arrangement s an d whether thes e arrangements ar e implemented effectively an d are suitable to achieve objectives". The examination can be a kind of assessment on the activities performanc e and available records. 6.1.2 Wh y I s a Quality Audit Needed ? The development and implementation of a quality assurance scheme requires testing and justification. Audit is a tool to determine the effectiveness o f the quality scheme and expose the inadequacy of the system for improvement . Many standards stipulate that a quality system needs to be audited by third parties who are independent of the company providing the scheme. 6.1.3 Wh o Audits ? An auditor — a person or party undertaking the audit — can come from th e same company, other independent organizations , government agencies, or even employed by the client who is interested in the products o r services provided by the company. Qualified auditor s should hav e undergone a n approved auditin g trainin g and have adequate experience in audit. They should also have experience in the particular typ e of work being examined or assessed. The personality of the auditors is also important; during cross examination and questioning , they should be patient, polite, tactful an d trustworthy. This is to minimize misunderstanding and create a good friendly atmosphere in carrying out the audit. Quality audits 7 1 6.2 Type s of Quality Audits Generally audit s can be categorized into three types: 6.2.1 Interna l Audit Carried out by the First Party Organizations perform thes e audits according to their own procedures an d systems. Normally the auditors are from th e same organization but comin g from othe r departments . Expert s fro m outsid e may be appointed i f thei r expertise and experience is relevant in some important assessments. 6.2.2 Externa l Audit Performed by the Second Party Before making a major decision in purchasing agreement, many clients may demand an audit of the quality systems of the product or service suppliers. These audits may be performed by the in-house staff of the client or agencies specially appointed by the client for the purpose. 6.2.3 Audit s Undertaken by Third Parties Usually, the service o r product providers will have their qualit y system s audited b y third parties, such a s HKQAA, which are independent bodie s specialized i n qualit y syste m certification . The y ar e mainl y accredite d certification bodies and perform audits against the ISO 9000 quality standard. If the audit is found t o be satisfactory, th e independent body will award a certificate t o th e compan y unde r audit . Thi s i s the s o calle d IS O 900 0 certification. Sometimes a pre-audit may be carried out before the audit. This is to ensure that the company is well prepared and equipped before the major third party certification audit . 6.3 Audi t Procedure s A quality audit usually consists of the following activities: 6.3.1 Preparatio n Stage As soon as the parties agree on...