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The Quality Quotient |
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Despite a boom in infrastructure development and housing, quality control continues to be an area often consigned to the bottom rung of priorities during the construction works. In India, the construction activities are carried out both by Govt. agencies and private bodies but Govt. sector is the major builder. All major projects including hydro, thermal & nuclear power stations, irrigation projects, housing colonies, national highways, flyovers, tunnels and bridges are constructed by Govt. agencies. Over the years, with an exception of a few irrigation projects, the contractual system of getting the work done has attained more popularity with the Govt. sector as the Govt. finds it easier to get the work done through contractors rather than doing the same departmentally. When the works are carried out departmentally, more time gets consumed because of cumbersome procedures of procurement of materials, labour and machinery. This also leads to a slow progress of work resulting in increased cost of works further leading to revised estimates, new budget allocations and audit objections. The contractual system is thus here to stay.
Mandatory provisions for Quality Control : Recent developments indicate that all government departments are now making it mandatory for the contractors to hire a Quality Control consultant whose name shall be approved by the department. This QC consultant will check the quality of work at site at regular intervals and will guide the contractor by supplying necessary performas and check lists and required parameters. The QC consultant will also assure and show to the department that proper quality standards are being maintained. This is a positive development and should result in improvement in quality of civil works.
Analysis shows that keeping better quality of work ultimately leads to profits to the contractor. In-fact, overall benefits of quality control (QC) far outweigh the old and conventional beliefs.
Four Ms—Factors affecting quality of works : Three basic factors that affect the quality of works are i) Quality of men, ii) Quality of materials and iii) Quality of machinery. These are the three Ms whose quality is directly proportional to the quality of work. The Fourth M is Money which gets automatically controlled by these three Ms. Men of quality need to be employed by selecting workers of high skill and calibre for each activity of work. Quality of Materials can be controlled in two ways. First method is to conduct inspections and testing of materials at the source of supply itself and the second method is to test the materials at site itself. Quality of Machinery refers to the selection of correct type of machinery to carry out a particular job. For a structure involving pouring of large quantities of concrete over a continuous period of time, the correct choice of machinery shall be a Batching plant rather than using traditional construction mixers and manual labour. Similarly, for huge excavations, use of Excavators and Poclains shall supersede the use of donkey force and manual labour.
Supervision Factor : Another factor that affects the quality of work is the standard of
supervision. There should not be any compromise over the quality of work. The departmental
engineers should insist for good quality of work right from the commencement of work to avoid
any laxity on the part of the contractor. The best method to carry out supervision of works is to
evolve activity wise check lists. Once the check-lists are prepared, the supervisory staff does not miss any point to be checked. An engineer can make more application of mind while preparing check lists rather than spontaneously remembering all points during physical checking of works.
Cost of quality : It is totally incorrect to think that producing “good quality” of work shall cause more cost. Men of high skill and calibre if employed on the work shall provide better workmanship and better output than that given by semi-skilled workers.
Machinery of better quality shall give better output and performance. It may cost more initially but will soon recover its own cost while local, substandard machines shall have frequent breakdowns demanding more repair and maintenance costs.
Materials of good quality help in achieving required strength, durability and architectural finishes. They eliminate the chances of failure of structures and prevent all failure costs.
Quality brings profit : A study conducted in New York reveals that 20 to 25% of total cost of a work is spent in correcting or rectifying it to an acceptable level of quality. Cost of correcting the work has been found to be much more than that of quality control.
For 100% defective work, cost of quality control is obviously zero while for a 70% defective work, the cost of failure has been found as more than double the cost of construction.
Effect of progress on Quality of work : Another very important factor to be kept in mind by the contractors or executing agencies is that optimum utilisation of various resources i.e. men, materials and machinery must be made. A three-step strategy has to be adopted to achieve optimum utilization of resources.
First step is proper planning of work. This includes working out of quantities of work, location of resources and preparation of schedules.
Second step is the implementation of plans. This includes procurement of materials, machinery and men; execution of work and supervision of work.
Third step is regular monitoring of works. This includes regular inspection of works, co-ordination among various agencies, comparing progress with targets and solving field problems.
My advice for the Government agencies : The age old philosophy of awarding work to the lowest tenderer even if his rates are not workable needs to be dispensed with. Tenders with exceptionally low rates should be out-rightly rejected. The cost of work shown in the tender notice should take into account the rise in prices during the time elapsed between the date of preparation of estimates and date of actual allotment of work. Sometimes a considerable time elapses between these two milestones and the estimated cost of work dose not remain valid at the time of allotment.
My Advice for the contracting Agencies : Production of quality work pays both in the short term as well as in long term. Good quality of work minimises cost of failures and rectification thereof, thus giving short term profits. Good quality builds good reputation and reputation, good or bad, travels faster than the man himself. Good reputation means good future business thus a long term benefit.
Rates quoted by contractors must be sufficient to produce good quality of work. Low, unworkable rates may lead to inferior quality ultimately leading to 'career collapse'.
Poor quality of work is ultimately going to cost extra. It is time to wake up to this hard truth and to be determined to make no compromise over quality of work.
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Tip of the Moment
When buying large quantity of steel, ask the seller to show the test certificate of the lot being sold.
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IMP : Due to His Pre-Occupations, The Author Is Unable To Find Time To Compile The Tips In Book Format. As And When, The Book Is Completed And Near Publication, It Will Be Notified On The Website. The Author Expresses His Gratitude To The Readers And Site-Visitors For The Huge Demand Made By Them For The Book.
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