Multivariate Approach to Benchmarking Quality Prediction Parameters in Building Maintenance Works

Thesis Overview

<p><b>INTRODUCTION&nbsp;</b></p><p> Quality system formulating and compliance enforcement at all facets of works in construction industry have been areas with increased attention worldwide, over the decades. This has resulted in the awareness about finished products quality assurance in the construction industry, the kind that provides clients’ satisfaction and value on money invested (Chan &amp; Tan, 2009; Roston and Amer 2006). Quality issues often arise from clients’ needs and specification, these often formed the basis of supervision as work progresses on construction sites (Lings, 2005; Bamisile, 2004). Likewise, clause on compliance with specified quality standard is often stated in building projects’ contract documents, commencing from brief stage to project commission stage, which has in no way different from other sectors of the economy. This fact has therefore turned formulating quality policy statement to a global best practice. However, certain school of thought believes quality to be work-state dependent, that quality can be described as conformity with specified instructions as project progresses. Bamisile (2004) and Oakland (1984) submitted that quality is fulfillment of specified requirements. Another school of thought viewed quality from fitness for purpose point of view, that quality can be termed item of work that is rightly formed to perform intended purpose (Chan &amp; Tam, 2000). Similarly, in another submission, quality can be seen from the perspective of agreement between goal, clients and builder (Fan 1999; Abdel-Rasek et al; 2001). <br></p><p> However, non alignment with the goals in facilities maintenance that formed the direction through which various plans and strategy should be driven could be linked to various failures often recorded in building maintenance sector. Huge monetary resource goes into maintenance annually without lasting solution proffered, which is often revealed through reworks. This trend however could be attributed to absence of standard procedure to be followed in facility maintenance. To this end this study is set at developing a model for parameter that should be follow to ensure quality maintenance work in Nigeria. sThere are institutions responsible for enforcement of standard and procedure, such as Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), British Standard Institutions (BSI) in Great Britain including International Organization for Standardization ISO. BSI in 1979 issued BS 5750 ‘Quality system’ ISO rolled out, ISO 9000 in 1987, all these are quality documents. Oladokun and Adegbenjo (2008) submitted that standard Organization of Nigeria officially adopted ISO 9000 for quality management in Nigeria, and since then widely publicized training workshop had been staged in an attempt to create awareness. The structure and component of the ISO 9000 did not adequately provide framework to address detail aspect of quality problem in construction industry. However, introduction of National Building code in August 2006 provided a silver lining out of the cloud of the problem, by providing a conceptual framework upon which quality issues in building maintenance works can be based. Since then, there has been no attempt at modeling the concept mathematically, which could provide a platform for further development and research, in aspect of quality monitoring in facility maintenance in Nigeria. To this end therefore, this study is set at developing a model of parameters that could be used as working guide in ensuring quality of facility maintenance operations, and a real improvement in maintenance sector of Nigerian Construction Industry. <br></p><p><b>REVIEW OF RELATED WORKS</b></p><p>&nbsp;A number of researches have been carried out in the direction of finding out detail about factors affecting quality of works in built environment and generating model to describe related assumptions. Ling (1990) developed quality assurance procedures manual, which summarizes essential tips in quality assurance in construction works. Amusan et al; (2012a) described the role of building material manufacturers in quality assurance in building; the study identified the unethical practices in the construction industry in relation with effect on quality and safety. Similarly, Cham and Tam (2000) produced a model containing 77 sub-factors from six main factors in predicting quality performance of building projects in Hong Kong. Furthermore, Oladokun and Adelakun (2008) Amusan et al; (2012b) generated a quality model that attempt at describing existing relationship among project parameters, it states that: Quality = 5.20 + 0.50 (project management) action of project team) + 0.80 (effectiveness of the construction team leader) + 0.30 (client emphasis on time). In El-Dosouky and Sulaiman (2001), a model based on average weighted score of site staff, project execution, site layout, subcontractor, equipment, labor material, contract and design was generated. This generated model was described as suitable for use on Egyptian construction projects. A model for predicting quality of building projects in Singapore was developed by Ling (2005). The study suggested parameters that could be used in enforcing quality in building projects; it also identified the variables that affect quality scores of project in Singapore projects such as design - bid- build (DBB) and design build (DB) project. Lastly, Rustom and Amer (2006) modeled factors affecting quality of works in Gaza strip, using two different perspectives (i) Stepwise multiple regression analysis and factor analysis. <br></p>