CHAPTER ONE

1.0            INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The construction industry has many features which set it apart from other industries and which accentuate the need for professional management. The proliferation of organizations and specialist aggravated the existing problems of co-ordination, communication, motivation and management, both within the industry itself and in its relationship with the clients (Bamisille 2004).

Better performance, high productivity and cost effectiveness could best be achieved through specialization and the need for experts in production management of building projects cannot be over emphasized (Bamisille 2004).

With the advancement in science, technology and management in all facets of human Endeavour emphasis have shifted to total quality management and if applied to site executive of building project, it will be seen that while quality control relates to rejection of non-conformity with design and specifications, quality management involves getting all sites activities right at first attempt leading to no rejection of works carried out.

In engineering and manufacturing, quality control and quality engineering are used in developing systems to ensure products or services are designed and produced to meet or exceed customer requirements (Webster 2009). Quality control is that branch of engineering and manufacturing which deals with the guidelines and failure testing in design and production of products or services to meet or exceed customer requirements (Webster, 2009).

Quality to be achieved in accomplishing tasks is stated in terms of standard and specifications (Chilkara 2008) Quality are meeting the needs and satisfaction of the ultimate end user of the project, the owner (Oberlender 2000).

Total quality is the systematic approach to creating design that customers want, that support and efficient building process and produces the highest value products at minimum cost (Bamisille 2004).

Quality guidelines is all the planned and systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that a product or services will satisfy given requirements for quality (Bamisille 2004). Quality guidelines cover all activities from design, development, product, installation, servicing and documentation.

It includes the regulation, of a quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components, services related to production and management, production and inspection processes.

The international organization of standardization (ISO) first published ISO 9000 quality system in 1987, and its primarily concerned with a quality guidelines process that applies universally to all industries and it defines the key principle for quality guidelines and standards for rigorous conformance to specification and its application to home building; it ensures strict conformance to the proper use of building materials in conformance to building codes, engineering designs and manufacturer’s specifications.

Building production management is a professional service on planning, administration and execution of a unit of building (Bamisille 2004).

1.2     NEED FOR THE STUDY

The complexity of design, modern construction materials/components, construction methodology awareness on the part of clients have called for specialization which is required to respond promptly and positively to the needs and aspirations of today’s clients (Bamisille 2004).

According to Dodo (2008) the activities involved in building production in the Nigerian construction industry is charactized by features such as double handling, wasted labour hours, defective buildings with shorten life spans, incessant buildings failures and collapse. The effect is in many cases fatal to life and disastrous to property.

The practice in some developing countries, including Nigeria, is that the actual construction of buildings is often allowed to be carried out by non-professionals. This should not be the case and the practice should stop (Bamisille 2004).

1.3     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It is obvious that achieving a building product of desired quality required ensuring that the least of quality procedures are followed through quality control and quality guidelines all aimed at arriving at the design intentions to suit the client (Bessant 1991).

A lot of research was conducted on the incidence and sources of failure within the construction industry. It was admitted that the disagreements existed as to where exactly the blame should be laid. From statistical analysis, it was discovered that about 90% of the quality related error is form the design team or in the construction management team (Duncan et al 1990).

Every building project is intended to resulted in a finished product which will perform certain functions in conformance with the laid down specifications. The achievement of a satisfactory result will depend on quality procedures that include the type of building material used, the workmanship employed, the adherence to specifications and most importantly the effective quality control of the works on site during construction.

Serious consideration must be given to the inputs of the various professionals in the pre-construction stage followed up with an effective and efficient construction methodology in building production management (Dodo 2008).

1.4     AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1.4.1  Aim of the Study

To access the adherence to quality guidelines practices in building production management in some construction firms with the view to propose improvement on the current trend to enhance efficient quality practices on project delivery.

1.4.2  Objectives of the Study

          The aim of the study will be achieved using the following objectives;

1.       To review uses relating to quality guidelines on building production management.

2.       To assess the causes and effect of inadequate quality in building production management.

3.       To suggest suitable means of achieving quality guidelines practices on building production management.

1.5     RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

To achieve the objectives of the study, the approach to this work will be based on;

a.       Obtaining relevant information from textbooks, undergraduate project work, internet, journals, and other literatures relevant to the subject matter.

b.       Structured questionnaires will also be administered to consultants and contractors to some construction firms to obtain relevant information.

c.       Data will be collected, analyzed and presented in simple statistical techniques in form of tables.

d.       Conclusion and recommendations will then be made.

1.6     SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The scope of the research work is to cover aspects of quality guidelines practices in building production management taking into considerations the necessary productizes towards achieving quality practices in the propose area of study (Kaduna).

The study will be limited to Kaduna only. Time and financial constraint, non returned questionnaires and improperly filled questionnaires are also limitations to the study.

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