Quality management in civil and structural engineering consulting

Abstract

Looks at the construction industry’s approach to quality management by focusing on the sector of civil and structural engineering consulting, with an in‐depth study of one company in particular. Examines the premiss that the industry does not really understand total quality management, but merely considers the management of quality to be the gaining of BS 5750 registration. The study was carried out on a literature review and interview basis in six offices of a multi‐disciplinary firm of consulting engineers. Comparison of the case study findings with Oakland’s model for TQM and the literature review provide a résumé of the current status of understanding and management of quality in construction.