Quality Control and Project Management Information System

4.7 Project Quality Control

4.7.1 Definition of quality

• Quality is about doing the thing right the first time.
• Zero defects.
• Consistent conformance to expectation.
• Quality is degree of goodness.
• Quality is the totality of characteristics of an entity that bears on its ability to satisfy stated and implied needs.

4.7.2 Facts about quality

• Quality is not grade.
• Quality costs more, but lack of quality costs even more
• Quality is means of achieving project success. It is not the goal in itself
• Process quality is more than product quality
• Quality standards do not demand the best quality; they establish the minimum requirements to be achieved

4.7.3 Cost of quality

Quality cost can be divided into two parts, cost to control quality and cost of failure to control quality.

1. Quality Management Cost

Prevention Cost: Cost involved in activities to ensure right first time performance, e.g., costs of:

• quality planning
• new products review
• process planning
• process control
• quality audits
• supplier quality evaluation
• training

Appraisal Cost: Cost involved in activities that check whether right first time is achieved, e.g., cost of:

• incoming inspection and test
• final inspection and test
• product quality audits
• maintaining the accuracy of test equipment
• Evaluation of stocks etc.

2.Failure Cost (Failure to control quality)

• Cost involved in the activities which result from not confirming to right first time and includes:
• Internal Failure Cost (Scrap, Rework, Failure Analysis, Re-inspection, Scrap and rework from suppliers etc.)
• External Failure Cost (Warranty Charge, Returned Material etc.)
• Intangible Quality Cost (Loss of goodwill of the company)

4.7.4 Evolution of quality management concept

1. Inspection: Under a simple inspection-based system one or more characteristic of a product is examined or measured and compared with specified requirement to assess its conformity. Goods or products, which do not conform to specifications, may be scrapped, reworked.

2. Quality control: Quality control is the process involved within the system to ensure job managements, competence and performance during the manufacturing of the product or service to ensure it meets the quality plan as designed. Under quality control following thing are done:

a. Product testing.

b. Some self-inspection by an operator.

c. Use of basic statistics.

d. Process control.

3. Quality assurance (QA) : Quality assurance id defined as all the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality system that can be demonstrated to provide confidence that a product or service will fulfill requirements of quality. Under QA following things are done:

1. Statistical process control(SPC).
2. Failure mode analysis.
3. Advance quality planning.
4. Third party approval etc.

4. Total quality management: It is fourth and highest level. Total quality management is a new concept of quality management and is that aspect of the overall management function that determines and implements the quality policy. The essential elements of TQM are:

• Quality planning
• Quality control
• Quality audit
• Quality surveillance
• Quality assurance
• Quality circles

4.7.4 Tools for quality control:

• Specification and requirements.
• National and international codes (standard): NBC, IS codes, ACI
• Other organization.
• Procedural guidelines.

4.8 Introduction to Project Management Information System (PMIS)

• Project Management Information System is a database for the project. It reduces uncertainties in decision making. It collects, analyses, stores, retrieves, and disseminates project information for making project decisions. It consists of people, equipment, and procedures. It is continuously developing in nature.
• PMIS is a communication device. Project Management Information System is based on various forms and reports that generate written information for decision making and control.

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Essentials requirements of PMIS

• The PMIS should be factual and objective based on reliable data
• A report on achievement and deviations should be quick hitting
• It should contain the appropriate information with required level of accuracy
• It should strive to pinpoint root causes with accuracy
• It should be easily understandable and usable
• It should focus on decision and expectation.

Objective of PMIS:

Since PMIS is a database for a project it is intended to provide more information to concerned authority of project and maximize chances of succeeding of the project. Some objectives are:

1. Reduce duration or finish the project on time.
2. Maximize the use of available resources.

• Decrease the cost or chances of cost overrun.

1. Reduce risk and uncertainty in decision.

Advantages of PMIS:

PMIS is important for leading project towards success. It is beneficial in following ways:

1. Better understanding or reduces communication gap between project member.
2. Helps to monitor, evaluate and control in terms of cost, time and quality.

• Provides information about project problem before the occur.

1. Informs managers and stakeholders about progress of the project.
2. If facilitates project planning and simplifies project control.

Bibliography:

IshwarAdhikari and Santosh Kr. Shrestha, “A text book of Project Engineering” 2011, Chandeshwori Publication, First Edition.

K. Nagarajan, “Project Management”, ISBN: 81-224-1340-4, New Age International (P) Limited, New Delhi, India, 2001.

E.R. Yescombe, “Principles of Project Finance” 2002, Yescombe-Consulting Limited.