17. The development of quality management techniques in civil engineering design and site supervision
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Published:1991
A. J. Cowan, BSc, MEng, MICE, 1991. "17. The development of quality management techniques in civil engineering design and site supervision", Civil engineering in the nuclear industry: Proceedings of the conference organized by the Institution of Civil Engineers and held in Windermere on 20–22 March 1991, R Dexter-Smith
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Quality assurance techniques have developed considerably over the past few years, and in particular the application of Quality Management within a service industry such as civil engineering has evolved into a well developed management control system.
James Williamson and Partners were the first members of the Association of Consulting Engineers successfully to achieve third party accreditation with BSI for civil and structural design. The initial system was generated for work on Torness Power Station in the early 1980s, and the firm has, in the last ten years, developed a flexible quality system to effectively control and co-ordinate complex projects.
This paper discusses the use of quality assurance techniques in a civil engineering design office, looking at a few areas where the requirements of BS 5750 and BS 5882 are difficult to interpret. Some observations are also made on the adoption of QA for site supervision.
SYNOPSIS
DEVELOPMENT IN MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
MISCONCEPTIONS
THE DESIGN PROCESS
DESIGN CONTROL
THE BENEFITS
SITE SUPERVISION
REFERENCES
