Quality Assurance vs

Quality Management in Architectural Practice

• Quality management focuses on ensuring high standards in the design and execution of architectural projects.
• It involves setting clear quality standards, processes, and deliverables throughout project phases.

Phases of Architectural Practice

• Quality management is primarily concentrated during the document production phase, especially for coordinating construction drawings and specifications.

Key Deliverables

• The main output of the document production phase is a comprehensive set of construction documents that guide project execution.
• Deliverables showcase a firm's commitment to quality standards, but certain documents are not indicative of this commitment.

Achieving Quality

• Successful quality management requires strong communication, adequate resources, and commitment from all stakeholders.
• During the construction phase, quality management includes monitoring work on-site to match design specifications and standards.

Ongoing Challenges

• Quality achievement remains a continual challenge due to changing project requirements, stakeholder expectations, and the complexity of construction.

Deliverables and Outputs

• Architectural practices generate various deliverables, including designs, reports, and specifications.
• The primary output encompasses the construction documents that clearly convey project intent.

Product vs. Service

• In architectural practice, a 'product' refers to tangible outputs (e.g., drawings), while a 'service' emphasizes the advisory and design roles played by architects.

Quality Management Components

• Quality management involves planning, assurance, and control, ensuring that architectural outcomes meet predefined standards.
• Quality planning outlines objectives and steps to achieve quality during project execution.

Contributors to Quality Standards

• Factors contributing to quality standards include regulatory compliance, client feedback, and industry benchmarks.

Final Document Production

• Resolving coordination issues at the document production stage is crucial to prevent construction conflicts and ensure project efficiency.

Benefits of Quality Management Systems

• Implementing quality management systems enhances consistency, improves client satisfaction, and minimizes rework.
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) plays a key role in quality management by facilitating collaboration and minimizing errors.

Federated Building Models and Supply Chain

• A federated building model integrates multiple dimensions of project data throughout the design, construction, and operation phases.

Checklists in Quality Management

• Checklists are essential tools in quality management systems, aiding in the systematic execution of tasks and ensuring compliance with quality standards.

Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control

• Quality assurance proactively shapes processes to prevent issues, while quality control focuses on identifying and correcting defects during and after production.

Strategic Functions for Quality Services

• Effective quality architectural services rely on strategic planning, skilled personnel, and oversight mechanisms to maintain high standards.

Tools and Techniques

• Various tools for implementing a quality management system include process mapping, workflow analysis, and performance metrics.

Impact of Change

• Advancements in technology and methods are evolving quality management processes across the design-construction-operation supply chain, enhancing project management and outcomes.