Bookkeeping for the Building & Design Industry

“Excellence is as difficult as it is rare”- Spinoza

Quality Management

Quality

Quality Assurance

ISO 9001: 2008i. Planning and product realisation (7.1)ii. Customer related process (7.2)iii. Design and development (7.3)iv. Purchasing (7.4)v. Production and service provision (7.5)vi. Control of monitoring and measuring equipment

(7.6)

Easier when…

Business is Primary Focus

Practice manual, everyone adheres

Technical Excellence is the goal

Business plan

Client signoff at milestones

Standard details

Effective post-occupancy evaluation program

More Difficult when…

Design is Primary Focus

No practice manual

Creative Freedom is the goal

No business plan

No milestones

No standard details

No post-occupancy evaluation program

-Committed

-Skilled

-QM knowledgeable

-Associate level or above

Developing a competency-based process:

1. Write an objective for the task2. Design the task 3. Identify the equipment,

machinery & tools that may be needed

4. Choose the materials to be used5. Identify the steps involved6. Train people in the necessary skills7. Conduct trials & test for

competence8. Do the task9. Learn lessons & improve the

process through trial & error

AdvantagesFlexible, suited for one-off

itemsOperator can use their initiative

Innovation is more likely

Less documentation

DisadvantagesMore training required

Must assess competency

Requires skilled people

Procedures Approach

Competency Approach

AdvantagesSuitable for mass production

Little or no training required

Strict adherence will yield lower variationStep-by-step instructions are provided

DisadvantagesNo flexibility

May require considerable admin and management in controlling documentation

A typical detailed Procedure

PurposeScope DefinitionsReferencesResponsibilitiesActionsRecords

Quality ManualPublic Document to give clients

Goals & ObjectivesDescription of the organisation

Outline of the procedures manual

Procedures ManualConfidential Document

Governs how the business operates

Main costs associated with creating a Quality Management System

1. Engaging an internal or external driver2. Overt management support for creation and

implementation3. Resourcing creation and implementation

Good luck with your future journey through Quality Management!