KNOWLEDGE AND USAGE OF THE SEVEN BASIC QUALITY CONTROL TOOLS BY PRODUCERS OF PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCTS IN GHANA
Main Article Content
Keywords
Quality management, quality control tools, precast concrete products, Ghana
Abstract
For very small organisations, the root cause of quality problems may be obvious, but once it gets beyond small businesses, most decision points and problem root causes will remain vague until valid data are studied and analysed. It is for such cases that quality management tools play an important role in helping improve the quality of products and processes. This research seeks to explore the level of knowledge and usage of the seven basic quality control tools by producers of precast concrete products in Ghana. A survey of 42 producers of precast concrete products in the cities of Accra and Tema was conducted to elicit the desired data. The data was basically analysed using gap and quadrant analyses. The study revealed very limited levels of both knowledge and usage of the said tools by these organisations even though their perception of quality was very good. Again, the survey identified some practical measures to help improve the quality of the operations of these organisations. Chief among these measures is training and education of the work force on the use of the seven basic quality control tools. Even though the findings are limited to data from only two cities, they tend to support earlier findings from similar studies, thus providing useful lessons for manufacturers of such products.
Article Metrics Graph
References
Ainin, S and Hisham, N.H. 2008. Applying importance performance analysis to information systems: an exploratory case study. Journal of Information, Information Technology and Organisations, 3:95 103.
Al-Ani R. and Al-Adhmawi I.F. (2011). A Case Study of Total Quality Management in a Manufacturing and Construction Firm. Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 5, No. 1; pp. 89-106.
Ayandibu O.G. (2010). Quality Management and Socio-Economic Objectives in the Construction of the Guatrain. Unpublished Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Delgado-Hernandez, D.J. and Aspinwall, E.M. (2005). Improvement tools in the UK construction industry. Construction Management and Economics, Vol. 23, 2005, pp. 965-977.
Dias, S. and Saraiva , P.M. (2004). Use Basic Quality Tools to Manage your Processes. Quality Progress, Vol. 37 Issue 8, pp47 53.
Duncan, J.M., Thorpe, B. and Sunmer, P. (1990). Quality Assurance in Construction . Gower Publishing Company Limited.
Elliott, K.S., 2002. Precast concrete structures. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.
ISO. 2001. The ISO 9000 Family.
John R. Schultz (2006). Measuring Service Industry Performance: Some Basic Concepts. Int ernational Society for Performance Improvement. p. 3. Retrieved 2011 10 06.
Kolarik, W.J. (1995). Creating Quality, Concepts, Systems, Strategies, and Tools. McGraw Hill, New York, NY.
Matzler, K., Sauerwein, E. And Heischmidf, K. 2003. Importance performance analysis revisited: the role of the factor structure of customer satisfaction. The Service Industries Journal , 23(2) 112 129.
McCutcheon, R.T and Taylor, F.L.M. (2003). Employment and High Standard Infrastructure. Johannesburg: Work Research Center for Employment Creation. Construction Management and Economics, Vol. 6, pp. 50 57.
Nankana, A. Nankana, A. N. (2005). The Seven Magnificent: Simple, Quick and Cost Effective N. (2005). The Seven Magnificent: Simple, Quick and Cost Effective ingenuous Improvement', New Age International Publishers, 2005, Indigenous Improvement', New Age International Publishers, 2005, India.
Ozeki, K. and Asaka, T. (1990). Handbook of Quality Tools: The Japanese Approach.
Ozeki, K. and Asaka, T. (1990). Handbook of Quality Tools: The Japanese Approach. Productivity Press. Cambridge. Productivity Press. Cambridge.
Rao, A., Carr, L., Dambolena, I., Kopp, R., Martin, J., Rafii, F., & Schlesinger, Ph., (1996), Total quality management: A cross-functional perspective, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Taylor, H.J.P. (1999) Vorfertigung - das Bauen der Zukunft, Betonwerk & FertigteilTechnik (BFT), May, Pp.38-46.