Total Quality Management (TQM) in construction refers to the comprehensive management of quality across all parties involved in projects and building products. It addresses various factors impacting construction quality, including personnel, materials and equipment, machinery, methods, and environment—collectively known as the “4M1E”. Effective TQM requires a holistic approach to managing these elements.
① Human factors primarily influence construction quality through awareness of quality responsibilities and the ability to perform quality-related tasks. BIM technology enhances management of these human factors by transforming how managers and frontline workers operate. Through visual information sharing, workers clearly understand their tasks, remember critical precautions, and reduce subjective errors. Additionally, BIM models include attribute data about responsible individuals, enabling lifelong accountability, fostering greater responsibility among all employees, and clarifying each party’s duties.
② BIM-based management of building materials and equipment spans procurement, on-site inspection, storage, requisition, and utilization. After materials and equipment are inspected on-site, detailed information—such as supplier, manufacturer, origin, properties, certificates of conformity, quality assurance, and inspection reports—is attached to the BIM model. Suppliers are rated based on material quality and service, forming a comprehensive enterprise material and equipment database. For prefabricated components, attribute information from suppliers is extracted to provide an intuitive understanding of product requirements, ensuring component quality. By integrating the engineering model with the project schedule, resource utilization plans are created for each time phase, enabling precise material procurement and requisition. This limits excess requisition, reduces misuse risks, controls unapproved orders, minimizes secondary handling, and boosts economic efficiency.
③ Virtual construction allows early identification of operational blind spots on-site. It also facilitates optimization and adjustment of mechanical equipment layout plans, defining efficient working paths for machinery.
④ Construction methods benefit from virtual construction by aligning with the planned schedule, enabling further refinement and optimization. This ensures that methods are both cost-effective and reasonable, while safeguarding construction quality.
⑤ Environmental factors encompass the natural environment, work environment, and management environment. BIM integrates with GIS (Geographic Information System) technology to capture the natural surroundings of the project site. By simulating the site and optimizing layout plans, it offers a complete representation of the environmental context both inside and outside the site. Within the building, animation walkthroughs and visualization tools help proactively manage the working environment and develop sound construction plans. Simultaneously, all parties collaborate efficiently on a shared BIM platform, promoting seamless communication and information sharing, which transforms the quality management environment.
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