Practice Management - 05 Quality Assurance

5.         Quality Assurance – process of getting rid of the waste

·       Efficiency

·       Quality

·       Value

·       Risk

What is QA?

·       Undertaking administrative and procedural activities and implementing quality systems so that requirements and goals for a project and service can be fulfilled.

·       a systematic way of measuring, comparing with a agreed standard, monitoring the service we deliver to our client so to allow for feedback loops to the system and prevents errors form occurring.

·       Ensuring fit for purpose and right the first time, eliminating mistakes

Quality Control?

Quality control is focused on process outputs

Key documents

·       Office manual Contents

1.     Info on the company

2.     People policy

3.     Office handbook

4.     Instructions – company guidelines /manuals

5.     Appointment and project process – how to deal with enquires / appointments etc

6.     Drawings and related documents – drawing standards

7.     Administration and records management – admin and project filing, archiving

8.     Quality systems management – Internal audits, corrective actions, quality system control

9.     Personal management and practice – interview guidelines, Induction, CPD etc

10.  Health and Safety

·       Quality Policy

·       Quality Manual

·       Quality procedures

·       Office manual

·       Project Execution Plan

·       Health and Safety policy

QA requirements for RIBA Chartered Practice

Must have an appropriate formalised quality management system in place.  All quality management systems must provide for the establishment of a clear design leadership structure for each project, ensuring that the design work is ultimately the responsibility of a Chartered Architect.

·       Small practices (up to 10) – must use a minimum of the RIBA Project Quality Plan (PQP)

·       Medium practices (up to 50) – are required to use the full RIBA QM+ procedures, or equivalent

·       Large practices (51+) are required to have an externally-certified Quality Management System to use.

Benefits of implementing a Quality Policy

·       Allows you to become a more consistent competitor in your marketplace

·       Helps to better meet your clients needs

·       Helps to identify more efficient ways of working that saves time, money and resources

·       Improves operational performance, cutting errors and increases profit

·       Motivates and engages staff with more efficient internal processes

·       Possibility of winning more high value customers with better customer service

·       Broaden business opportunities by demonstrating complience