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Improvement Of Quality Management

Level In Construction Company Using


EFQM Model
Jozef Gapark Veronika Gaparkov Helena Ellingerov
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Institute of Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering,
Slovak University of Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Slovak University of Technology,
Bratislava, Slovakia Bratislava, Slovakia Bratislava, Slovakia
jozef.gasparik@stuba.sk. veronika.gasparikova@stuba.sk. helena.ellingerova@stuba.sk.

The purpose of this contribution is to increase quality level


DOI 10.5592/otmcj.2014.1.5
Research paper of construction organization applying the EFQM (European
Foundation for Quality Management) excellence model. It
provides analysis of current quality management trends,
defines EFQM model structure, criteria and possibilities of
its introduction in construction companies. The purpose
of this contribution is also proposal of electronic manual and
automated system of evaluation the criteria and sub-criteria
of EFQM model by company management and also by external
auditors. Selected scientific methods of problem solution can
be divided into two main groups: empirical and logic (scien-
tific analysis and synthesis). Empirical methods are applied to
Keywords an electronic survey that aimed to determine knowledge of the
Quality, Excellence Model, EFQM model and its use in practice among organizations operat-
Construction Organization ing in Slovakia. The logical method was utilized for the problem
solving analysis and synthesis. Application of the methodol-
ogy and manual enables in a short time to evaluate company
quality management level and to identify opportunities for con-
tinually quality improvement in construction company.

j. gapark v. gaparkov h. e l l i n g e r o v i m p r o v e m e n t o f q u a l i t y m a n a g e m e n t l e v e l i n c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a n y ... pp 949 - 957 949


ENABLERS (500 points) RESULTS (500 points)

People People
100 points 100 points

Leadership Customer
100 points Strategy and policy Processes, Key
products and results results
100 points
services 150 points 150 points
100 points

Partnerships Society results


and resources 100 points
100 points

LEARNING, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

Figure 1. EFQM Model Structure (last revision in year 2010) (Source: EFQM, 2010)

INTRODUCTION and offer methodology, how to imple- and Japanese companies in the global
The EFQM excellence model is an ment and evaluate it, but for customers market. Society-wide recognition of
European model based on Total Quality are very brief and hard understood. quality in the USA - Malcolm Baldridge
Management TQM (Oakland, 2003). Therefore we decided in our research National Quality Award (NIST, 2003)
It is designed for all organizations that work to propose integrated electronic and Japan - Deming Application Prize
are interested in continuous improve- manual, which will offer to construction (JUSE, 2003) proved that the applica-
ment and progress towards excellence. company complex and total informa- tion of TQM models delivers measur-
The main purpose of the EFQM model tion concerning the implementation able business results to organizations.
is self-assessment of the organiza- and evaluation of all criteria of EFQM The EFQM model first appeared in 1991
tion in order to achieve continuous model. Our electronic manual contains and it was called The European Model
improvement of quality. It helps iden- total 9 criteria, 32 sub-criteria and for Business Excellence (Porter et al.,
tify strengths and opportunities for 121 sub-sub-criteria of EFQM model 2004). It was innovated in 1999 and
improvement and encourages solu- (Gapark et al., 2012). Users of this it became more universal and appli-
tions. It allows for an independent view manual can self-evaluate own activ- cable in a larger number of organiza-
on the organization and its functioning ity in a given sub-criterion and using tions. For public administration, the
(Paulov et al., 2008). automated system (software) deter- CAF (Common Assessment Framework)
The EFQM model is a basis for assess- mine point value of quality level (see model was developed. It was launched
ment and evaluation of a business aspir- next chapters). in 2000 and revised in 2002.
ing to receive the European Quality The EFQM model is based on 9 cri-
Award (EQA), but also the National EFQM model structure and teria: leadership, policy and strategy,
Quality Award of the Slovak Republic. features people, partnerships and resources,
In order to win the EQA, the model must The EFQM model was created by the processes, customer results, people
be applied for at least three years and European Foundation for Quality results and key performance results
yield the corresponding results. Management (EFQM), which was (Paulov et al., 2008). The first 5 crite-
The EFQM model may be used in any founded in 1988. Its establishment ria are enablers (what the organization
business as well as any government involved fourteen large European cor- has got) and the remaining 4 criteria
organization (however, the Common porations (Hakes, 2007). The aim of are results (what the organization
Assessment Framework the CAF the foundation was to create a model achieves). All criteria are divided into
model is specially designed for public based on Total Quality Management sub and sub-sub-criteria. The diagram
administration) (EFQM, 2003). There (TQM) in order to achieve excellence of the model, together with score for
are several literature sources, which in European companies and make them each criterion is shown in Figure 1 (first
describe the structure of EFQM model competitive in comparison with the U.S. page of our contribution). The direction

950 o rga n i za t i o n , te ch n ol o g y a n d ma na ge m e n t i n co nst r u c t i o n an international journal 6(1)2014


of arrows shows the dynamic nature future, but they need much more neces- other ways how to improve the qual-
of the model. Innovation and learning sary information about this model and ity of their products.
help improve enablers, which leads effective training process. The solu- However, the management in most
to improved results. This process is tions contained at this contribution can organizations fails to realize that this
continuous. Criteria and sub-criteria of be helpful for the performance of the approach to improving the quality is
the model are very sophisticated and EFQM model to organizations, which not as simple as it seems at the first
deal with all areas of the organization, have aims to continually improve their sight. Although the nine main criteria of
even with the environment surround- quality management level and imple- the EFQM seem like they were encoun-
ing it. The model emphasizes the ethi- ment maximum positive effects in tered when building the QMS, the EFQM
cal principle crucial for those who are future activities. model contains a series of sub-criteria
exceptional. (32), which require a very detailed
Problems and areas for improvement description of the functioning of the
Survey Concerning The EFQM regarding the EFQM model organization and many of the sub-cri-
Model Implementation application in construction teria are often misunderstood by the
The survey concerning the EFQM model organizations management. Thus, the enthusiasm
implementation has been carried out The study of the EFQM model through with which the management welcomes
during three months in year 2011 by consultations with trainers in the area the introduction of the EFQM model
the form of electronic and anony- of Quality Management and our own begins to fade when the model is imple-
mous questionnaire. There were sur- knowledge concerning this area of mented in practice. A deeper study of
veyed 160 construction companies in interest made us aware of areas for the EFQM model makes directors come
Slovakia of all sizes. The questionnaire improvement and problems currently to conclusion that the whole process is
completed 36 of them. faced by Slovak companies striving too bureaucratic. Organizations often
The issues were identified about for excellence when implementing meet the EFQM requirements, but fail to
whether the model has been applied for the EFQM model. Application of the record their results sufficiently and as
excellence in the organization, the pur- EFQM model in Slovak organizations required. When aspiring to the National
pose of its application (or the reasons is currently not a very frequent activ- Quality Award of the Slovak Republic or
not to apply it), as well as interest of the ity. Although the model seems simple, the European Quality Award, the com-
construction company to introduce the its application is a complex process pany has to prepare a self-assessment
EFQM model in the future. Graphical in terms of time and resources. The report according criteria of the EFQM
interpretation of some of the responses EFQM model can be described as a model. The preparation of the self-
is shown in Figure 2. higher form of quality management assessment report is an extremely
The results obtained by survey in organizations. It is starting to be complex and time-consuming pro-
shows that the EFQM excellence implemented mostly by organizations, cess and requires involvement of key
model and its application in practice which have successfully passed the employees from all areas of business.
in Slovakia are still relatively new, introduction and certification of the Incorrect definition of processes and
unexplored issues. Most companies Quality Management System (QMS) results in the self-assessment report
do not exclude its application in the according to ISO 9001 and look for may result in a low score of an other-
wise successful organization from the
professional EFQM auditors. This leads
to disappointment, conflicts and rejec-
11 % YES tion of the whole process.
The path towards excellence accord-
NO ing to the EFQM model is a long-term
89 % process that must be upheld by the
whole business from the top manage-
ment to the last employee. If only the
top management desires the intro-
duction of the EFQM model and then
delegates the application duties to
employees failing to properly explain
Figure 2. Application of the EFQM model at present or in the past in its effects it encounters resistance
surveyed companies (Source: Gapark, 2012) and the process is doomed.

j. gapark v. gaparkov h. e l l i n g e r o v i m p r o v e m e n t o f q u a l i t y m a n a g e m e n t l e v e l i n c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a n y ... pp 949 - 957 951


The current competitive environ- INPUT:
Model EFQM
ment in the global marketplace requires
Defined
organizations to continuously improve Requirements
quality. This applies not only to prod-
ucts, but also to processes and man-
agement. Today, it is often not enough
to satisfy customer needs, but it is nec-
YES
essary to exceed them. This requires Applied in Effectiveness
excellence in organizations. The EFQM organization? Evaluation
excellence model understanding and
effective implementation is one of the
tools that can help organizations on NO
their path of improving and achieving
a lasting success. Analysis of EFQM model
criteria and sub-criteria
Methodology For The
EFQM Model Application In
Organization Electronic manual
During the research work in this area, Comparison of Quality and automated
Management (QM) electronic
we propose a methodology for appli- self-assessment
existing level and EFQM
cation of the EFQM model, which is model requirements system
proposed especially for manufacturing application
organizations, which have developed
and implemented Quality Management
System (QMS) according to standards Improvement of existing
ISO 9001 and plan further development organization quality management
level by implementation of EFQM
and improvement of the existing man-
model requirements
agement system using the model EFQM.
Steps of the methodology are illustrated
in Figure 3.
The methodology is designed in con-
junction with manual and automated QM level
YES improvement
self-assessment system to enable the EFQM
imple-mentation National or
organization to apply the EFQM model European
in less time and evaluate their per- Quality Award
formance level and effectiveness by NO
more transparent way. The methodol-
ogy enables to get an idea of what is
necessary to do in the process of EFQM
Corrective and preventive
model application. The actual imple- actions with aim to continually
mentation of the methodology and the improvement effectiveness of
manual is designed to avoid confusion organization

and unnecessary complexity requiring to


start again and resulting in the time loss.
Figure 3. Steps to apply EFQM model in organization
Used scientific methods (Source: Gapark, 2012)
Selected scientific methods of problem
solution can be divided into two main
groups: empirical and logic (scientific the EFQM model and its use in among Methods of scientific analysis were
analysis and synthesis). Empirical meth- organizations operating in Slovakia. used to evaluate the current issue of
ods are applied to an electronic survey The logical method was utilized for the Quality Management level and EFQM
that aimed to determine knowledge of problem solving analysis and synthesis. implementation in construction sector,

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Activity is: Description Evaluation %

P (planned) Organization plans the activity to apply 10

D (done) Activity is implemented 15

C (checked) Organization checks the effects 20


In a case of positive effects activity is used in
A (acted) 25
practice
Organization compares the activity with best
B (benchmarked) (Zairi, 1998), (Bendell, 1993) organization in market
30

Table 1. Evaluation of activity level application according to requirements of EFQM model sub-criterion in organization
(Source: Gapark, 2012)

Level of fulfilling Description

0 There is no evidence to fulfill the requirements

0,25 There exist indicators of compliance requirements

0,5 Partial evidence of requirement fulfilling

0,75 Significant evidence of require-ment fulfilling

1 Clear evidence of requirement fulfilling

Table 2. Level of EFQM model sub-criterion fulfilling in a given phase of application


(Source: Gapark, 2012)

to analyze criteria and sub-criteria of the proposed manual consists of these manual requirements of prediction part
the EFQM model, to explore the pos- main parts: of the EFQM model selected phase of
sibilities of applying the EFQM model the analysis of EFQM model require- applications based on the Deming
in construction organizations and to ments defined by criteria and sub- cycle (Table 1) and the performance
examine the existing systems of assess- criteria and determine the existing level (Table 2).
ment under the EFQM model. Scientific quality level of the organization and The selected phase applications
synthesis method was used during the opportunities for improvement, and performance levels are the basis
process of EFQM model development self-assessment system of organi- for calculating the assessment for
and implementation including the cre- zation quality management level the achievement of the criterion and
ation of electronic manual and during using the criteria and sub-criteria sub-criterion requirement. Position in
the process of automated evaluation of the EFQM model by electronic the current phase of the application
system of construction company quality automated system. assumes management of the previ-
management level. ous phases. If the company in meeting
The evaluation system of the EFQM this requirement found for example in
Manual For The EFQM Model model criteria phase "act" with the degree to 0.5, the
Implementation The EFQM model consists of predic- overall percentage achieved in meeting
Electronic manual is designed on the tion and result parts. For each of them this requirement are:
basis of the EFQM model criteria and is in the manual suggested a specific
sub-criteria requirements and helps method of evaluation. In this paper we 1x10 + 1x15 + 1x20 + 0,5x25 = 57.5 (%) (1)
organizations to understand and provide an example evaluation of pre- PLAN DO CHECK ACT
apply the EFQM model and evaluate diction part of the EFQM model.
their own performance and effective- In the process of self-assessment By this way is calculated the percent-
ness in a shorter time. The structure of of the organization is for each of the ages evaluations for all requirements.

j. gapark v. gaparkov h. e l l i n g e r o v i m p r o v e m e n t o f q u a l i t y m a n a g e m e n t l e v e l i n c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a n y ... pp 949 - 957 953


The percentage evaluation of each Electronic evaluation of the proposed according to EFQM model criteria.
sub-criterion is the weighted aver- solution Process of self-evaluation was realized
age of achieved percentage values for Electronic solution of proposed eval- using our software for automated evalu-
each of its requirements, and a set of uation system is realized by using ation quality management level in com-
weights represents the coefficients of Microsoft Excel Program. The aim was pany according to EFQM model criteria.
importance. to design and develop an automated By application of the higher described
(2) system using computer technology, methodology and electronic manual
which would on the basis of defined and the company during 1 year showed
requirements in electronic manual and improvement in all criteria of the EFQM
in evaluation system allow easy, fast model (see Figure 7). Our cooperation
and comfortably realize evaluation of will continue and we assume more dra-
business per-formance and effective- matic improvement next 1-2 years after
ness, as well as clear and understand- implementation next actions especially
able display output of the evaluation in production process.
process. Entering of inputs is handled
where through a questionnaire form, by selec- Relation Between Efqm
PKiSj is achieved percentage evaluation tion of predefined options from "drop Model And Corporate Social
of j sub-criterion in i criterion down menu" (dropdown list). The user Responsibility
r = 1,2...n number of requirements in does not perform any calculations, nor EFQM model corresponds also with
criterion K i and subcriterion Sj, inscribe the input values. The results other philosophies like TQM (Oakland,
dKiSjRr is coefficient of importance for are updated immediately after any 2003), Kaizen, Reengineering (Hammer
r requirements of j sub-criterion change in input data. The selected and Champy, 1993) and Corporate Social
in I criterion values the user can change at all time Responsibility (STN ISO 26000, 2011).
Each of the criterions of the EFQM during the evaluation process (see Corporate Social Responsibility
model has a defined maximum point Figure 4). Sheets enablers (see Figure (CSR) is most often defined by the defi-
value which can be achieved. It is evenly 5) and results (see Figure 6) clearly nition of the European Commission as a
distributed among the individual sub- show achieved percentage scores for concept whereby companies integrate
criteria. The resulting number of points each sub-criteria and requirements, their social and environmental concerns
for the sub-criterion we obtain by mul- and from these values is automatically in their business operations and in their
tiplying of the achieved percentage calculated score for sub-criteria, and interaction with stakeholders on a vol-
value by maximum number of points. all criteria of enablers and results untary basis (European Commission,
Generally we can for any criterion sections. Changes of point values 2001). Socially responsible organiza-
express: are automatically transferred to the tions focus not just on generating prof-
(3) sheet EFQM - assessment, in which its and economic growth but also take
is a graphical view of the structure of into account the social and environ-
the EFQM model with the nine crite- mental aspects of its activities. These
ria and the corresponding percentage three priorities (economic efficiency,
where and scoring for each of them for the environmental responsibility, social
BS is achieved score in evaluated enable and result part and also responsibility for employees, but also
sub-criterion total assessment of all criteria. for society as a whole) can also be des-
Bmax is maximum score which can be ignated by the term "triple-bottom-line"
in a given sub-criterion obtained Application of the proposed respectively as a strategy 3P (People,
PS is achieved percentage evaluation methodology and manual into Planet, Profit).
for given sub-criterion construction company Construction organizations in the
The resulting score for each crite- Application of the proposed method- performance of their business activi-
rion is the sum of achieved point value ology and the electronic manual was ties are not isolated units, acting in a
of its individual sub-criteria. The total made for a construction company in temporal and spatial reality and their
achieved point value concerning the Slovakia. During our cooperation we responsible behaviour should focus on
enablers is the sum of achieved points offered to the company basic training meeting and development of all three
for criterion 1 to 5. The maximum pos- process concerning the EFQM model areas of CSR: (Gaparkov, 2012)
sible score can be 500 points (see development and application and 1. Economic responsibility that
enablers - Figure 1). electronic manual for self-evaluation results from the existence of the

954 o rga n i za t i o n , te ch n ol o g y a n d ma na ge m e n t i n co nst r u c t i o n an international journal 6(1)2014


Table 4. Software illustration of EFQM model basic structure (starting level of criteria evaluation)
(Source: Gapark, 2012)

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Before EFQM application After EFQM


application (1 year)

Legend to Figure 7: Figure 7. Evaluation of EFQM model in


1 - Leadership 2 - Policy and strategy 3 - People (employees) construction company before model
4 - Partnership and resources 5 - Processes, products and services application and after 1 year (Source:
6 - Customer results 7 - People results 8 - Society results 9 - Key results Gapark, 2012)

construction organization in the 2. Environmental responsibility, noise and vibration on site and the
market. It is a responsibility for the aimed at minimizing the impact of surroundings, the protection of
correct behaviour and interactions construction activities on the envi- green, etc.)
with other participants in the pro- ronment in all directions (reduced 3. Social responsibility on the one
cess of preparation and construc- consumption of energy and raw hand, for the health, safety, motiva-
tion (investors, builders, designers, materials, reduction of emissions, tion, training of the employees, but
building contractors, etc.) and for waste minimization and separation, on the other hand, the responsibility
the quality, productivity, efficiency recycling of materials, prevention of construction organization to the
and ability to create new value for of contamination of water and soil, community and society as a whole.
building users (customers). minimizing the negative effects of Each area of CSR contains a lot of

j. gapark v. gaparkov h. e l l i n g e r o v i m p r o v e m e n t o f q u a l i t y m a n a g e m e n t l e v e l i n c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a n y ... pp 949 - 957 955


Figure 5. Software illustration of EFQM model part "enablers"
(Source: Gapark, 2012)

Figure 6. Software illustration of EFQM model part results


(Source: Gapark, 2012)

activities and actions, from which based on the EFQM Excellence Model. It policy and strategy and the day-to-day
the organization chooses the major- is therefore not a new Excellence Model, management of an organization, taking
ity of their focus, or by knowledge of but a framework that provides guide- all stakeholders onto account. The
the needs and requirements of the lines on how to identify, improve and Framework is divided into the same nine
stakeholders. integrate the social, environmental and criteria as the Excellence Model. The
The EFQM Framework for CSR is economic impacts of its operations into Enabler criteria focus on stakeholder

956 o rga n i za t i o n , te ch n ol o g y a n d ma na ge m e n t i n co nst r u c t i o n an international journal 6(1)2014


Hakes, C. (2007), The EFQM Excellence Model
engagement and dialogue, while the continually quality improvement. to Assess Organizational Performance: A
Result criteria focus on perception and The main results of our research Management Guide, Zaltbommel: Van Haren
performance CSR results. Each crite- activity are: Publishing.
rion is the divided into areas of interest, creation of a new electronic manual Hammer, M. and Champy, J. (1993),
with guidance points in each of these for implementation and evaluation of Reengineering the corporation: A manifesto
areas. Automated systems of criteria EFQM model criteria and sub-criteria for business revolution, Harper Collins
evaluation in EFQM model could be used in construction company, Publisher Inc., New York.
also for evaluation of CSR maturity in the definition of mathematical JUSE. (2003), Deming Prize Criteria. JUSE, Tokyo.
order to identify the strengths they models for automated evaluation of
Levicki, C. (1998), Leadership Gene, F.T.
should build on and the areas where EFQM model criteria, Management, London.
they need to focus improvement. To the proposal of own software for
NIST. (2003), The Malcolm Baldridge National
gain maximum benefit, the output from automated evaluation of quality
Quality Award Criteria, NIST, Gaithersburg.
such Self-Assessment exercises should management level for company using
Oakland, J.S. (2003), Total Quality Management,
be integrated into the normal strategy EFQM model,
Elsevier Ltd., Oxford.
formulation and planning processes of continually improvement of construc-
Paulov, I. et al. (2008), Metdy zlepovania
the organization. Furthermore, using tion company quality management
efektvnosti a innosti TQM, STU, Bratislava.
the Framework for CSR reporting will level in all areas of its activities.
Porter, L.J. and Tanner, S.J. (2004), Assessing
help an organization to optimize the use Model EFQM is an effective tool for
Business Excellence: A Guide to Business
of available information together with a continual improvement of organization
Excellence and Self-assessment,
clear and simple approach for reporting. quality, which leads not only to higher
Butterworth-Heinemann, Burlington.
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Porter, L.J. et al. (1998), Evaluating the European
Conclusion satisfaction, success at national and
Quality Award Model for Self-Assessment,
Model EFQM is useful to implement world market and to increasing the
CIMA, London.
after development and implementa- culture of whole organization.
STN ISO 26000:2011, Usmernenie k spoloenskej
tion of Quality Management System
zodpovednosti.
(QMS) according to ISO 9001. QMS rep- References
Zairi, M. (1998), Effective Management of
resents very good basis for application Bendell, T. (1993), Benchmarking for Competitive
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Research work described at this con- practical Guide for Self-assessment, EFQM,
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methodology and electronic manual European Commission. (2001), Green Paper:
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effectively introduce and implement Corporate Social Responsibility, (accessed 8
EFQM model requirements to practice November 2012), available at: http://eur-lex.
in a relatively short period of time with europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2001/

aim to constantly improvement its per- com2001_0366en01.pdf .

formance towards excellence. Gapark, J. and Gapark, M.(2012),


Defined methodology suggests and Automatizovan systm hodnotenia kvality

explains the sequence of steps towards vrobnej organizcie poda modelu EFQM,
Edition TRIBUN EU, Brno.
EFQM model applying the electronic
manual describes all of EFQM model Gapark, J. and Bciov, M. (2011), Higher

sub-criteria and provides concrete levels of quality management in construction


companies, in Organization, Technology and
suggestions and solutions to meet
Management in Construction Proceedings
them. The part of manual there is also
from 10th International Conference, vol. 40,
automated electronic assessment
no. 2, pp. 206-215.
system for construction organiza-
Gaparkov, V. (2012), Spoloensk
tions which was verified in real com-
zodpovednos stavebnej organizcie v
pany. Application of the methodology
zmysle poiadaviek normy ISO 26000:2010,
and manual enables in a short time to
in IX. International Scientific Conference of
evaluate company quality management Faculty of Civil Engineering [CD-ROM], Koice.
level and to identify opportunities for

j. gapark v. gaparkov h. e l l i n g e r o v i m p r o v e m e n t o f q u a l i t y m a n a g e m e n t l e v e l i n c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a n y ... pp 949 - 957 957

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