ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER - June 2010
QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM (QAS) AND THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
The global economic crisis is being felt at varying levels in each country, with these differences largely attributed to factors such as social structure. One of the most important factors influencing this is the presence of strong companies. Firms that have established a solid corporate structure and have a significant presence in the global trade arena are of great importance to their respective countries. The construction sector constitutes approximately 40% of the national economy in many countries, and Turkey is no exception. Therefore, the institutionalization of construction firms, which are a crucial component of the national economy, is of great importance for the future of the country.
Institutionalization and Its Importance
Institutionalization can be defined as the creation of a structure that allows a company to continue its operations and grow independently of individual personnel. The primary objective of institutionalization is to ensure that the company is not reliant on individual skills or methods, ensuring continuity. This means that although people may not always be present in key roles, the operations will continue without disruption.
Typically, firms are not established with a planned structure. Both globally and in Turkey, many firms begin as family businesses. A bold entrepreneur often starts with limited capital, using their own physical effort, and gradually expands the business with family members as conditions improve. This kind of growth is usually unplanned. There is a saying that reflects this phenomenon: "The first generation establishes a family business, the second inherits it, and the third sells the business, bringing it to an end." Statistics largely validate this observation. The continuation of businesses is not only important for family members but also for the country. Therefore, institutionalization should be a process that begins after the establishment of the business.
The Need for Change and Adaptation
Institutionalization is a necessary part of modern society, both globally and in Turkey. It is essential to recognize that organizations are not static but undergo changes over time. However, during this process, some organizations succeed in becoming permanent, while others fail to do so due to their inability to institutionalize. The primary reasons for failure include resistance to changing environmental conditions, management that is not open to innovation, lack of strategic thinking, failure to establish effective information systems, and not responding to changes and pressures from the external environment.
The Role of Quality Assurance Systems (QAS) in Institutionalization
For construction firms in Turkey, which also bear the responsibility of earthquake safety, the Quality Assurance System (QAS) plays a significant role in their institutionalization. Quality assurance ensures that high-quality products and services are produced consistently and that customers are guaranteed the longevity and reliability of these offerings.
Quality assurance refers to the systematic and planned activities that ensure a product or service meets the required quality standards. This includes documenting instructions, tasks, and responsibilities, training employees, and raising awareness about quality issues to maintain the desired level of quality using minimal resources. In 1987, the ISO 9000 series standards were introduced to meet the international quality needs and were accepted globally. These standards serve as a model for developing a Quality Assurance System (QAS) tailored to a company’s conditions or for evaluating the QAS of another company.
The Introduction of QAS in the Construction Sector
In the construction (concrete) sector, the Quality Assurance System was introduced as one of the first examples of sector-specific oversight in Turkey. The Turkish Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (THBB) established the QAS in 1996. The QAS Economic Enterprise carries out inspections and certification for high-risk products, such as construction materials, and aims to contribute to the production of high-quality buildings.
The efforts of the Turkish Ready-Mixed Concrete Association to ensure quality concrete production and supervise ready-mixed concrete companies should be supported by all stakeholders. Particularly, it is important for concrete users to choose QAS-certified concrete, as this will support the initiative of QAS and contribute to producing high-quality materials and services.
The Turkish Ready-Mixed Concrete Association QAS Enterprise (QAS) has been tasked with issuing the "G Conformity Certificate" for concrete, in accordance with the Ministry of Public Works and Settlement’s regulations. This responsibility, which was assigned through a notification published in the Official Gazette on May 27, 2010, marks an important development in the oversight of the construction sector.
The Contribution of QAS to Turkey
Summarizing the potential contributions of the Turkish Ready-Mixed Concrete Association QAS to Turkey, particularly given the country’s location in an active seismic zone and its history of earthquake damage, we can highlight the following benefits:
- Consistency in Quality
- Improved management control and organizational efficiency
- Better product design
- Reduction in customer complaints
- Less stress in the work environment
- Improved company image and reputation
- Better competitive opportunities
- Increased customer trust
- Higher productivity
- Minimized costs
- Maximum assurance
The implementation of QAS in the construction sector will provide significant financial and moral benefits to Turkey. Expanding this certification to include building structures across the country would result in even greater benefits. It is hoped that a building inspection system suitable for Turkey’s conditions will be implemented nationwide as soon as possible. In this regard, I wish the Turkish Ready-Mixed Concrete Association success in this very important new role.