Role of Design Audits in Reducing Errors and Rework: Lessons from Hong Kong
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 28, Issue 3
Abstract
Design audits have been identified as an effective mechanism for reducing errors and the subsequent rework that can arise during the construction process. Despite their effectiveness, errors and rework remain problematic issues as a result of ineffective audit protocols and systems. Drawing on experiences from Hong Kong, a triangulated research approach is adopted to examine how design audits can be effectively used to reduce errors and rework. With increasing schedule and fee pressures being imposed upon construction and engineering firms by their clients, it is vital that engineering firms do not eschew tasks associated with the auditing process to ameliorate efficiency and maximize fees. The rework associated with addressing errors during construction not only increases project costs and the schedule, but also reduces an engineering firm’s profit and reputation. A systemic audit system for construction projects derived from experiences in Hong Kong, and which may also be considered in other countries, is presented.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Acharya, N. K., Lee, Y-.D., and Kim, J-.S. (2006). “Design errors: Inefficiency or carelessness of designer?” J. Perform. Constr. Facil., 192–195.
Adams, D., and Carwardine, M. (1990) Last chance to see, Ballantine Books, New York.
Blockley, D. I. (1980). The nature of structural design and safety, Ellis Horwood, Chichester, U.K.
Blockley, D. I. (1985). “Reliability or responsibility?” Struct. Saf., 2(4), 273–280.
British Standards Institution (BSI). (2001). “Structural use of steelwork in building code of practice for design. Rolled and welded sections.” BS 5950, London.
Buildings Department (BD). (2005). Code of practice for site supervision, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong.
Buildings Department (BD). (2009). Demolition works—Measures for public safety, APP 21, 71, practice note for authorised persons and registered structural engineers, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong.
Buildings Department (BD). (2012). Chapter 123, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong, 〈http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_pdf.nsf/〉 (Mar. 19, 2014).
Burati, J. L., Jr., Farrington, J. J., and Ledbetter, W. B. (1992). “Causes of quality deviations in design and construction.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 34–49.
Carper, K. L. (2005). Quality and safety: The ultimate legacy of forensic engineering, forensic engineering—Diagnosing failures and solving problems, B. S. Neale, ed., Thomas Telford, London, 13–25.
Chapman, J. C. (1998). “Collapse of the Ramsgate Walkway.” Struct. Eng., 76(1), 1–10.
Collins, M. P., Vecchio, F. J., Selby, R. G., and Gupta, P. R. (2000). “Failure of an offshore platform.” Can. Consulting Eng., Mar./Apr., 43–48.
Comerford, J. B., and Blockley, D. I. (1993). “Managing safety and hazard through dependability.” Struct. Saf., 12(1), 21–33.
Farrington, J. F. (1987). “A methodology to identify and categorise costs of quality deviations in design and construction.” Ph.D. thesis, Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC.
ISO 9001. (2012). ISO 9000 family of standards, quality management, Geneva, Switzerland.
Lopez, R., and Love, P. E. D. (2012). “Design error costs in construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 585–593.
Lopez, R., Love, P., Edwards, D., and Davis, P. (2010). “Design error classification, causation, and prevention in constructed engineering.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil., 399–408.
Love, P. E. D. (2002). “Influence of project type and procurement method on rework costs in building construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 18–29.
Love, P. E. D., Davis, P. R., Cheung, S. O., and Irani, Z. (2011). “Causal discovery and inference of project disputes.” IEEE Trans. Eng. Manage., 58(3), 400–411.
Love, P. E. D., Edwards, D. J., and Irani, Z. (2012). “Moving beyond optimism bias and strategic misrepresentation: An explanation for social infrastructure project cost overruns.” IEEE Trans. Eng. Manage., 59(4), 560–571.
Love, P. E. D., Edwards, D. J., and Smith J. (2013). “Systemic project life cycle model for design error prevention.” Struct. Infrastruct. Eng., 9(7), 689–701.
Love, P., Edwards, D., Watson, H., and Davis, P. (2010). “Rework in civil infrastructure projects: Determination of cost predictors.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 275–282.
Lyden, T. (2012). “Consultant: Vibrations could be cause of cable failure.” Fox 9 News, 〈http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/consultant-vibrations-could-be-cause-of-bridge-cable-failure-feb-23-2012〉 (Feb. 29, 2012).
Ministry of Manpower, Singapore. (2005). “Report of the Committee of the Inquiry into the Incident at the MRT Circle Line Worksite that Lead to the Collapse of the Nicoll Highway 20th April 2004.” 〈http://www.mom.gov.sg〉 (Aug. 22, 2012).
Mylius, A. (2005). “Design and construction failures caused Singapore tunnel collapse.” New Civil Engineer, 〈http://www.nce.co.uk/design-and-construction-failures-caused-singapore-tunnel-collapse/534211.article〉 (Mar. 19, 2014).
Netto, A. M., and Christudason, A. (2001). “Who pays: Culpability of experts for building failures in Singapore.” Forensic engineering—The investigation of failures, B. S. Neale, ed., Thomas Telford, London.
Palaneeswaran, E., Ng, S. T., and Kumaraswamy, M. M. (2006). “Client satisfaction and quality management systems in contractor organizations.” Build. Environ., 41(11), 1557–1570.
Palaneeswaran, E., Ramanathan, M., and Tam, C. M. (2007). “Rework in projects—Learning from errors.” Surv. Built Environ., 18(2), 47–59.
Public Record Office of Victoria. (1971). “Royal Commission into the failure of West Gate Bridge, VPRS 2591/P0, unit 14.” 〈http://www.nce.co.uk/design-and-construction-failures-caused-singapore-tunnel-collapse/534211.article〉 (Mar. 19, 2014).
Reason, J. R. (1997). Managing the risks of organizational accidents, Ashgate Publishing, Farnham, U.K.
Robinson-Fayek, A., Manjula Dissanayake, M., and Campero, O. (2003). Measuring and classifying construction rework: A pilot study, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Construction Owners Association of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Sayers, J. (2002). “Design error at French N-plants could affect seismic resistance.” Nuclear Energy, 41(6), 362–363.
Singh, P. (2005). “Design and construction failures caused Singapore tunnel collapse.” New Civil Engineer, 1572, 8–11.
Sung, T. J., and You, M. (2007). “A method for establishing an online design audit platform.” Des. Stud., 28(2), 195–211.
Turner, B. A. (1978). Man made disasters, Wykeham Press, London.
Weld, R. (2008). “Design issues force repairs to big Alaska air base hangers.” Engineering Record, 260(9), 16.
Wolchuk, R. (2008). “Design reviews should be mandatory.” Civ. Eng., 78(1), 8–9.
Wyatt, T. A. (1989). Design guide on the vibration of floors, The Steel Concrete Institute, Berkshire, U.K.
Zeyher, A. (2008). “Judgment held—Interim reports from NTSB contains more than maybes.” Roads and Bridges, 〈http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2013/130307.html〉 (Mar. 19, 2014).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 28 • Issue 3 • June 2014
Pages: 511 - 517
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 31, 2012
Accepted: Feb 25, 2013
Published online: Feb 27, 2013
Published in print: Jun 1, 2014
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.