Identification of Solutions to Improve Material Quality Management Using Building Information Modeling Approach

Abstract

One of the indicators of success is achieving the defined dimensions of quality, time, and cost of projects. Most projects take cost and time factors into account seriously. Because they have a more defined method of measurement and definition for them than quality. Quality means meeting the needs of stakeholders’ expectations; and if stakeholders’ expectations are not met, it cannot certainly be said that the project has succeeded. In the meantime, material quality is a major and influential part of the quality index. According to the definition of quality (compliance with requirements and appropriate for the user), it seems that lack of transparency in the material selection criteria due to their diversity, not using integrated information to select material, and also designers’ lack of accurate knowledge of the material quality criteria, make decision making about this issue difficult and complicated. It is almost difficult to evaluate and integrate these criteria, requirements and expectations for quality. Achieving the desired quality is the result of teamwork and requires the participation of all stakeholders from the initial stages of the project. The aim of this study is to identify solutions to improve the material quality management using Building Information Modeling (IBM) approach. The applied research methodology used for this study is the mixed method. In-depth literature Review and interviews have been used to collect data and review the previous studies and their interpretation. Then, data are classified through multi-criteria decision making methods, in order to provide appropriate solutions to improve the materials quality. BIM causes collaborations and integrations among designers, architects, construction contractors, and material suppliers, and helps correct management of time and provides more accurate documents, energy performance evaluation and sustainability of the selected materials. The necessity of conducting this study is to reduce the existing management vacuum due to diversity and lack of transparency in the quality dimensions of materials from the stakeholders’ perspective, and to facilitate decision making through BIM to select the best option. This relatively new approach, practically shows common goals for different stakeholders of the project that prevents dissatisfactions with the project.