INTEGRATING QUALITY ASSURANCE WITHIN THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE. A CONCEPTUAL MODEL.

This paper proposes that thorough the integration of Quality Assurance/Quality Control within the Project Management Office it is possible to take advantage of these two fields in a suitable way. Present project delivery methods are applying outsourcing as an alternative for lowering construction costs. As a consequence medium and small size construction enterprises are encouraged to demonstrate quality assurance in their processes. The discussion is based on the experience during the implementation of project management within a construction enterprise. First, an introduction of the situation of quality theory within the project management environment is provided. Second part explores the characteristics of the method of production driven by projects; third section describes quality assurance and quality control fundamentals. In the fourth section the role of the project management office is described. Section number five introduces a conceptual model that integrates Quality Assurance /Quality Control within the Project Management Office explaining roles and interactions. Finally, some concluding comments are provided.