Project Quality Management: Analysis of Cross River Rail Project

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Cross River Rail project, focusing on the application of quality management principles. It begins with an introduction to the project and an overview of the key concepts, including Total Quality Management (TQM), Six Sigma, and benchmarking. The ...Read More

MANAGING PROJECT
QUALITY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
Total quality management......................................................................................................3
Six Sigma and Bench-marking...............................................................................................4
Discussion and Analysis.........................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Quality management will directly imply through capability for anticipating situations and
to prepare actions which helps to accomplish the desired outcome. The main objective is for
preventing defects via creation of particular action for ensuring project team for understanding
definition of quality. The present report will discuss about Cross River rail project which is
Australian based project. In the similar context, it has stated total quality management, six sigma
and bench-marking for improving its quality. This report will represent limitations, shortcomings
along with key issues and risk. It has also articulated the things which were not performed well
and it’s vice versa as well. This report will also give various suggestions for improvement and
recommendations on basis of Cross river rail project.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Total quality management
According to Schreiner and et.al. (2018), total quality management is stated as collective
and associated system of various quality practices related to customer satisfaction along with
organizational performance. It has been argued that TQM has less involvement in improving
performance and some aspects are fad. In the present scenario, its techniques and principles are
well accepted part in each manager's tool kit. As per views of Gutierrez-Gutierrez Barrales-
Molina and kaynak (2018), it is a pathway for customer satisfaction and organizational
performance. There is presence of four areas of management practices with context of TQM
system for assessing: human resource management, information and analysis, strategic quality
planning and management of process quality.
According to Muruganantham and et.al., (2018), integrated TQM could be replicated as
combination pf seven constructs which are quality measurement and bench-marking, product
design, top management commitment, process management, supplier quality management,
employee training and empowerment and customer satisfaction along with involvement. This
TQM is proven as appropriate and systematic approach for improving overall business process of
business entity consist of quality of services and products. Bajaj, Garg and Sethi (2018), had
stated, transformation of TQM business entity is directly dependent on extent of firms for
successfully implementing different quality management practices. The practices of TQM
consist of customer and supplier relationship, management support, quality information, process
management, workforce engagement and product or service design. This process will help them

in analyzing their work capacity and quality which is very beneficiary for them in order to
enhance their performance.
As per views of Carmona-Marquez and et.al., (2018), TQM implementation has major
organizational change with need of transforming organizational processes, culture, beliefs, and
strategic priorities among others. There is need of critical success factors of implying TQM with
appearance of wide variety in outcome of TQM. The relationship among soft elements of critical
success factors with context of TQM tangible impact had influenced through its activities like
culture, teamwork, employment continuity, trust, top management leadership for continuous
improvement and quality along with customer satisfaction and customer involvement. According
to Talapatra, Uddin and Rahman (2018), for considering good application of personnel is
difficult with required issue and should be overcome. It describes management approach for
achieving long term success via customer satisfaction and in effort of TQM, each member of
organization directly involves in process of improvement, services, products and culture where
they belong to.
Six Sigma and Bench-marking
As per views of Lippi and Plebani (2018), bench-marking plays very important role in
methodology of Six sigma which helps in enabling practitioners of Six sigma for driving
improvement and to obtain different measurements or to analyze standard of their data. In the
phase of Six sigma, bench-marking helps for setting its requirements which should be measured
for determining its performance gaps. Generally, it enables specialists of Six Sigma for shaping
strategy to set targets for chosen benchmark as per industry norms. With application of bench-
marking in any project for purpose of selecting benchmarks against current performance measure
in any business entity with objective of producing various improvements.
On the contrary, Laureani and Antony (2018) has stated that it helps business entity for
measuring efficiency with context of different operational metrics it is inadequate for measuring
overall effectiveness. The standards which were attained through competitors are revealed
through bench-marking but some circumstances are not considered where standards are attained
through competitors. If visions and goals of competitor were flawed or restricted because of
specific factor, any business entity by bench-marking its standards with its risk. This process
helps in determining the loop holes that are present in the project as it can be very helpful in
enhancing their performance.

According to William and et.al., (2017), chosen benchmarks has requirement to align it
properly with organization's strategy. While comparing strategic objectives of business entity
with its bench-marking partners are replicated as initial step. In the similar context, there is need
for ensuring various indicators which are measured for improvement perspective. It is systematic
process for comparison and performance metrics of business process to industry best practices in
context of time, quality and cost dimensions on basis of performing things in cheaper, better and
faster perspective. As per views of Bateh and Farah (2017), it is danger of arrogance and
complacency. Various organizations tends for relaxing beyond competitors standards which
allows complacency for developing. Finally, different business entity creates error for
undertaking bench-marking as stand-alone activity. It is only mode of end and worthless for not
accompanying plan to alter.
Discussion and Analysis
Limitations and shortcomings
There are so many limitations and shortcomings which has a huge impact on this project
and which can be addressed effectively by the project team in order to enhance their quality. To
increase the working performance and quality of work it is essential to manage all the limitations
and shortcomings effectively. For example, they use total quality management for managing
project's quality in efficient aspect which will be very helpful for them. In similar aspect, they
can apply bench-marking and sigma methods as well to measure their performance effectively.
With the help of these two process, the quality of the project will be increased which can provide
them a positive impact on their performance (Cross River Rail Projects, 2017).
Apart from this, they can plan a strategic plan for their project which can assist them in
increasing their efficiency and working performance as well. This will help in considering
reform options and operational efficiency measures such as new generation signaling, and
infrastructure options. There is a lack of proper monitoring as well to check the proper quality of
the project, as monitoring results will help them in informing the need for corrective actions
where the environmental outcome is not achieved in the project (Bajaj, Garg and Sethi, 2018).
Key risk and issues
River rail project has presence of different risk and issues during its construction which
are:

 Site specific risk: It is risk assessment which is adapted for specific site and consist of
relevant information for any particular project. In this river rail project, this risk includes
flooding risk with requirement of acquiring additional land for purpose of delivering
project along with appropriate access to basic and necessary utilities during construction.
In the similar aspect, there is presence of risk around for accessing the site (Project
Evaluation Summary, 2018).
 Design risk: It is replicated as potential for particular design which fails for satisfying the
need of any project. It comprises designs which are designed on fundamental aspect as
infeasible, flawed, inefficient and unstable or lower than client standards. With context of
need for altering the designs and to give access to services on emergency aspect and in
the same series, for accounting contamination and geotechnical conditions (Talapatra,
Uddin and Rahman, 2018). As an outcome, its subjective analytical methods are directly
relying on information of historic aspect and company and individual's experience for
assessing impact of uncertainty and construction risk (Bateh, and Farah, 2017).
 Construction risk: It could be defined along with exposure of each possibility of loss as
each project is unique and offers multitude for varying risks. For ensuring success of any
project, its contractor must be capable for recognizing and to assess risk (Williams and
et.al., 2017). With context of river rail project, risk of damage for existing infrastructure
and related risk for bad integration and to set coordination among different contracts.
 Industrial relation risk: This is considered as major risk which is directly allocated for
specific contract and impacts responses which are prepared building contractors to
prepare in terms of management (Cross River Rail Projects, 2017).
 The main risk is not to meet expectations of community and to encounter opposition of
community whose outcome is in altering project delays and design.
What was done well
The Cross River Rail project is offered as a solution to the predicted impacts, providing
an additional crossing under the Brisbane River. It would also provide additional services to
accommodate increased patronage and free up additional surface rail network capacity for the
future. There are so many activities which was performed well in this project which helped them
in improving their quality and performance (Project Evaluation Summary, 2018). There are so
many activities which was performed very well and which helped them in increasing their

quality of work. For example they have a very good strategic management with the help of
which they are able to perform well. All these activities has helped the project to perform well in
this which has a positive impact on their organization.
These strategies assist them in managing their work accordingly. They had a good
infrastructure investment options which helped them in enhancing their work. They have
effectively managed their financial status as well which has a huge role in managing any project
and its quality level. Compared to the project, the changed project generally reduces potential
impacts on land use, tenure, land contamination, topography, geography and soils. There are
various factors or fields in which project had a significant impact and performed their work
really well, such as, traffic and transport, social environment, on land as well (Carmona-Márquez
and et.al., 2018). All these activities has a huge impact on their overall work practice, so has to
be effective.
What was not done well
The rail river project has faced capacity constrained which signifies the rule which helps
in governing items amount which could be directly awarded to supplier. With application of
capacity constraints business are awarded to prefer supplier with its volume of business and
supplier could be limited. Presence of five lines through south and west and in similar aspect 6
lines from north directly merge via CBD which had limited path as well. The capacity of
network to its service growth in CBD has limited space constraints on specific concourses and
platforms (Gutierrez-Gutierrez, Barrales-Molina and Kaynak, 2018). The CBD station which are
existing are not expected for having capacity to fulfill and to predict demand level for
maintaining operational efficiency along with reliability. These factors are directly expected as
outcome for increasing crowd in trains and at station which impacts comfort along with service
reliability.
In the inner city bus network was constrained. While these constraints signifies that rail
network has to be directly reach capacity and it is unclear with its happenings. The undertaken
modeling through reflecting its proponent as in 2026, capacity will be gained through rail lines of
south and north of CBD along with maximum loading of seats for several sections (Laureani, and
Antony, 2018). The given actual train capacity comprises standing passengers which is higher
than modeled future seated load factors along with crowding level which is predicted through
proponent modeling indicates on train crowding for providing significant impact on reliability.

There is expectation for laying special emphasis on rail patronage, travel time, on board
crowding along with accessibility and conditions of road network (Cross River Rail Projects,
2017)..
Infrastructure Australia has evaluated this business case in year 2017 and shown concerns
related to rail patronage projections which might be not attained and its advantage along with
cost benefit ratio is less than 1. There is absence of emerging scale of estimated de-crowding
advantages. The implication of project change had presence of different amendments for
imposing and stating conditions in CGER for representing:
 Changes to project consists of location of construction work sites, station location, spoil
haulage routes and placement locations as well.
 Alteration in environmental impact as outcome of changes in specific project.
 Alteration in approach of environmental management for responding to community
feedback and project changes (Lippi and Plebani, 2018).
 Presence of consequential changes for drafting outline environmental management plan.
The schedule developed through delivery of altered project is expected to be same for one
project where whole construction is undertaken inn approximate five years.
Recommendations
1. There must be continuation for undertaking consultation with key stakeholders for
minimizing its constraints on basis of planned development of stage 2. As planning
should be built through Eco-sciences.
2. Greenspace planning must be performed as proponent must liaise with Brisbane city
council for offsetting loss of public open space pocket parts.
3. There must be implementation of mined tunneling with context of work health and safety
act (Muruganantham and et.al., 2018).
4. There must be undertake of assessment for considering potential impacts on specific
surface traffic, public transport and pedestrian network of proposed alteration about exit
arrangements with appropriate consultation.
5. The proponent must be involved and consultation with key stakeholders along with
western freight users group related to possession of rail corridor for decreasing impact on
movement of rail freight during construction.
6. It could use total quality management for managing project's quality in efficient aspect.

7. In the similar aspect, bench-marking and sigma must be used as performing measure
(Schreiner and et.al., 2018).
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be sum up that managing project quality is very important
for any project as it can enhance their quality of work. This report has talked about the Cross
River Rail Project which is an Australian based project. Present assessment has focused on
process like total quality management and six sigma and bench-marking which has helped them
a lot in improving their work. It has also discussed about the various worked well for them which
does not, as this will assist them in evaluating their quality in work. Apart from this, it has
discussed about various key risk and issues which can arise during the project completion, for
example, site specific, design, construction and industrial relation risk which has to be tackled by
them effectively. Further, it has recommended some strategies which they can implement in their
project in order enhance their performance and quality of their project.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bajaj, S., Garg, R. and Sethi, M., 2018. Total quality management: a critical literature review
using Pareto analysis. International Journal of Productivity and Performance
Management. 67(1). pp.128-154.
Bateh, J. and Farah, J., 2017. Reducing Call Center Wait Times Through Six Sigma. The Journal
of Business Inquiry. 17(2). pp.131-148.
Carmona-Márquez, F. J., and et.al., 2018, July. TQM implementation: From institutionalization
to superior performance attainment. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2018,
No. 1, p. 14475). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.
Gutierrez-Gutierrez, L. J., Barrales-Molina, V. and Kaynak, H., 2018. The role of human
resource-related quality management practices in new product development: A dynamic
capability perspective. International Journal of Operations & Production
Management. 38(1). pp.43-66.
Laureani, A. and Antony, J., 2018. Leadership–a critical success factor for the effective
implementation of Lean Six Sigma. Total Quality Management & Business
Excellence. 29(5-6). pp.502-523.
Lippi, G. and Plebani, M., 2018. A Six-Sigma approach for comparing diagnostic errors in
healthcare—where does laboratory medicine stand?. Radiology. 4. pp.3-25.
Muruganantham, G. and et.al., 2018. Application of interpretive structural modelling for
analysing barriers to total quality management practices implementation in the automotive
sector. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. 29(5-6). pp.524-545.
Schreiner, M. and et.al., 2018. Importance of Product Color for Total Quality Management.
In Integrated View of Fruit and Vegetable Quality (pp. 107-118). CRC Press.
Talapatra, S., Uddin, M. K. and Rahman, M. H., 2018. Development of an Implementation
Framework for Integrated Management System Based on the Philosophy of Total Quality
Management. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management. 8(06). p.1507.
Williams, K., and et.al., 2017. Benchmarking Technology Competence. In The Legal
Technology Guidebook (pp. 37-39). Springer, Cham.

Online
Cross River Rail Projects. 2017. [Online]. Available
through<https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/resources/project/cross-river-rail/crr-cg-
change-report.pdf>
Project Evaluation Summary. 2018. [Online]. Available through<
http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/projects/files/20170727-Cross-River-Rail-
Summary.pdf>.