Towards total quality project delivery: synthesis of the conceptual phase

The notion that the conceptual phase is the prime period in which major decisions are made and influences the success of downstream activities of engineering, construction, handover and maintenance is an established fact. The decision on quality issues should also be perpetuated in the conceptual phase if the final product were to embody one. Furthermore, decision in this phase incur the least cost: a windfall yet to be harnessed. The first important step toward realising this fact is establishing and benchmarking the tasks content of the conceptual phase. The objectives of the paper are to expound the methodology adopted, results and discussions on the establishing and benchmarking of the conceptual phase tasks involving sixty companies throughout Europe. These companies are clients, consultant and contractors covering the whole range in construction industry: building construction, civil engineering and engineering construction.