Property and Quality Management in Qatar - Case Study Example

Introduction

The Almuftah Contracting Company (AMCC) was established in 1977 under the larger Almuftah Group of companies. AMCC is one of the biggest multi-disciplined construction and civil engineering organizations in Qatar. Since its inception, the organization has developed a respectable track record for being successful in the completion of various projects in commercial and high-rise building construction, property development and industrial construction. As one of the most important and biggest mainstays of the Almuftah Group, the Almuftah Contracting Company Civil sector observes the stringent laid down rules and regulations for quality and has invested an extensive range of resources in making sure that it applies only the most advanced engineering and construction methods (Varghese & Menacere, 2012). The team members are selected from all over the world including Europe and America and apply their highly specialized expertise and skills and make good use of highly specialized technology to guarantee the success of the projects they handle.

The company's OHSAS 18001:2007, ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2008 certifications additionally stand as evidence to the company's commitment to the provision of cost-effective and leading edge solutions, as well as affording the partners and all the involved stakeholders only the best type of service imaginable (Almuftah.com). The company's commitment to excellence reinforces the durability of the relationships the company makes with them. The company believes that construction involves more than just development of a built environment. It is additionally about the development of structures that motivate and inspire marvel, developing spaces that assist individuals thrive, as well as the creating the path for Qatar's future.

Company Products

AMCC has a long history operating with the global leading building and construction consultants to develop some of the best designs. With approximately over 35 years since its inception, the company has worked with customers both in Qatar and abroad and studied the Middle East regional construction market sequences in conjunction with the customers to create tactics and strategies as well as products that will deliver good results across both unfavorable and favorable market environments. The company has various departments that specialize in the specialized production of different services and products including commercial road mapping, commercial drainage construction, and management, landscaping, as well as maintenance and servicing of key infrastructural creations such as bridges and roads (Almuftah.com).

Commercial Roading

The company undertakes motorway and road construction, resurfacing, road surfacing, road maintenance, and motorway construction. The company has experienced and skilled staff along with an extensive range of plant and equipment that guarantees that the company can efficaciously complete all the projects promptly as well as within the budget, and most importantly, ensuring that the finished products are top quality. In this regard, the company undertakes Asphalt paving, curb and sidewalk repairs, car parks, road repairs, construction and reconstruction, road resurfacing, highway and local council road construction.

Commercial Drainage

The company has a vast array of experience in installing culverts, spillways, Vee drains and installations of storm water drainage. The company always adheres to the industry laid out best practices about installations as well as adhering to Qatar's and client's specifications and standards. Some of the projects undertaken by the company in this regard include spillways, storm water drainage, cutoff, vee and table drains as well as culverts.

Enhancement Services and Landscape Construction Works

The company is also renowned for providing landscape and construction enhancement services, which include tree barking and planting, installation of water features, arbors, irrigation systems, repair and troubleshooting, lawn renovation and installation, annual flower maintenance and displays, drainage solutions and site grading.

Commercial Building Construction

The company is probably renowned for commercial building and construction services. The company has assembled a team of experts who have specialized in the design and construction of offices, supermarkets, car parking shade, aircraft hangars, pre-engineered buildings, villas and high-rise buildings. The company is also involved in demolition works, building renovations, and site grading, as well as mega industrial earthworks projects. The company is also engaged in instrumentation construction work, which includes II (industrial instrumentation) in addition to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC). Other services include pneumatic control piping and switchgear control systems. The company also carries out electrical works, which includes wiring, cabling, transformers, installation of UPS (uninterruptible power source), switchgear as well as electrical substations (Omar et al., 2013). Other activities include installing firefighting stations, telephone networks, running tracks, as well as tank foundations.

Market Share

The Almuftah Group is arguably the biggest company in Qatar. Under the Aluftah Group consortium, there are more than 20 individual companies operating independently though under the umbrella of the larger group. AMCC as noted earlier forms art of the larger group and is considered the workhorse of the larger company as a result of the many projects and income the company generates for the Almuftah Group. In this regard, AMCC is the face of the bigger group and is considered the biggest marketing platform for the company because of the nature of the products they develop. Architectural constructions are considered a huge marketing platform for such companies because the products are visual and easily seen by the larger population at any time of the day.

Being the workhorse of the larger company, AMCC brings nearly a fifth of the company's revenues. In the recent past, the Qatari Government, as well as many other private investors have awarded mega construction contracts to Almuftah Group through the AMCC. For instance, AMCC has been contracted by Al Tadamon Motors & Trading Co. to construct a new workshop and modify the current accommodation housing units at industrial area. Other notable construction works include; Al Meera Shamal Refurbishment, Al Meera Convenience Store at Lea Bair, Al Meera Convenience Store at Umm Salal Ali, Construction of a mosque in Al Wukair, Site grading and associated works for the Doha Depot Expansion Project, among others. Some of these projects have been completed as some began in 2012. Others are still under construction. The Qatari Government through the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs awarded AMCC with a multi-million dollar construction of a Mosque Al Wakrah (Almuftah.com). Of late, the company has continuously received business opportunities within Qatar and beyond.

The company is evidently very popular in Qatar and the number of contracts the company is working on current point to a very big market share. Although the market reports on the market share of the company are not readily available, the company seems to have a larger market share as compared to the competitors. Being the workhorse of the larger company, and given the stiff competition from smaller companies that are coming up with cutting edge designs, the company seems to be doing very well considering the circumstances. An estimated 30 mega projects in 2015 indicates a company that is trusted by both the Government and the private sector. The company seems successful where most have failed in the developing country. Good branding, extensive marketing, and availability of capital are some of the strategies that have pushed the company to the top. Building quality structures that look magnificent on the outside and functional spaces have given the company prominence in Qatar.

Company Quality Initiative

The development of the construction industry is influenced by two key factors: technology and construction management. In the past 40 years, even though few advanced and new technologies have been used in construction projects, the industry's efficiency has continued to lag behind. For instance, in the past three years, the productivity of the Qatari construction sector seems to be adopting a downward trend. Other countries have also been affected by this spiraling trend. The main underlying problem is that the innovations and technologies have been unable to reduce the expenses related to construction and design, while at the same time, making improvements to the construction process (Varghese & Menacere, 2012). For instance, even though the CAD (Computer Aided Design) has made improvements to drawing efficiency, however, the technology is not able to make reductions to errors and in turn, they cause the need for reworking within construction, which renders it difficult for construction managers to take advantage of the process of construction for reducing costs.

The above challenge is relevant to AMCC building and construction projects, where the intention is to make reductions to the costs and to increase the level of quality through an enhanced constructability of the construction design. Nonetheless, the current innovations have been unable, as yet, to effectively provide support the application of building and construction projects. Thus, the application of contemporary management and new technology concepts are likely to be two methodologies that can improve the company's efficiency. In this regard, the company has in the past implemented a new management philosophy that touches on lean thinking.

Lean construction methodologies, similar to the present practice across the industry, have the objective of better meeting the client's requirements through an effective management of the available resources. This term was formulated by IGLC (International Group for Lean Construction) in the year 1993. This strategy refers to the implementation of cost minimizing practices and principles in both construction and design processes for reducing waste and maximizing value. In the past five years, the company has adapted these lean techniques for profit maximization as well as the elimination of waste. Evident in its architectural designs and methods of construction, application of lean techniques starts with commitment in leadership and is sustained by implementing a culture of incessant improvement and development. Proper application of the lean principles has seen the company make dramatic improvements in efficiency, quality, and safety, which are attained at the project level.

The company has implemented the following strategies on projects: AMCC has endeavored to select the best suppliers of building materials that are willing to support the system of lean project delivery; the organization, as a unit of the larger group, has been administratively structured to let funds move in pursuit of the projects that give the best returns; aligned and defined schedules, budgets and scopes for all projects undertaken by the company. The company has additionally managed the option of developing and adapting to different methods of construction. AMCC has also practiced production control according to cost cutting measures incorporated in their production policies. Other measures adapted by AMCC about lean quality improvement measures include the implementation of safety and building policies into all the projects undertaken by the company. These lean strategies have improved the company's performance in the last five years, ensuring that the company maximizes its profits through lean production, and improving quality standards resulting in brand development.

Conclusion

Since its inception, the Almuftah Contracting Company (AMCC) has developed a respectable track record for being successful in the completion of various projects in commercial and high-rise building construction, property development and industrial construction. The company's OHSAS 18001:2007, ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2008 certifications additionally stand as evidence to the company's commitment to the provision of cost-effective and leading edge solutions, as well as affording the partners and all the involved stakeholders only the best type of service imaginable. The company has assembled a team of experts who have specialized in the design and construction of offices, supermarkets, car parking shade, aircraft hangars, pre-engineered buildings, villas and high-rise buildings.

In the past five years, the company has adapted lean techniques for profit maximization as well as the elimination of waste. Evident in its architectural designs and methods of construction, application of lean techniques starts with commitment in leadership and is sustained by implementing a culture of incessant improvement and development. They include administratively structured to let funds move in pursuit of the projects that give the best returns; aligned and defined schedules, budgets and scopes for all projects undertaken by the company. The company has additionally managed the option of developing and adapting to different methods of construction. AMCC has also practiced production control according to cost cutting measures incorporated in their production policies.