scholarly journals Understanding the Building Certification System: A Need for Accreditation Reform

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Kim Maund ◽  
Willy Sher ◽  
ROsemary Naughton
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Planning ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Evaluation Instrument ◽  
Education Assessment ◽  
System A ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Skills Shortage ◽  
Statutory Body ◽  
The University

The building and construction industry makes a major contribution to the New South Wales (NSW) economy, with an annual input of 7.6% during 2010 that is projected to rise to 8.4% in 2020. Irrespective of the sector’s growth potential, it is experiencing a severe skills shortage across a range of professions including building certification. Interestingly, the certification sector and the regulatory environment in which it operates is yet to receive rigorous attention in academia and industry. In the context of NSW, the role of the accredited certifier is multifaceted and involves confirming that building work complies with environmental planning controls and the National Construction Code. The Building Professionals Board (BPB) is the statutory body responsible for accrediting these professionals. The BPB is partnering with the University of Newcastle to ameliorate the current skills shortage through the development of an evaluation instrument regarding: certifiers seeking to upgrade to a higher level of accreditation but who do not have a recognised qualification and/or are unable to obtain the practical experience relevant to progression; and associated professionals who, although not accredited, wish to become a certifier but lack the recognised qualifications and/or experience.The proposed evaluation instrument will incorporate a mix of current technologies and approaches to address the current and likely future demographics of certifiers, and their preparedness to engage with and access novel IT technologies. This paper introduces the current certification environment and the technologies proposed to structure the evaluation instrument. Keywords: Key Words: construction, building surveying, accreditation, education, assessment. 

Introduction of a quality management system compliant with DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 into a university department of nuclear medicine

2001 ◽  
Vol 40 (06) ◽  
pp. 228-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Paschen ◽  
S. Kröger ◽  
K. H. Bohuslavizki ◽  
M. Clausen ◽  
V. Jansen-Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Medicine ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Iso 9001 ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
System A ◽  
General Rules ◽  
Therapeutic Procedures ◽  
University Department ◽  
Referring Physicians ◽  
The University

SummaryIn 1995, the management of the University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf proposed to establish a total quality assurance (QA) system. A revised QA-system has been introduced stepwise in the department of nuclear medicine since 1997, and certification was achieved in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 on February 14,2001.The QA-handbook is devided into two parts. The first part contains operational (diagnostic and therapeutic) procedures in so-called standard operating procedures (SOP). They describe the indication of procedures as well as the competences and time necessary in a standardized manner. Up to now, more than 70 SOPs have been written as a collaborative approach between technicians and physicians during daily clinical routine after analysing and discussing the procedures. Thus, the results were more clearly defined processes and more satisfied employees.The second part consists of general rules and directions concerning the security of work and equipment as well as radialion protection tasks, hygiene etc. as it is required by the law. This part was written predominantly by the management of the department of nuclear-medicine and the QA-coordinator. Detailed information for the patients, documentation of the work-flows as well as the medical report was adapted to the QM-system. Although in the introduction phase of a QA-system a vast amount of time is necessary, some months later a surplus for the clinical workday will become available. The well defined relations of competences and procedures will result in a gain of time, a reduction of costs and a help to ensure the legal demands. Last but not least, the QA-system simply helps to build up confidence and acceptance both by the patients and the referring physicians.

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