Ensuring quality

At Takenaka Corporation, we define “quality management” as “Earn customer satisfaction and society’s trust through management that persists in stressing quality and challenging the creation of new environments,” which is our Total Quality Management Basic Policy. Furthermore, the “quality” in quality management does not simply mean the quality of buildings, but it also includes the “quality of overall corporate activities” as a member of society. We therefore continue to work relentlessly to improve “quality” and to maintain “quality management.”

In accordance with our Quality Policy, which is based on our Total Quality Management Basic Policy, we work in unison with our partner companies to promote high-quality architecture that meets customer expectations.

Action Guidelines

Taking advantage of the merits of our Integrated Design-Build System, we have standardized our workflow as a quality assurance system (ISO9001 certified). By utilizing BIM from the design stage, design, construction, and partner companies can work together to standardize the process of building, thereby ensuring a higher standard of building quality.

Our quality management system (ISO9001: QMS) has been certified for each main and branch office (Eastern Japan, Nagoya, and Western Japan). Based on this system, we deploy activities focused on accurately understanding customer requirements and ensuring their realization through design and construction. We then continually make improvements by turning the PDCA cycle.

In order to deploy BIM and build in quality, it is essential utilize BIM software that meets the needs of designers, builders, and partner companies. We are therefore deploying Open BIM based on sharing and coordination in the IFC format, which is an international standard format that does not depend on specific BIM software. In this way, we are building in quality while utilizing data in models from design, construction and cooperating companies from the design stage through to the construction stage.

We have developed ZEBIA (Zero Energy Building Integrated Analysis), which is a design tool needed to study ZEBs, which in turn will be environmental indicators for future buildings. This has significantly shortened the time required to verify energy consumption, comfort and other environmental performance, which used to require time in the early design stage. We can also appropriately reflect customer requirements in the design and examine conditions and other matters together with the customer while viewing the simulation results.

As reduction of CO2 emissions is positioned as a quality target for customers, we are seeking to popularize and expand ZEBs in concert with customers, thereby contributing to achieving reduction targets.

The use of visualized models with StreamBIM, a BIM cloud platform that allows document and workflow management centered on BIM models, provides easy-to-understand information to quickly support customer decision-making, and enable decisions to be made smoothly. With this departure from traditional paper-based operations, we are able to visualize efficient construction management and quality control by checking the site using BIM models, and inputting construction records, inspections and other documents. This allows work to proceed smoothly at construction sites, and quality is also improved. We are also able to digitally check whether construction has been carried out in accordance with the design documents through a “customer-oriented” supervision service, which uses a construction supervision tool that is applied to the system.

Aiming to reform work styles and construction production processes to meet the challenges facing the construction industry, such as a shortage of skilled workers, regulations limiting overtime work, and the digitalization of society, the Takenaka New Production System utilizes digital technology to enhance the value of new construction processes. We will contribute to customer businesses by improving our production capacity to meet their needs, providing construction services, and improving building quality.

In order to ensure quality, it is very important to build in quality based on a quality assurance system. In particular, people involved in the craft of making things are required to practice checking “actual things, at actual places, in real time.” The basic policy of the Takenaka Practical Technology Training Center Omoi is to pass on the process of building in quality to the next generation. In particular, the aim is for participants to master the kata (form) for the craft of making things through hands-on training that allows participants to “see, touch, and experience,” and to cultivate the basics of the toryo (master builder) spirit backed by well-honed sensitivity and knowledge. This allows participants to acquire practical skills and a high awareness of quality.

Omoi implements the following training

By “seeing, touching, and experiencing” mock-ups, exhibits, and various training sessions, skills for the craft of making things are forged using actual things in actual places in real time. Omoi conveys the accumulated know-how of craftsmen, and passes on their knowledge and skills to the next generation.

We position customer satisfaction activities as “activities to enhance our position with customers and society,” and we aim to “build strong long-term relationships with customers.”

We have been conducting customer satisfaction surveys since 1983 in order to improve the quality of our products and services. Just after a building is completed and at the two-year mark, we have designated personnel who visit the subject building to conduct interviews and a written survey on the building itself, the response by our personnel, expectations of our company and other items. We then analyze the results and share them along with feedback to the related internal departments. This is one of the ways in which we are working to improve quality by improving business processes.