A strategic safety management framework through balanced scorecard and quality function deployment

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose a safety management framework for construction companies. A literature review was carried out to identify significant factors that would improve safety performance. Two management tools—namely, the balanced scorecard and quality function deployment (QFD)—were used to construct the framework. Strategic goals were established for each of the following perspectives of the balanced scorecard: financial and cultural, employee, process, and learning. Afterwards, a questionnaire was prepared using the QFD approach. The goals in the financial and cultural perspective were defined as the safety-related needs of the organization ("customer requirements" in the original QFD approach); and the goals in the remaining perspectives included the actions that the organization could take to meet its needs. Results of the questionnaire were used to set the final strategic goals in the balanced scorecard. Safety performance measures and initiatives were used to accomplish the goals in the balanced scorecard. Key words: safety management, balanced scorecard, quality function deployment.