Determining measures to improve quality at the design stage of public construction projects

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Date
2021-06-15
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Abstract
The design stage of the construction industry is the source of documents which serves as quality control during the construction stage. The main purpose of the study is to identify factors affecting quality at the design stage, the effects of poor quality at the design stage on construction project delivery and also the measures to improve quality at the design stage. The questionnaires were distributed to 120 respondents made up of 40 public clients, 40 consultants, and 40 D1K1 contractors. The response rate for the distributed questionnaires was 83.33% with 36 of the public clients responding, 34 of the consultants responding and 30 of the contractors responding back. The data was analyzed using (RII). The conclusion drawn from the data analysis for the most severe causes of deficiencies in quality at the design stage was poor scope definition, lack of effective communication, selection of consultants based on lowest cost, leadership problems and delay payments of consultants. The most frequent factors which affect quality at the design stage lack of effective communication, Poor Scope definition, delay in payment of consultants, Last minute changes by clients and Unrealistic demands from the project cost. The highest ranked effects of poor quality designs produced at the design stage during construction process led to projects being abandoned, loss of financial resources, contract disputes, and lack of satisfaction by the end user and failure of structures. The highest ranked measure to improve quality at the design stage was efficient communication between project team members, the next was the increased level of commitment by project team members, Increased Level of Planning at the design stage, selection of consultants based on merit and not only on cost for works which are not routine and efficient use of design software. Recommendation to the client and the consultants is to pay consultants on time, the selection of consultants should not be based on least cost only but also on merit for works which are not standard or routine and the adoption of design quality indicators during the design stage to help with the communication process
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and Management, College of Art and Built Environment, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science
Keywords
Determining measures, design, public construction projects
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