Implementation of total quality management systems in the road sector of the Ghanaian construction industry

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Date
2015-03-03
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Abstract
Total Quality Management (TQM) has been recognized as a successful management philosophy in the manufacturing and service industries. TQM can equally be embraced in the Ghanaian road construction industry to help raise quality and productivity in the road construction sector. The construction sector plays an important role in the infrastructural development of every country. Some of the major problems to implementing TQM in the Ghanaian construction industry were found to be lack of expertise, commitment and reliability by entire work force as well as government inability to be consistent in policy formulation and the logistics needed for implementation of TQM system. The study was aimed at evaluating the TQM implementation in the road construction industry in Ghana. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were set to identify the key components, the extent and challenges of TQM implementation in the Ghanaian road sector. The study indicated that, TQM is dependent on the translation, integration and institutionalization of TQM management behavior into the routine practices of construction industry. TQM also entails complete overhaul of the organizational culture and management approach as opposed to the old strategy of top management issuing orders to subordinates. With regards to the extent, most organizations had no formal program for the implementation of TQM. Lack of education in TQM was the major challenge in road construction industry. The study adopted a structured questionnaire survey targeting forty (40) road contractors with Ministry of Roads and Highways classification category A1B1and A2B2 operating within Ashanti Region of Ghana. It is recommended that, extensive awareness and training programs be initiated to improve the client’s and contractors’ understanding and approach towards total quality management system and hence increase their willingness to implement TQM, which would in turn improve coordination, teamwork and increase productivity in the construction industry.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Building Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Master of Science in Construction Management
Keywords
Total Quality Management, Road construction, Implementation
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