Assessing the quality management practices of building electrical services contractors in Ghana

Abstract

Quality management has increasingly been adopted by construction companies as an initiative to solve quality problems and to meet the needs of the final customer. However, poor quality performance of construction projects due to poor implementation of effective quality management practices is major concern in the construction industry. The aim of the study was to assess the quality management practices of building electrical services contractors in selected regions in Ghana. A cross sectional descriptive survey design was used for the study. The target population of the research comprised site managers of all service contractors registered with their respective associations in the selected regions (Ashanti Region, Bono East Region). Purposive sampling technique and snow ball sampling techniques were used to select the study’s respondents. The findings of the study suggest that the level of implementation of quality management practices among building electrical services contractors for attaining high quality standards was acceptably high. The survey respondents demonstrated a general awareness of the need for effective quality management practices. The study revealed that the most significant role of main contractors in building electrical services contractors’ quality performance included proper and more effective planning followed by training services contractors’ personnel on quality issues, enhance reputation of the project team members/client, effective/efficient site management, ensuring general and special attendance for services contractors meets their needs, and certifying works carried out by services contractors. Also, findings suggest that the most significant barriers inhibiting the application of quality management included; lack of regular or intermittent training and workshop for capacity building, lack of adequate resources and low skill levels of building electrical services contractors’ personnel. The study established that there is a statistically significant and positive correlation between quality management practice of building electrical services contractors and construction project delivery. It was recommended among others that efforts should be made by the top management of construction firms to create a quality management culture throughout the entire organisations.