Improving quality management in the construction industry in the northern region of Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana, the construction industry has witnessed several quality challenges in recent years, perhaps, heightened by resent collapse of buildings. The aim of this research is to empirically evaluate the quality management practices of construction firms in the Northern region of Ghana. The objectives of the study were; to assess the quality management practices of contractors in the Northern Region of Ghana, to determine key constraints to the adoption of proven quality management practices by contractors in the Northern Region of Ghana, to evaluate the effects (if any) of quality management practices of contractors on construction project variables in the Northern Region of Ghana and to make recommendations for improving the quality performance of construction projects in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design. The target population of the study was construction professionals employed by construction firms registered with the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana in the Northern Region. The study adopted systematic random sampling to select ninety-two (92) of the construction firms and purposive sampling to select one hundred and twenty-four (124) construction professionals. The findings of the study suggest that quality management techniques/practices are barely implemented except for those expressly required by terms of contract. The often implemented practices/techniques included; inspections with a focus on quality of works, carrying out quality audits, designs of experiments for testing concrete, and use of statistical sampling techniques on project sites. Also, the findings of the study suggest that the survey respondents’ firms implement elements of quality management such as; construction project design, supplier management, process management, planning, and client focus, a finding that should be interpreted with caution due to bias. However, quality management efforts such as; teamwork, top management commitment, and employee relations are not implemented. The findings further revealed that the key constraints to implementation of management practices on construction projects in the Northern region of Ghana include; lack of adequate resources, low bid mind set, lack of adequate skilled workers, lack of top management commitment and lack of adequate training of employees. The results of this study also revealed that teamwork, employee relations, top management commitment, client focus and construction project design have significant impact on construction project quality performance. In view of these findings, the study recommends that management of construction firms should be proactive and committed to quality of construction projects and implement proven quality management techniques and tools on construction project sites in the Northern region of Ghana.