Egwunatum, S I; Anumudu, A C; Eze, E C and Awodele, I A (2022) Total quality management (TQM) implementation in the Nigerian construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 29(1), pp. 354-382. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Lack of strict compliance to the principles of total quality management (TQM) by construction organizations has brought about poor quality of the finished building projects. This has been blamed for the incessant structural failure reported in Nigeria. This study appraised TQM implementation in the Nigerian construction industry, with a view to mitigating structural failure rate of construction projects. To achieve this aim, the study aims to assess the practice level of TQM and the factors hindering TQM implementation on construction projects. Design/methodology/approach: The study utilized a well-structured questionnaire and convenient sampling method in the gathering and sampling of data among construction professionals in Imo state, Nigeria. Data analyses were done using, frequency, percentage, mean analytics and Pareto analysis. Findings: The study revealed that major practice of TQM principles with respect to structural failure rate are purchasing: ensuring the procurement of materials of the specified quality standard, ensuring the use of a quality improvement construction process of the organization, site management responsibility: this entails ensuring quality supervision by the project management leadership and monitoring and control of quality during the construction to guarantee firm observance quality standards. Also, the major factors hindering TQM implementation on construction projects are: inadequacy of the necessary machineries, equipment, tools and facilities for the effective execution of work on construction site; breakdown in communication and information exchange between the management and supervisory teams on site; poor attitudes and strategies toward maintenance of equipment, tools and machines; and absence of prompt salary and incentive payment. It was recommended that construction firms must require the suppliers of construction materials to strictly comply with quality specification evidence in quality certification of delivered materials to mitigate structural failure. Research limitations/implications: This study appraised TQM implementation in the construction industry of Nigeria, with emphasis on Imo state. The study underscores the practice level of TQM and the key factors hindering TQM implementation on construction projects. Following the localized geographical limitation of the study area, a similar research in other part/states of Nigeria or even in other developing countries of African is necessary. Practical implications: The practices level of TQM and the factors hindering TQM implementation were identified. This will be useful in guiding construction firms, other industry's key stakeholders and regulatory agencies in bringing about a sustainable quality management system for improve profit and value maximization and avoiding incessant structural failure. Originality/value: This is one of the few studies that have assessed the practice level of TQM and the factors hindering TQM implementation on construction projects in Nigeria. This study took place in Imo state with records of periodic structural failure and building collapse.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Nigeria; project delivery; structural failure; total quality management; TQM practices; TQM principles |
| Index terms: | pareto analysis, quality standard, construction organization, Nigeria, quality improvement, purchasing, sampling, monitoring, construction material, site management, construction professional, quality management system, supervision, project management, project delivery, construction industry, implementation, guarantee, data analysis, certification, specification, developing country, total quality management, compliance, profit, information exchange, construction firm, maximization, regulatory agency, strategy, construction site, evidence, questionnaire, construction project, methodology, construction process |
| Subjects: | control systems, organization, data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods, project delivery, economic analysis, evaluation methods, data science, construction operations, contractual arrangements, data analysis and analytics, work location, building materials, quality control, development economics, professional development, project management theory and practice, production management, Geography, contractual condition, health safety and environment, algorithms, research methods, management, contract structure, quality assurance, administrative law, procurement strategy, industry analysis, administrative processes, building construction |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Legal Issues, International Construction, Quality Management, Site Management, Contract Administration, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here