Assessing the effectiveness of quality management practices in building construction in Wakiso District

Abstract

This study assessed the effectiveness of quality management practices in building construction in Wakiso District. The study was guided by objectives which included assessing quality management practices used in building construction, examining the challenges affecting effective quality management practices in building construction and suggesting measures that can be put in place to improve quality management practices in buildings construction in Waksio district. The study used cross-sectional survey design and considered both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study targeted a sample size of 209 respondents but 205 respondents managed to respondent back. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guide. The study revealed that most of the quality management practices employed included that following the approved designs and plans, close on-sit supervision and compliance to accredited standards and codes. The implementation of the quality management practices were largely challenges by inadequate technical skills by workers, increase in material prices, poor quality materials, lack of enough project funds and bad weather conditions. Some of the highly suggested measures to improve quality management practices included use of professional workers, designing a detailed monitoring & inspection program, benchmarking for quality management techniques, building capacity of workers and enforcement of quality standards. The study recommended that managers of the construction firms should be encouraged to used quality management techniques in the execution of projects, encourage the integration of quality management practices in the early stage of the project. It was also recommended that construction companies need to employ quality officers as part of their integrated teams in the management of their projects and they should institute training procedures or refresher courses in quality management as part of their annual plan for their employees.