Assessment of Quality management practices in construction projects: the case of AACRA
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study was mainly set out with a general purpose to assess the quality management
practices and major quality management challenges in road construction projects at AACRA.
To achieve its objective, the study employed both descriptive and explanatory research and
both primary and secondary data were used. Questionnaires, interview, and document review
were, therefore, used as data collection tools. Furthermore, it employed purposive sampling
techniques to draw its samples. The survey questionnaire was designed based on the
literature and on the information collected through the document review of the project.
The survey questionnaire was distributed to 60 project implementation team members who
were selected purposively among them 55 respondents were responded, which represented a
response rate of 91.67%. The data gathered through the questionnaire was analyzed by
Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The generated data was analyzed using tables,
frequency, percentage, and multiple regression approaches. The result of the study indicated
that AACRA does not employ all stages of quality management process, tools and techniques.
Since they use only Inspection are found to be the major quality management tools and
techniques used to control quality of project. Qualified and experiences personnel, top
management support, communication with stakeholders, quality of materials and equipments
used in the project construction and conformance to specification are identified as the
top factors in the determinant of the quality of road construction projects. In the study it is
examined that various quality assurance measures were taken starting from defining
project objectives and to monitoring and the tasks that were carried out mostly in monthly,
quarterly monitoring at specified level with management members involvement. It was also
identified that some barriers of quality management; inadequate management support, problems
with contractors performance, unrealistic deadline, lack of quality management policy, and right
of way were the major once. The study also recommended that AACRA to have separate
quality management policy in order to undertake complete project quality management
process, enhance management involvement, capacity building on project management skills for
successful implementation of road construction
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Keywords
Quality, Quality management, Quality management process, top management commitment