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.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of CONSTRUCTION AND WOOD TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION, Faculty of TECHNICAL EDUCATION, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba, in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the award of the Master of Philosophy (Construction
Management) degree
MAY, 2022