IMPLEMENTATION OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: A PAKISTAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Purpose - The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the issue of suitability, acceptability and degree of implementation of Quality Management (QM) practices in the construction industry of Pakistan. Currently the status of adoption of QM principles particularly in this industry and more specifically in the prevailing culture and context of Pakistani environment is overwhelmingly poor which led the researcher to go for this study. Methodology/sampling - The study entails questionnaire development and the analysis of its responses from seventeen leading construction organizations operating in Pakistan during year 2012. The study also incorporates data from various secondary sources. The analysis was carried out using basic statistical tools such as mean, median and standard deviation and bar chart was employed to represent the data. Findings - The findings revealed that the concept and meaning of quality is not understood and interpreted in its true sense. The conformance to standard specifications (SOPs) is considered to be equivalent to implementation of Quality Management which is far from truth. It was also determined that general lack of awareness and untrained employees that are mostly uneducated labor is one of the major causes towards this dismal. Practical Implications - It is hoped that the outcomes of this study may provide a guideline to the owners of the construction industry and help them understand the notion of Quality Management in its real term. It will also assist the monitoring and regulating agencies to devise policies accordingly catering to the need of the modern era that will help Pakistani construction industry to compete locally and globally.