Description
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A construction project is considered successful when it is completed on time,
within budget, following specifications and to stakeholders' satisfaction. However,
levels of project performance and project successes are low in the construction
industry especially in developing countries such as Nigeria where owners are
generally dissatisfied according to Odediran (2013). One of the significant reasons
for owners' dissatisfaction with building projects is their poor quality
(Abdulrahman, 2007). Every customer wants a quality product that meets its needs
and worth the value of money it has invested unto the product (Achi et al., 2007).
Therefore customers tend to be satisfied when quality products and services are
delivered to them. Project executors need to understand customer's need and
requirement so that both their stated and implied quality levels can be met at all
times. Understanding customers need, and requirement could enable organisations
to implement quality management practices and imbibe cultures which guarantee
their customers' satisfaction. A strong commitment to quality and continuous
company- wide quality improvement will lead to significant improvement in
quality performance and increased profit margins for any construction
organisation. Poor performance has adverse effects which transcend the industry to
impact on national growth and sustainable development (Windapo, 2006).
Structural failure seems to abound in developing countries (Afolami, 2010) with
worst cases resulting in building collapse with major causalities (Windapo &
Rotimi, 2012). In a nutshell, quality management practices have a direct impact on
the level of client satisfaction, quality enhancement, elimination of rework, and the
enabling synergy between different project parameters (Smallwood & Rossouw
2008).
Building construction has become more complex, partly due to project owners'
increasing demands and expectations. Hoonakker (2006) reported that the
construction industry's clients are demanding improved quality of service, faster
buildings and innovations in technology. As a result, building products and
systems have had to become more innovative to meet the owner's demands.
However, newer and innovative procurement processes bring about challenges
which building contractors need to manage effectively while delivering value to
the project owner. Also, with the advent of globalization, construction firms are
striving to achieve internationally accepted quality levels to ensure their forefront
position in emerging international markets. Hence the need for a proper system that
provides more quality when compared to other project objectives (Abdul Rahman
et al.; 2010).
According to Kalindi (1992) who described quality as the conformance to certain
performance requirements. This entails meeting up the legal, aesthetic and
functional requirements (Arditi & Gunaydin, 1997). A more universally accepted
definition of quality, however, is the one provided by the International Standard
Organization (ISO8042, 1994). The ISO defines quality as the totality of features
and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or
implied needs. From a construction perspective, quality could be defined as the
totality of characteristics that a constructed facility and the process involved in its
construction should have; and enables the facility to meet or exceed customers'
needs, requirements and other performance criteria (Love & Irani, 2002). The
preceding shows that determining and achieving customer requirements and
expectations require proper quality management practice so that organisations can
manage their current situation and future needs. Particularly in the new global
economy, quality management practice has become a central issue for performance
improvement within construction industries. However going by abysmal practices
in developing economies such as Nigeria, it is pertinent that an assessment of
quality management practices will benefit its construction industry. The current
study investigation is, therefore, relevant as it provides a snapshot of current
practices and identifies why and how quality management can be improved in the
Nigerian context.
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
From the definitions from researchers, quality management has been known as an
important management system to be considered by construction firms in order to
improve the level of their performance. It is required for a construction firm that
seeks to sustain itself in the current construction market which is highly
challenging and competitive. The construction industries in the developing
countries such as Nigeria have been struggling with quality issues for many years;
while the construction firms have been wasting resources as a result of faulty
building construction which has lead many building to collapse.
Development of an effective quality assessment system for a given industry begins
with the identification of quality indicators relevant to the industry. The building
construction industry is one of the significant pillars in Lagos economy. In recent
years, this industry has been characterized with a myriad of problems including
low levels of customer satisfaction, increased competition, and heightened safety
concerns. In order to overcome these challenges and increase performance,
building contractors need to change how they manage quality.
1.3 AIM OF THE STUDY
The main aim of this is to study examined quality management practices by
construction firms in Lagos State of Nigeria, assess the impact of quality
management practices on the building construction firms and determine factors
affecting quality management practices in construction firms.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research work has been carried out in other to found out how quality
management systems are being practiced among construction firms but not in a
standardized manner as the firms indicated different quantity management systems.
The opportunity to get continued work from clients was found as the most
significant impact of quality management practices on construction firms. This
study concluded that no standard quality management system existed among the
construction firms and that construction firms lack the resources and training to
manage quality and are being affected by the corruption climate in Nigeria.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study has taught me how quality management is required for a construction
firm that seeks to sustain itself in the current construction market which is highly
challenging and competitive. It has also exposes us how quality management
practice can help minimize material wastage, cost overrun and delay.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i. Do all building construction firms practice quality management systems?
ii. How does quality management assessment is been carried out in Nigeria?
1.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
Ho: Building construction firms in Lagos State in Nigeria do practice quality
management assessment
Hi: building construction firms Lagos State in Nigeria do not practice quality
management assessment
1.8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In the course of carrying this study, numerous sources were used which most of
them are by visiting libraries, consulting journal and news papers and online
research which Google was the major source that was used.
1.9 PROJECT ORGANISATION
The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of
the work, chapter two presents the literature review of the study, chapter three
describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work,
chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.