Abstract:
Improvement in the quality of construction project is linked with quality management in the
project life cycle because of this seeking the way of enhancement of quality management is
very essential. In developing country construction industry is often criticized by low
productivity, poor performance and poor quality. Great expenditures of time, money and
resources, both human and material, are wasted each year because of inefficient or
nonexistent quality management procedures. The purpose of this study was to identify factors
influencing quality management and how to improve quality management in building
construction projects in Jimma city. The study was both descriptive and exploratory research
with the aim of examining the factors contributing to poor quality management in one hand
and how quality management can be enhanced in other hand. The target population of the
study was contractors and consultants to some extent. Since the total population was small
the researcher did not sample hence used census that is capturing the entire population of
the contractors and consultant. Questionnaire and interview methods were used for data
collection. Data was coded; tabulated and analyzed using spears man correlation and other
relevant method based on the study objectives. Descriptive statistics were computed and
study findings presented using percentages and tables and interpretations. The study
revealed that lack of quality management strategy (MS=4.46), lack of technical expertise
(MS=4.39), lack of training and skills (MS=4.25), improper planning and scheduling
(MS=4.22), limited financial capabilities (MS=4.17) and lack of well-defined organizational
structure (MS=4.17) are among top factors influencing quality management in the study area
with the stated mean score. Also the study revealed that only 41.67% of contractors set
quality policy and ISO 9001 and quality control/assurance are practiced as the quality
management system by contractors operating in the study area. In case of Deming’s
principles the study found that the principles are not widely utilized by the contractors in the
study area. Finally the study revealed that, by incorporating those principles in to the
existing quality management system, the current quality management practice can be
improved.
