ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY CONTROL IMPLEMENTATION ON UNPAVED ROADS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF GAMBELLA RURAL ROAD AUTHORITY

Abstract

Construction project such as roads represent a unique set of activities that necessitates good quality control management practice and it is the backbone for economic development especially for developing country like Ethiopia. This study was mainly set out with a general purpose to assess the quality control implementation practices , identifying the major factors affecting road construction quality, major quality management challenges and identifying impact factors affecting quality control of unpaved road construction. To achieve its objectives, the study employed both descriptive and explanatory research and both primary and secondary data were used. Questionnaires, interview,desk study and document review were, therefore, used as data collection tools. Furthermore,both Qualitative and Quntitative methods of data collection were also applied. Data were collected from individuals and project team implementation involved with in the construction of unpaved roads, those includes Clents,Consultants, and Contractors as well as stakeholders. The participants/respondents were selected by Purposive sampling method and the data gathered through the questionnaire was analyzed by Micro-soft Excel(version 2013). For this research,three on going projects were selected and 50 Questionaires of the study were distributed to the stakeholders. The finding of the study indicated that Gambella rural road authority does not employ all stages of quality management process, tools and techniques. Since they use only inspection and statistical sampling , were found to be the major quality management tools and techniques used to control quality of project. Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to determine and rank the challenges and impacts factors faced and affects the quality and shows the relationship level of professionals in unpaved construction projects. The relationship level among professionals was found good, clients have a strong relationship with the contractors and consultants, but contractors and consultants each have a weak relationship.Technology adaption with RII value of 0.652,delay of cash flow(0.622), poor communication (0.597),Inadequate safety (0.551) and lack of collaboration and professionalism (0.532) were identified as challenging factors affecting quality control. From the investigation made on the identification of impact factors affecting quality control includes decrease of productivity with RII value of 0.748, delay of completion of tasks(0.729), redesign(0.71), complicate the process of work(0.695),material wastage(0.683) , and low profit(0.671) were identified as the impact factors affecting quality. The study also concluded and recommended that GRRA had 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 projects.