Barriers and benefits of quality management in the construction industry: An empirical study

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the problems of defining quality in the construction industry, examine possible benefits of implementing quality, and look at barriers to quality implementation in construction. We use data collected during interviews with contractors and data from questionnaire surveys. Results show that contractors do understand the potential benefits of quality implementation but that there are also many barriers to implementation. We describe recent developments that might help to overcome the barriers. However, the different actors in construction need to understand that change is a slow and often painful process and that much effort is required to implement quality in construction industry.

Keywords:

• quality management
• construction industry
• interview
• survey

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Center to Protect Worker's Rights (CPWR, grant # 1020-48) for providing funding for this study, and to thank the construction companies who participated in this study. We would like to thank Randi Cartmill for editing this paper.