ASSESMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN SUDANESE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Abstract

The primary purpose of TQM is to provide excellence in customer satisfaction through continuous improvements of products and processes by the total involvement and dedication of each individual who is in any way a part of that product/process. It is a structured approach to improvement. If correctly applied, it will assist a construction company in improving its performance. For many successful companies, TQM is more than a philosophy; it’s a way of life. It’s ingrained in the way people do their jobs and how they relate with each other and with their customers. TQM is basic. It’s the individual’s commitment to continually improving everything that is done and how it’s done. There are a number of problems in the construction industry in Sudan caused by bad management, and the situation seems to be getting worse. Projects are frequently late, over budget and suffer from poor workmanship and materials. There is no a clear method for measuring construction organizations’ performance and knowing the defects. This study investigates the adoption and implementation of TQM in construction industry as a first step towards the knowledge and perception of quality by construction organizations. This study aims at recognizing TQM tools and techniques and showing the tangible benefits of using them in construction industry. It develops an example “ how to measure” for the measurement and evaluation of the quality performances of the construction processes as a tool for continuous improvement and this is clarified in using cause- and – effect diagram for analyzing customer dissatisfaction causes. The last part of this study is dedicated to El- Nasr construction and housing Company as an example of Construction Company goes step further than the other companies in developing its quality system and has an ISO certificate and showing the benefits they have from applying this quality system.