Quality Management Practice: A Case Of Micro, Small And Medium Construction Enterprises In Arsi And East Shewa Zones Of Oromia Regional State

Abstract

The construction industry is instrumental in driving global economic growth, yet it grapples with significant challenges in quality management, leading to substantial economic losses worldwide. This thesis seeks to evaluate the quality management practices of SMMCEs in the Arsi and East Shewa zones of Oromia Regional State. Employing a blend of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including questionnaires, interviews, and case studies, primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed using SPSS. The research encompassed 75 purposively selected professionals engaged in 69 ongoing building construction projects executed by SMMCEs in the specified zones. Findings reveal that while 51.67% of respondents acknowledge the importance of Quality Management Systems (QMS) in enhancing project outcomes, they consider them financially impractical, particularly for smaller firms. The Current project quality control practices are notably low, with material quality tests at 11.7%, concrete mix design preparations at 5.0%, and concrete cube sampling at 3.3%. Key influencers on quality management in construction projects undertaken by these firms include contractor-related, labor-related, and design-related factors, with relative importance indices (RII) of 0.854, 0.846, and 0.838, respectively. Recommendations emphasize the need for training and capacity-building initiatives for SMMCEs, alongside addressing labor availability and skills shortages to improve quality management practices and project outcomes.