Assessment of quality management practices of local government civil engineering departments during execution of construction projects in Tanzania

Abstract

The research focused on the quality management practices assessment for projects in local government civil engineering departments in Tanzania. The following specific objectives were addressed by this research: to assess the conformance of local Government civil engineering departments to quality management practices in Tanzania, to determine the challenges encountered by local government civil engineering departments in implementation of quality management practices in carrying out projects in Tanzania, to suggest possible measures towards enhancement of quality management practices in carrying out construction projects by local government civil engineering departments in Tanzania. This study adopted a qualitative research design in which a total of 50 local government civil engineering departments were chosen as sample. Questionnaires were distributed to the 50 civil engineering departments, whereby 36 questionnaires were collected representing a 72% response rate. Descriptive and inferential statistics method was used while findings were shown in frequency tables, percentage and charts. Also the study findings showed, Lack of proper site supervision, Shortage or lack of qualified professionals in the department and Inadequate or lack training programs ranked highly significant challenges of quality management practices. The research recommended: Government should make sure that there enough professional workers in the department through employment or any other means and it should provides more grants for construction departments to undergo training in areas of Quality management. The study was limited only to the projects implemented under force account and supervised by local government civil engineering departments