Title: Total quality management in the construction industry: a preliminary analysis

Authors: Ruth Boaden, Barrie Dale

Addresses: Manchester School of Management, UMIST, UK. ' Manchester School of Management, UMIST, UK

Abstract: This paper describes the results of a survey carried out among 28 leading companies in the UK construction industry; consisting of clients, contractors and consultants. The survey examined their use of total quality management (TQM) and plans for the future. After a brief description of the distinctive factors of TQM within the construction industry, the results are presented in three parts: getting started on TQM, the route map for TQM and outcomes. The second half of the paper presents additional findings from the study and compares them to similar work done in other industries. The major conclusion is that construction is not inherently different and that many of the lessons learnt in other sectors can be applied. The relative immaturity of the sector in terms of TQM may be an advantage if companies learn from the mistakes and the best practices of other organisations, although this learning will only take place as the industry becomes more outward looking.

Keywords: implementation barriers; TQM implementation; UK; United Kingdom; construction industry; organisational attitudes; organisational structures; total quality management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1992.025720

International Journal of Technology Management, 1992 Vol.7 No.4/5, pp.244 - 253

Published online: 24 May 2009 *

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