BARRIERS AND ENABLERS TO TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: A CASE OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN KUNMING, THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Abstract

This research investigates the barriers and enablers for total quality management in Kunming's construction industry. The self-assessment scheme of the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence (EFQM.E.) Model was excerpted into twenty barriers and enablers. A questionnaire was designed and randomly distributed to workers in the construction industry for 400. There were 356 respondents sent back, which accounted for an 89.0% return rate. The demography data analysis showed that most respondents are engineers in construction projects. However, staff from procurement and economic responsibility are also significant numbers. They have experience in the construction industry between 1 and 5 years. The bachelor degree workers are the most.

The respondents' opinions about barriers and enablers were analyzed by using the coefficient of variation (CV), relative important value (RIV), standard deviation value (SDV), and the standardization value of RIV and SDV. The k-means clustering was used to cluster the barriers and enablers with the k value from the elbow method.

The result showed that the most significant barriers were B3 (Deviod understanding of customers' needs), B7 (Inadequate sales communication), and B8 (Mishandling of resources and assets). On the other hand, the most significant enablers were E4 (Understanding current and future marketplace) and E9 (Risk management and performance improvement). Furthermore, one more cluster supports the total quality management of the companies. It is a cluster of E3 (Government and local administration regulations), E7 (Sustainable customer relationship), and E10 (Performance measurement tools: financial and non-financial indicators). The findings are helpful for management in launching a strategic plan to improve total quality management in the construction industry. Furthermore, management can invest resources wisely by focusing on significant barriers and enablers.

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