An empirical study of quality management systems in the Saudi construction industry

Construction firms work in a harsh competitive environment where every company struggles to ensure that its projects are successfully completed with the constraints of best quality, cost and time. Quality management systems (QMS) have been widely used by world-class construction companies to ensure successful projects delivery. The main purpose of the present study is to evaluate the degree of readiness of Saudi construction firms operating in Hail region towards the implementation of QMS and the proper use of quality tools. The perception of both managerial and technical staff about QMS and quality tools is investigated and analysed. Based on previous research dealing with QMS and quality tools implementation in the construction industry, a comprehensive survey tool is designed and conducted. Results show a high degree of misunderstanding of QMS strategies, tools and techniques in the surveyed construction firms. The study indicates that organizational culture represents a real barrier impeding the implementation of QMS and quality tools in the Saudi construction sector.