Effective project management is crucial in the construction industry, regardless of the project's size. In today's competitive landscape, staying abreast of evolving management principles and practices is essential for success in both domestic and international markets. This is particularly true in a country like Nepal, where various public and private entities are involved in significant construction projects. Various quality control requirements, quality assurance systems, and quality management systems are specified in various contract documents in various construction projects in Nepal. This research aims to investigate the practices of TQM through field observation and checklists. Additionally, it seeks to assess the perceptions of various experts involved in building construction projects regarding existing challenges to the implementation of TQM in construction projects. Furthermore, the study aims to explore the perceived opportunities of TQM in the construction industry. The objectives of the study were achieved through four approaches: Field Observation, Checklist, Questionnaire Survey, PCA, and Key Informant Interview. Initially, field observation of ten under-construction projects in Kathmandu, with the help of a checklist, was conducted. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey was carried out among representatives of contractors, consultants, and owners to determine the challenges and opportunities in implementing TQM in the construction industry. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was done through which four challenges and five opportunities were identified. Key Informant Interviews (KII) were conducted to suggest possible remedial measures to overcome the challenges in the implementation of TQM in construction projects in Kathmandu. Traditional quality control techniques remain prevalent in most construction projects. Four critical challenges were identified, namely, leadership resistance to implementing TQM, knowledge and competency gaps, administrative burden, and a lack of human capital. Similarly, the opportunities associated with the implementation of vii TQM in building construction projects were categorized into five groups: quality management improvement, enhanced business development strategy, project efficiency improvements, cost optimization, and performance improvements of construction firms. This research proposes a recommendation that underscores the importance of collaboration between construction professionals to work as a team by incorporating all the critical factors including senior management commitment and leadership, continuous improvement, training, and capacity building. It is suggested that a culture of continuous improvement by incentivizing learning, acknowledging achievements and promotion of collaboration for TQM success.

Keywords

Total Quality Management (TQM), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Building construction Project

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