Quality Assurance Management Practices in Public Building Construction Projects: The Case of Bahir Dar City

Quality assurance (QA) is an important subject in the construction industry. The industry has been challenged with serious QA issues. The stakeholders of the industry (that is, clients, consultants, contractors, and the regulatory body) collectively play a vital role in addressing the challenges of QA in the industry. The research investigates or finds current and existing QA methods, techniques, and practices that determine the major factors that affect QA management practices, explores mechanisms to improve QA management practices, and prepares a conceptual framework for public construction projects in Bahir Dar City. The survey questionnaires conducted interviews, and case studies for three projects. The questionnaires were administered to the respondents (clients, consultants, contractors, and regulatory bodies in Bahir Dar) who were directly involved in the 26 public construction projects. The study points out that following instructions standards and codes, direct supervision, laboratory experiment, and inspection were major techniques for QA management practices. Project type and complexity, design, contract, materials, labor, and equipment were major factors that affect QA management practices, and management commitment, reducing miscommunication, and review/analysis were improving mechanisms for QA management practices for public construction projects in Bahir Dar City.