Research On The Effects Of Construction Enterprises' Quality Management Practices On Project Quality Performance

Under the background of economic globalization, construction enterprises are facing the more and more intense market competition. Quality plays a vital role in maintaining the survival and development of construction enterprises. So construction enterprises should execute quality management practices to improve quality management level and the project quality performance, which is an effective way to obtain competitive advantage in terms of quality. In the fields of manufacture and industry, many scholars have made empirical research on the relationship between quality management practices and quality performance. Few academic research, however, has been conducted in construction sector. For the purpose of enriching theoretical knowledge of quality management in construction sector, this dissertation, from the perspective of construction enterprises' quality management, constructs key dimensions of construction enterprises' quality management practices and makes an empirical research on the effect of quality management practices on project quality performance.To complete this dissertation, literature analysis, expert interview, questionnaire survey and empirical analysis are utilized in this study. Firstly, this dissertation proposes 7 key quality management practices by literature summary, including leadership support, employee involvement, customer focus, supplier management, information and analysis, process management and continuous improvement. Secondly, this dissertation explores affecting mechanism of construction enterprises' quality management practices on project quality performance through literature study and theoretical analysis. Accordingly, this dissertation proposes some hypotheses and constructs a conceptual model. This thesis constructs quality management practices measurement scale by literature review and expert interview. And then a questionnaire survey is conducted to quality-related personnel in construction enterprises. Finally, according to 117 questionnaires, this paper validates the quality management practices measurement scale by reliability analysis and validity analysis, tests the conceptual model, and combines theoretical knowledge to modify it.The main findings of this empirical research are as follows:(1)7 key elements of construction enterprises' quality management practices have positive effects on project quality performance directly or indirectly, The total effect can be descending ordered as: leadership support, process management, employee involvement, information and analysis, continuous improvement, customer focus, supplier management.(2) The element of process management has direct and strongest effect on project quality performance.(3) There exists positive interaction effects between 7 key quality management practices. This research is of theoretical significance to probe the black box of the effect of construction enterprises' quality management practices on project quality performance and offer a research paradigm in the action mechanism of multi-cause and one-effect. This research findings is expected to provide theoretical basis to implement quality management practices for construction enterprises in China.