Towards a total quality building system (TQBS) in urban areas a case study of high-rise buildings projects in Dar es Salaam

Despite the significance of the construction industry in •socio-economic development in Tanzania, there is evidence that the industry is facing quality related problems some of which have been manifested in the collapse of some buildings specifically in Dar es Salaam City, at times necessitating their demolition by municipal •councils. In this study, the researcher used a deductive research approach to evaluate the existing quality building systems to determine the quality related problems in building construction. The researcher used a questionnaire, structured interviews and focused group discussions to collect data from systematically and deliberately selected fifty three (53) construction industry professionals that included civil engineers, surveyors, architectures, land values, academics, lawyers, importers, transport agents, landlords, building contractors and exporters. Findings from the study established that problems facing the construction industry in Tanzania are mostly related to corruption, lack of a coherent coordination mechanism and adoption of a building code that is incompatible with the Tanzanian building environment. To amend the situation, the researcher has developed Total Quality Building System (TQBS) in methodology that would be effective in surfacing quality problems facing the construction industry in Tanzania. Also the researcher recommends that the construction industry in Tanzania should consider adopting the proposed Total Quality Building System (TQBS) more seriously. Areas that were recommended by researcher for further research include study on reacts that are poorly supervised, the extent of corruption and construction p bureaucracy in the construction industry, the proper code of practice to be adopted in the Tanzanian environment.