Effect of Quality Management on Sustainability of Construction Projects in Rwanda: A Survey of Selected One Hundred First Category Public Buildings in City of Kigali

Quality management should complement modern project management as they both recognize the importance of customer satisfaction, prevention over inspection, management responsibility and processes within phases. The general objective of this study was to assess the effect of quality management on sustainability of construction projects in Rwanda. Its specific objectives were to analyse the effect of legal framework on sustainability of public building construction projects in Rwanda, to assess the effect of conformity assessment, building codes and standards on sustainability of building construction projects in Rwanda and to examine the effect of project management methodologies on sustainability of construction projects in Rwanda. Descriptive-comparative survey design was used. The population of this study equalled to 100 selected first category public buildings located in Kigali city. The researcher used a census as the study population was quiet small in numbers. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. The researcher concluded a weak significant relationship between the legal framework and sustainability of building construction projects. If the researcher considers the level of significance which is 0.05, there is therefore a weak relationship between them because their p-value (0.113) is statistically differently significant at 5 % level of significance. The researcher concluded a different significant relationship between the building codes and standard and building and sustainability of building construction projects. If the researcher considers the level of significance which is 0.05, there is therefore a weak relationship between them because their p-value (0.057) is statistically differently significant at 5 % level of significance. The researcher further concluded a weak relationship between the project management methodologies and sustainability of public building construction projects. If the researcher considers the level of significance which is 0.05, there is therefore a weak relationship between them because their p-value (0.038) is statistically significant at 5 % level of significance. The researcher recommend that the project managers and engineers of public building construction to respect and comply with the set standards for first category public buildings as the study findings revealed that they have weaknesses in respecting the set standards. They should also adopt appropriate methodologies for quality control and testing in order to comply with the quality requirements for the first category public building. The owners, managers and engineers of public building construction projects should use materials that are certified by accredited certification body so as to ensure the sustainability of public building construction projects. Lastly but not least the managers of public building construction projects are advised to apply project management methodologies by initiating a project before its implementation, elaborating a clear project plan, execute the project after its plan has been put in place and agreed upon by both clients and contractors, frequently and regularly monitor the project activities to ensure that activities are being implemented as planned, conducting formative and summative evaluations and officially handing over the completed buildings in order to ensure their sustainability.