Quality Management as a Tool to Minimize Construction Waste Towards a Sustainable Built Environment: The Consultants’ Perspective
- Authors
-
- Keywords:
- Causative Factors, Construction Waste, Sustainability, Quality Management, Waste Management
- Abstract
-
The construction sector is responsible for a significant volume of waste, largely attributable to inadequate resource management in building projects. This study explores the management of construction waste in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria, from the perspective of consultants. The investigation utilizes a structured questionnaire as a methodological instrument. The responses were then subjected to analysis using IBM-SPSS version 26 software and evaluated on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5. The Relative Importance Index (RII) was computed with Microsoft Excel to assess the relative importance of the factors in question. The findings of the study revealed a total of 17 factors contributing to wastage issues; however, RII pinpointed the top 10 most crucial factors related to waste causation issues. The mean score for Poor Materials Handling and Storage was 4.57, according to the analysis results obtained. Pearson product correlation analysis revealed a correlation between designers and complicated design, specifically within the technical factor category, indicating statistical significance in this area. No significant correlations were identified within sections such as management factors, worker factors, and external factors. The findings of the present study demonstrate that the implementation of a quality management system has the potential to reduce construction waste, thereby contributing to the development of a sustainable built environment in construction projects.
- References
-
Abdullahi, U., Bustani, S. A., Hassan, A., & Rotimi, F. E. (2019). Assessing Quality Management Practice in Nigerian Construction Industry. JCBM, (2), 17–25. https://doi.org/10.15641/jcbm.3.569
Ahaotu, S., & Pathirage, C. (2015). Importance of Leadership in Effective Implementation of TQM in The Nigeria Construction Industry. Proceedings of the West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference, 683–690.
Akinola, V. O. (2023). Evaluating the Impact of Risk Factors on Construction Projects of Foci in Nigeria. LAUTECH Journal of Civil and Environmental Studies, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.36108/laujoces/3202.01.0270
Alawag, A. M., Alaloul, W. S., Mohamad, H., Liew, M. S., Awang, M., & Baarimah, A. O. (2025). Evaluating the role of critical success factors of Total quality management (TQM) implementation through SmartPLS in industrialized building projects (IBS). Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2025.103294
Anokye, K., Apea, O. B., Darko, A. O., & Kwabi, L. A. (2024). The future of waste management in Ghana: Assessing the feasibility and scalability of smart waste solutions amidst key adoption challenges. In Cleaner Waste Systems (Vol. 9). Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwas.2024.100183
Bamisaye, M. E., Ajayi, B. O., & Sereewatthanawut, I. (2025). Sustainable waste management of construction materials: Mathematical modelling and analysis. Resources, Conservation and Recycling Advances, 27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2025.200274
Bao, Z. (2023). Developing circularity of construction waste for a sustainable built environment in emerging economies: New insights from China. Developments in the Built Environment, 13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2022.100107
Emeka, O. H. (2019). Assessment of indices of building project quality control checklist in the South–Eastern states of Nigeria. MOJ Civil Engineering, 5(1), 35–43. https://doi.org/10.15406/mojce.2019.05.00147
Garba, A., Olaleye, Y. O., & Jibrin, N. S. (2016). Material Resources Optimization for Sustainable Construction in Nigeria. Online) Journal of Engineering and Architecture, 4(1), 2334–2994. https://doi.org/10.15640/jea.v4n1a3
Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007
Hajam, Y. A., Kumar, R., & Kumar, A. (2023). Environmental waste management strategies and vermi transformation for sustainable development. In Environmental Challenges (Vol. 13). Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2023.100747
McLeod, S., & Schapper, J. H. M. (2024). Understanding Quality in Planning Consultancy: A Review and Synthesis of the Literature. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 44(1), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X20943928
Meye, S. M., Li, G., Shen, Z., & Zhang, J. (2022). Fuzzy Multi-Mode Time–Cost–Quality Trade-Off Optimization in Construction Management of Hydraulic Structure Projects. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 12(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/app12126270
Obianyo, I. I., Ihekweme, G. O., Mahamat, A. A., Onyelowe, K. C., Onwualu, A. P., & Soboyejo, A. B. O. (2021). Overcoming the obstacles to sustainable housing and urban development in Nigeria: The role of research and innovation. In Cleaner Engineering and Technology (Vol. 4). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2021.100226
Obianyo, I. I., Nwaforcha, M. S., Yusuf, K., Sanusi, A., Dayyabu, A., Kolo, M. U., & Onwualu, A. P. (2025). Evaluation of the Mechanical and Durability Properties of Marble Waste-Modified Rigid Pavement Material. Buildings, 15(22). https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224159
Obianyo, I. I., Onwualu, A. P., Mahamat, A. A., Anosike-Francis, E. N., Kelechi, S. E., & Onche, E. (2026). Strategies for Overcoming the Obstacles to Reuse and Recycling of Construction Waste Materials for Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria. Journal of Rehabilitation in Civil Engineering, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.22075/jrce.2025.36321.2235
Obianyo, I. I., Taiwo, I. A., Dayyabu, A., Mahamat, A. A., Amuda, A., Muoka, A., Mambo, A. D., & Onwualu, A. P. (2024). Modification of Lateritic Soil Using Waste Plastics for Sustainable Road Construction. Polymers, 16(19), 2689. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16192689
Ogunde, A. O., & Ayedun, C. A. (2018). Integration of software to improve the quality of project delivery: how effective? International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET, 9(8), 660–668. http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET660editor@iaeme.comhttp://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJMET?Volume=9&Issue=8http://iaeme.com
Okonta, E. D., Okeke, F. O., Ojelabi, E. T., & Akinola, A. V. (2024). Exploring the Role of quality management practices (QMS) in mitigating Construction Failures and building collapse. Discover Civil Engineering, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44290-024-00115-6
Olawade, D. B., Fapohunda, O., Wada, O. Z., Usman, S. O., Ige, A. O., Ajisafe, O., & Oladapo, B. I. (2024). Smart waste management: A paradigm shift enabled by artificial intelligence. In Waste Management Bulletin (Vol. 2, Number 2, pp. 244–263). Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wmb.2024.05.001
Otoekhile Jonathan, I., Timothy Sunday, O., & Joseph Ayobami, A. (2012). An Investigation into the Impact of Total Quality Management Application in the Construction Industry (A Case of Training). Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences, 3(1), 2141–7024.
Oyewole, M. D. (2022). Developing a framework towards effective quality control management practice on building construction projects in Nigeria - a case study of Lagos. Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
Rahman, M. S., & Alam, J. (2020). Solid Waste Management and Incineration Practice: A Study of Bangladesh. International Journal of Nonferrous Metallurgy, 09(01), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.4236/ijnm.2020.91001
Riaz, H., Iqbal Ahmad Khan, K., Ullah, F., Bilal Tahir, M., Alqurashi, M., & Alsulami, B. T. (2023). Key factors for implementation of total quality management in construction Sector: A system dynamics approach. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2022.101903
Richard, J., Luqman, O., Mohammed, W., & Rasheed, I. (2017). Total Quality Management Practices in the Nigerian Construction Industry. In International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering & Technology (Vol. 7, Number 2). http://penerbit.uthm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/IJSCET
Rogers Simeon, D., Joseph Oladiran, O., & Abiodun, O. J. (2024). Exploring the importance of quality management practices and influencing factors of construction projects’ quality in Nigeria. In Journal of Science and Technology © KNUST 2024 Journal of Science and Technology (Vol. 42, Number 1).
Roy, H., Alam, S. R., Bin-Masud, R., Prantika, T. R., Pervez, M. N., Islam, M. S., & Naddeo, V. (2022). A Review on Characteristics, Techniques, and Waste-to-Energy Aspects of Municipal Solid Waste Management: Bangladesh Perspective. In Sustainability (Switzerland) (Vol. 14, Number 16). MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610265
Shahid, M. U., & Ali, M. (2025). Analyzing barriers to construction waste minimization and circular economy culture in Building projects using fuzzy DEMATEL. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-23188-4
Shajidha, H., & Mortula, M. M. (2025). Sustainable waste management in the construction industry. In Frontiers in Sustainable Cities (Vol. 7). Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2025.1582239
Ushie, E., Muoka, A., Mogbo, O., Bamgbade, A., Obianyo, I., & Mambo, A. (2024). The Impact Of Site Management On The Success Of Construction Project In Abuja. Nile Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 2(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.5455/njeas.188745
Yuan, S., Wang, Y., Kang, L., Yu, Z., & Feng, Y. (2018). Discussion on Quality Management and Control in Construction Engineering. Smart Construction Research, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.18063/scr.v2i1.653
- Downloads
- Additional Files
- Published
- 2025-10-10
- Data Availability Statement
-
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
- Section
- Research Article/Original Research
- License
-
Copyright (c) 2025 Ifeyinwa Ijeoma Obianyo, Buhari Saulawa Shehu, Abdulhameed Danjuma Mambo, Abubakar Dayyabu, Akeem Amuda

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Open Access Licences
User rights
All articles published open access will be immediately and permanently free for everyone to read and download, copy and distribute.
