implementation of quality management systems in small and medium construction firms in nigeria

Quality Management Systems
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Institution Affiliation

Abstract
This paper looks at the implementation of Quality Management System in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Nigeria. However, the study has a keen focus on the adoption of the Quality Management Systems by the Small and medium-sized enterprises in Nigeria. It also identifies the challenges they face, which hinders the implementation of Quality Management System. The paper examines how issues such as organizational culture and external factors including unhealthy practices and corruption affect the implementation of Quality Management System. Ultimately, the paper aims at recommending the ideal ways through which some of the challenges will be dealt with to ensure that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Nigeria seamlessly adopt Quality Management System to sustain their effectiveness. The research strives to provide a better understanding of why the current process of implementation of Quality Management System employed by SMEs in Nigeria is less efficient and provide the recommendations, which can be used to improve the performance of SMEs.

Introduction
Quality Management Systems (QMS) is a set of coordinated activities, which are well documented to direct and control an organization to ensure continual improvement, effectiveness and efficiency of its performance based on any one of the standards. These require a procedure for attaining useful Quality Management (Avery & Zable, 1996). Companies have recorded both improved quality of products and increased profits and a greater effectiveness and efficiency of the employees, as well as increased business success after implementing a Quality Management System (Tawfik, 2009; Fotopoulos, Psomas & Vouzas, 2010).

For instance, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can maximize their growth potential by implementing the Quality Assurance System (Sousa-Poza, Altinkilinc & Searcy, 2009; Onugu, 2005). Quality Management has four major components including quality planning, quality assurance, quality control and quality improvement.
Purpose of the Study
Despite the availability of extensive knowledge about Quality Management System, very few Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria have successfully adopted them a part of their operation systems (Yusuf, & Dansu, 2013; Fariza, 2012; Ojukwu, 2006). The companies cite a myriad of factors hindering their effective adoption of the QMS (Kumar & Balakrishnan, 2011; Sahran, Zeinalnezhad, & Mukhtar, 2010). This study intends to explore some of the potential challenges facing the implementation of QMS in SMEs in Nigeria.
Objectives
Main Objective
The primary goal of this research is to come up with ways and means through which SMEs in Nigeria can tap into the endless potential that Quality Management System provides to enhance their sustainability and awaken their vibrancy towards economic development.
Specific Objectives
To establish how organizational structure in Nigeria influences the implementation of QMS in Small and Medium Enterprises.
To investigate the extent to which unhealthy business practices have an influence on the implementation of QMS in the Nigerian SMS.
To find out if the government has structures in place to facilitate a healthier and conducive environment for the implementation of QMS in SMEs in Nigeria. Some critics might argue that the government is failing at encouraging, stimulating and protecting SMEs in Nigeria. Some sectors lack stringent measures governing performance, which create an avenue for underperformance.
To determine whether corruption is a potential threat to the implementation of QMS in Nigerian SMEs. Nigeria is for years grappled with the corruption menace which has filtrated in almost all structures thus very necessary to determine if there is any probable link. With weak systems regarding anti-corruption, most sectors are left exposed to the many cartels in government and beyond.
To look at the most efficient Quality Management tools and techniques that can be easily applied to Nigerian SMEs. It is imperative the SMEs implement Quality Management System in the most appropriate way, thus, the use of tools and techniques that have been tested and proven to be practical is recommended.
To make the appropriate recommendations for alleviating or dealing with the challenges facing the implementation of QMS by Nigerian SMEs. The study attempts to determine the problems, analyses them then provides the most possible best ways of handling them. Offering solutions to the problem at hand is the ultimate objective of the study and the recommendations encompass the most efficient options.
To rank all the identified challenges that influence the implementation of Quality Management Systems in Nigerian SMEs. Listing the challenges from the highest to the lowest provides an overview of the order of priority when it comes to dealing with them.

References
Avery, C., & Zable, D. (1996). Quality management sourcebook. London, GBR: Routledge.
Fariza, H. (2012). Challenges for the internationalization of SMEs and the role of government: the case of Malaysia. Journal of International Business and Economy, 13(1), 97-122.
Fotopoulos, C., Psomas, E., & Vouzas, F. (2010). Investigating total quality management practice’s inter-relationships in ISO 9001:2000 certified organizations. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 21(5), 503–515.
Kumar, D., & Balakrishnan, V. (2011). A study of ISO 9001 quality management system (QMS) certificates – reasons behind the failure of ISO certified organizations. Journal of Research in International Business and Management. 1(6), 147-154.
Ojukwu, D. (2006). Achieving sustainable growth through the adoption of integrated business and information solutions: A case study of Nigerian small & medium sized enterprises. Journal of Information Technology Impact, 6(1), 47-60.
Onugu, B. A. N. (2005). Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. St. Clements University, Nigeria (Unpublished Dissertation for a Doctor of Philosophy in Management Award). [PDF File].
Sahran, S., Zeinalnezhad, M., & Mukhtar, M. (2010). Quality management in small and medium enterprises: Experiences from a developing country. International Review of Business Research Papers, 6(6), 164-173.
Sousa-Poza, A., Altinkilinc, M., & Searcy, C. (2009). Implementing a functional ISO 9001 quality management system in small and medium-sized enterprises. International Journal of Engineering, 3(3), 220-228.
Tawfik, M. (2009). Quality management practices. The International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, 26(3), 214-233. doi:10.1108/02656710910936708
Yusuf, T. O., & Dansu, F. S. (2013). SMEs, business risks and sustainability in Nigeria. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 2(9), 76-94.