TQM in Roads and Highways Department; Evaluate an approach-how it improves the performance of supply chain to its organization

Abstract

The Roads and Highways Department is a government organization under the Road Transport and Highways Division of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. RHD is responsible to enhance the traffic capacity and safety for efficient transshipment of goods as well as passengers trafficked on transnational boundary, national, regional, and Zilla highways. But in recent years the quality of works and other activities has failed to meet the standard required by the specifications. If it is allowed to continue, within a few years a significant amount of the existing RHD road network will deteriorate which seriously hampered customer satisfaction. In this thesis, the objective is to evaluate the use of TQM tools and its systematic application to improve the performance of the supply chain in RHD. Moreover, it is also to be stressed to find out the present and future challenges on roads and bridges construction, procurement, and other sourcing processes. The thesis work is to be explorative in nature and be used qualitative and quantitative data. Primary data were collected through questionnaires survey from 34 engineers of different grades to identify the level of qualify practice in RHD and find out employees of RHD follow the procedure of TQM or not. Secondary data were collected from the RHD website, journals, magazines, and different publications. From this thesis. it is concluded that to ensure quality in RHD it is necessary to conduct Quality Assurance Audit (QAA) through a third party. Besides this, an intensive and robust training program regarding TQM must be introduced for all levels of employees in RHD in order to ensure quality works. Finally. it is recommended that this thesis finding is not limited to take any concrete decision regarding the quality issue in RHD. Moreover, it is an emphasis to conduct a further study with the uses of new technologies like IoT, AI, Blockchain, etc. to improve quality-related difficulties and other supply chain processes in RHD to face upcoming challenges with the help of TQM approach in order to ensure value for money for the public fund.