TQM implementation challenges: a case study of a building maintenance department of an institution of higher learning

The standards of maintenance management of buildings at many higher institutions, need improvement. TQM has proven to be effective in the improvement of quality in the maintenance of building facilities, although many higher institutions are still grappling to implement TQM in the maintenance of their buildings. This study examines the perceptions that maintenance workers have about the challenges they face during the implementation of TQM in the maintenance of buildings of institutions' of higher learning (IHL), assessing whether there are statistical differences based on workers' affiliated campuses and their positions. A case study approach utilising quantitative data was used in the study where a questionnaire with closed-ended questions was distributed to purposively sampled maintenance workers in an IHL in South Africa. A significant difference was found in the responses provided by workers positions as regards the impact of TQM challenges in their building maintenance activities.