Unveiling the Path to the Cost of Quality Implementation in the Construction Industry: Multivariate Analysis

The construction industry faces a significant challenge due to the absence of a well-established financial classification system for quality, leading to quality issues. Among the various quality management (QM) techniques available, the cost of quality (COQ) method is utilized to address these concerns. However, traditional COQ assumptions are static and do not reflect the adaptability required in modern QM for the construction industry, particularly due to hidden factors (HFs). These HFs play diverse roles in shaping the COQ system. The lack of a quantifiable COQ for monitoring quality costs impedes the adoption of the COQ framework within the construction industry. This study addresses these gaps by refining the traditional COQ categories and predicting the relationship between visible factors (VFs) and HFs through the lens of complexity theory. To fill this gap, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 142 experts specializing in QM within the Indian construction industry. Using SmartPLS 4.0, a hypothetical model was constructed to uncover the relationship between COQ categories. The results underscore the significant influence of profession on COQ, the influence of VFs and HFs on COQ, and the influence of COQ categories on achieving optimal quality. This study makes a substantial contribution to existing knowledge by forecasting COQ behavior and proposing future research directions.