Quality in construction: the situation of the Chilean construction industry

This paper presents the main outcomes of a study on the general characteristics of construction quality in Chile. The methodology used for this research was based on the application of semi-structured interviews made to a significant number of professionals and representatives of every construction industry sector. The information so obtained provided a complete picture of the current situation of construction quality in our country. This work presents a general summary of the Chilean construction industry structure, the influence that its main sub-sectors have on construction quality, and the principal identified barriers to construction quality improvement in Chile. The main conclusion of this study is that improvement of the quality of the construction industry is possible but is not the task of a few people. It requires the coordinated and committed participation of all construction industry representatives.