The Effect of Quality Management System on Sustainability of Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development in the Northern State of Sudan: The Mediating Role of Consulting Engineering Works and Engineering Professional Ethics

This study investigates the mediating role of Consulting Engineering Works (CEW) and Engineering Professional Ethics (EPE) in the relationship between Quality Management System (QMS) adoption and the sustainability of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development (MIUD) in the Northern State of Sudan. The research, motivated by observed weaknesses in the Ministry’s performance indicators—affecting economic, environmental, and social sustainability—aims to assess the significance and impact of QMS, CEW, and EPE on Ministry’s Sustainability (MS). Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected via questionnaires from 223 ministry employees, analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and structural equation modeling (SEM) through SPSS and AMOS.Key findings reveal that QMS has a high importance level, while CEW, EPE, and MS are of moderate importance. Path analysis demonstrated a statistically significant direct impact of QMS on MS (standardized effect = 0.584), as well as a full mediating effect of CEW and EPE together between QMS and MS, with a standardized indirect effect of 0.743 and total effect of 0.641. The results confirm that QMS implementation enhances CEW and EPE, which in turn drive the Ministry’s sustainability. The study highlights the necessity for integrating strong quality management, ethical standards, and professional engineering practices to achieve sustainable development in public infrastructure institutions.