Contractor quality control

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Contractor quality control

• A direct approach in 2006

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CONTRACTOR QC

• Background
• Thoughts about revised specification
• Specification
• Discussion

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When there is good CQC there is good performance
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Everyone is coordinated and works together.
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Even ANDY! Everyone needs to know the plan.
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You can minimize inefficient performance. the
inspector or foreman shouldnt have to ask...why
are you undercutting this slope??
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It is avoiding problems, making corrections and
communicating changes quickly
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Success and efficiency is promoted when we,
Contractors and Owners together systematically
verify (check the truth of) with CQC (planning,
communicating and monitoring)
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Mid 60s, Libby, MontanaBPR Kootenai River
Bridge Project The Traditional model (how
it used to be)
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FHWA Inspector doing QC Montana style! Yee
Ha!!!!!
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We even did QC on the nets too!!!!!!!
Jerry Bruyer FHWA RET
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We were in to it.
Larry Adams FHWA RET.
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Easing into Contractor QC Late 80s
Eagle Cliff Bridge, Cougar Washington, 1988
Weaver Construction
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There was a lot of torque wrench work to do. The
Project Engineer informed me that the contractor
would perform their own QC, and we would do QA.
There was no pay Item, no FP guidance (FP85),
just the FAR.
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Inspection of Construction

• FAR 52.246-12 Inspection of Construction (Aug
  1996)
• The contractor shall maintain an adequate
  inspection system
• The contractor shall perform inspections to
  ensure..

The second and third bullets first appeared in
DoD solicitations in 1961
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Where are we today?

• Many still think of Contractor QC as only
  materials testing
• Current specifications too vague and generalized.
  
• Difficult to bid, unclear expectations
• Lack of consequences for non performance
• Hard to objectively evaluate
• Some contractors and WFL staff making the
  motions, not performing
• Is it good enough syndrome

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Contractor QC QA Vision

• Some thoughts
• Benefits to contractors
• Benefits for owners
• What do we want?

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Benefits for the Contractor-----VISION

• Effective CQC promotes completing work correctly
  the first time
• Planning processes are improved
• Reduced costs result in higher profits
• Reduces claims and litigation
• Higher quality performance improves reputation
  and image
• Contractor takes pride in delivering a quality
  product

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Benefits to the Owner/Administrator ----VISION

• Manpower is more effectively used (less FTE)
• Effective contractor QC results in fewer
  deficiencies and corrective actions required on
  projects
• Reduces claims and administrative costs
• Public relations and customer satisfaction are
  improved if projects are completed successfully
  on time
• We take pride in delivering a quality product.

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Purpose of QC according to AASHTO

• The purpose QC is to measure quality and inspect
  activities of production at a time when
  corrective action can be taken to prevent
  nonconforming material (anything) from being
  incorporated into the work.
• The WFL specification adds planning and other
  preventative measures to this definition

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Contractor QC

• What do we want contractors to do?

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We are looking at the industry to.

• Collaborate with agency
• Provide feedback
• Self inspect
• Self confirm
• Share information (document)
• Most of this you are already doing
• Materials testing has been transferred to the
  industry.
• Construction survey has been transferred to the
  industry

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What we are going to do?

• We are going to be more direct
• More specific details in contract requirements
• More method spec less end product spec

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SCR Section 153 - a more direct approach

• Quality control staff
• Quality control plan
• Inspection (QC)
• Testing (QC)
• Reporting (Documenting)
• Government inspection (QA)
• Acceptance, measurement and payment

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Personnel

• Quality control manager
• Higher qualifications for larger projects
• Lesser for smaller

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Quality control plans

• Individual plans will be pre-selected during
  project development stage. Not every Item of work
  will have a QC plan. Critical Items will.
• Template provided WFLHD form 471
• We do this to provide a staring point.. Something
  concrete to begin with..an example. Materials
  Specs and Survey specs are method specs. Thats
  why they have been successful
• Work not to be performed until the plan is
  accepted
• We have divided Contractor QC is divided into 9
  primary activities

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Implementation

• Cannot begin work until plan is accepted
• Fill out first three columns of form 471 for
  acceptance
• - Activity 1-6
• (PRE-WORK, PLANNING COMMUNICATING AND
  PREPARATION)
• Report on activities daily Activity 7-9
• (VERIFICATION AND MONTORING)

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9 primary contractor QC functions

• 1. Independently and with contractor staff review
  contract requirements, plans and specifications

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Primary contractor QC functions

• 2. Inspect and verify submittals, certifications
  and plans

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Primary contractor QC functions

• 3. Inspect site conditions for constructability

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Primary contractor QC functions

• 4. Review construction staking

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9 primary contractor QC functions

• 5. Verify materials on site

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Primary contractor QC functions

• 6. Complete operational work plan and hold
  pre- work meeting with crews

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Primary contractor QC functions

• Verify, inspect, measure, test, correct
• Table 153-1 and Table 153-2

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Table 153..Measuring, Inspecting
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Table 153Testing
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Primary contractor QC functions

• 8. Provide presence and communicate

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Primary contractor QC functions

• 9. Verify completed work 470 process

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Government Inspection

• Quality Assurance (FHWA Role)
• Hold and witness on selected items - 470 form
  process
• Owner maintains ultimate responsibility to
  inspect, measure, test to verify contractor QC.
• We may use contractor QC data in our acceptance
  of any item just like we use testing data for
  materials items
• How much we do depends

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Acceptance, measurement and payment

• 10 of progress payment may be withheld
• Work may be suspended in accordance with Section
  108
• Schedule of values for lump sum item

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.So.we are the builders, we innovate, plan,
execute and administer the work.We must also
provide the feedback to improve it.
I hope this clarifies WFLs expectations of CQC in
the future
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Questions
www.wfl.fha.dot.gov