Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 52-06. Agency Use of Quality Control Plans for Administering Quality Assurance Specifications
Modern quality assurance (QA) specifications promoted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recognize the state departments of transportation’s (DOT’s) responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s quality control (QC) activities, conducting agency inspection, and conducting acceptance sampling and testing. Research and training focused on acceptance sampling and testing is currently available, and national, regional, and state certification programs have been developed to support those efforts. Research and training on reviewing the contractor’s QC plan and appropriate methods of DOT oversight of QC inspection and testing activities are more limited. QC plans are usually written by contractors and approved by DOTs, based on DOT requirements and specifications. Well-developed, proactive QC plans should be used to reduce process variability and prevent rework as well as to aid in delivering projects on-schedule and within budget. However, QC plans are often boilerplate or are developed only to be used to meet agency QC specification minimum requirements. Based on the historical quality of QC plans submitted, some DOTs have even stopped requiring QC plans to be submitted. Research has confirmed the importance of QA in transportation projects, and further research is needed in the areas of contractor QC, including adequate agency oversight of the QC plan. The objective of this synthesis is to document the various QC requirements used by DOTs, including how QC plans are reviewed, accepted, and monitored to achieve project specifications and what actions are being taken by an agency when QC plans are not being followed.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $45000
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Contract Numbers:
Project 20-05, Topic 52-06
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Sponsor Organizations:
National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
444 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Project Managers:
Harwood, Leslie
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Performing Organizations:
University of Kansas, Lawrence
1530 West 15th Street
Lawrence, KS United States 66045 -
Principal Investigators:
Tran, Dan
- Start Date: 20200501
- Expected Completion Date: 20211005
- Actual Completion Date: 20211005
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Construction projects; Contractors; Inspection; Literature reviews; Quality assurance; Quality control; State departments of transportation; Surveys
- Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01739553
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
- Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic 52-06
- Files: TRB, RIP
- Created Date: May 19 2020 9:29AM