Quality assurance - the gap between myth and reality (and opportunity for initiatives to bridge the gap)

This paper sounds an alarm to bridge engineers that Quality Assurance (QA) contracts for bridgeworks are not achieving the desired effects of improved quality and reduced costs. The opposite is in fact the case. The potential benefits of QA are undeniable, but without proper planning by bridge engineers it will lead to disaster. Critical opportunities to avert disaster are being lost because engineers have become separated from their construction roots. This paper alerts bridge engineers to the very recent changes in quality system policies and Standards which demand an urgent response from all sectors of the industry. There now exists a window of opportunity for bridge engineers to embrace and take full advantage of the principles of QA to ensure that "we get it right this time". The issues involve not only construction contracts, but also all the planning, design and administrative activities leading up to and including the calling, evaluation and acceptance of tenders. Finally this paper issues a challenge to bridge engineers to take the necessary initiatives to lead the industry into a new era of real TQM for the nation's bridge construction system. They must inspire a genuine commitment to quality not only among contractors, but also among bridge designers and contract supervisors (public and private sector alike) and even those managers who so often make the planning and financial decisions which create many of the quality problems the industry confronts. This is an opportunity which will never be repeated.

• Record URL:
  http://arrbknowledge.com
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0855884436
• Authors:
  • Curtis, S
• Conference:
  • AUSTROADS Bridges Conference, 2nd, 1994, Melbourne, Australia
• Publication Date: 1994

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 22.1-42
• Serial:
  • Volume: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Construction management; Contractors; Contracts; Quality assurance; Quality control; Transportation departments
• ATRI Terms: Bridge construction; Construction management; Contract; Contractor; Quality assurance; Quality control; Road authority
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01434370
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 0855884436
• Report/Paper Numbers: AP 28/94
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 24 2012 6:15PM