00625122

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1992/1340/1340-002.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...Weed&publication_year=1992

One of the nation's most valuable assets is the highway system; U.S. economic well-being depends strongly on the condition of the country's roads and bridges. Any means by which the system can be more effectively constructed and maintained warrants thoughtful consideration. Statistical quality assurance -- currently in use or under development in approximately three-fourths of the states -- has proven to be a very effective tool to encourage high-quality construction. However, although statistical specification writing must now be recognized as a thoroughly scientific activity, there is great disparity in the applications from state to state and many current practices and published standards are far from optimal. Part 1 of this paper stresses the need for sweeping reforms and suggests that the time is overdue for the establishment of a uniform and thorough national policy on transportation quality assurance. Part 2 describes a variety of obstacles -- technical, managerial, political, and cultural -- that must be overcome if such a transformation is to be made. Part 3 outlines an extensive series of fundamental principles that must be understood in order to derive the maximum benefit from a quality assurance program. And finally, Part 4 presents a plan of action that, if conscientiously followed, will significantly increase the effectiveness of transportation quality assurance practices nationwide.

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1340, Managing Quality: A National Perspective. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

01404961

English

p. 3-39

1992

Transportation Research Record

0309052041

Figures (13) ; References (73) ; Tables (6)

Bridge construction; Bridges; Construction; Implementation; Management; Quality assurance; Quality control; Road construction; Statistical quality control; Transportation policy

Quality

United States

United States

Administration and Management; Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Policy; Research; I10: Economics and Administration; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Oct 19 1993 12:00AM

• CAN TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT WORK IN THE PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION ARENA?
• FHWA DEMONSTRATION PROJECT NO. 89 QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND A NATIONAL QUALITY INITIATIVE
• ON THE IMPORTANCE OF STATISTICAL SCIENCE IN TRANSPORTATION
• QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENT UNDER PERFORMANCE STANDARDS