CHAPTER 6 QUALITY CONTROL

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To describe the purpose and identify the procedures and methods of inspecting construction projects and materials under the Construction Quality Control Program.

In the previous chapters, we covered ways in which to plan, organize, read plans and specifications, estimate, schedule, manage, and execute construction projects. Now, let's cover how construction projects need to be constructed with quality in mind.

In the Seabee community, the word quality ranks right along with safety. The customer would like to see a quality project done safely and in a timely manner. Doing quality work for the customer will bring job satisfaction to you and increase the chances of the customer coming back for possible future work. Having satisfied customers leads to getting new customers, which means job security.

For NAVFAC to ensure quality workmanship, it has developed the following quality management programs of their own:

Construction Contract Quality Management Program, NAVFAC P-445

Facilities Support Contract Quality Management Program, MO-327

Construction Quality Control (CQC) Program, COMSECOND/COMTHIRDNCBINST 4355.1 (series)

These three programs deal with quality; however, they pertain to certain aspects of quality.

1. The NAVFAC P-445 states how the contractor and the government will produce a quality project on time and in compliance with the terms of the contract.

2. The MO-327 provides naval shore activity guidance on obtaining quality public works support services through quality assurance.

3. The COMSECOND/COMTHIRDNCBINST 4355.1 prescribes the policy, the objectives, and the procedures to ensure that the required quality is achieved on construction projects assigned to NCF units.

Before we cover quality control, let's first define QUALITY and distinguish the differences between quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA). At times, the construction industry tends to get these terms confused.

QUALITY is an acquired skill to the degree of being excellent. The Navy recognizes QUALITY as individual contribution and team effort in an organization working together to improve the process/system or product. TEAMWORK is essential.

QUALITY ASSURANCE is concerned with the quality of the end product, not with the procedures used to get to that product. Surveillance and inspections are the methods used to review performance standards. The receiving officer in charge of construction (ROICC) usually oversees these methods. Surveillance and inspections are covered thoroughly in the NCF/Seabee Petty Officer 1 & C, NAVEDTRA 12543.

QUALITY CONTROL reviews each step or procedure used in completing tasks on the way to the completed product. Quality control checks are normally performed daily. NMCBs, CBUs, and other construction units run the quality control program.

QUALITY CONTROL Quality control is a management system of published and enforced standards which ensures that a construction project is completed with a specified minimum quality. A product that falls below minimum standards will not satisfy the customer or its intended purpose, and it may require excessive maintenance costs. A product that exceeds the standards generally consumes more resources than planned; however, it's better to exceed the standards than to not meet the standards.