CHAPTER 3 CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Identify the techniques used in developing a quality control program for projects; the methods used in tracking project materials and equipment through home port and on deployment; and the importance of maintaining accountability of project money, materials, and equipment. Recognize the need and requirements for jobsite management.

QUALITY CONTROL

The main purpose of the quality control program (see 2ndNCB/3rdNCBINST 4355.1C) is to prevent discrepancies where the quality of the workmanship and the materials fail to match the requirements in the plans and specifications. The responsibility for quality construction rests with the crew leader and the chain of command. The quality control division of the operations department as described in chapter 2 is responsible for conducting tests and inspections to ensure compliance with the plans and specifications. The crew leader must plan quality into the project. Quality planning avoids discrepancies found by the quality control (QC) inspectors while performing their inspections. Each discrepancy identified by the QC inspector represents a failure in the crew leader's QC plan.

ENSURING QUALITY

The crew leader is responsible for developing an aggressive QC plan for each project. An aggressive QC plan guarantees that the quality of the construction meets the standards in the plans and specifications. The development and implementation of a QC plan can be broken down into steps.

Establish Quality Measures

The first step in ensuring quality is to establish the means of measuring QC progress. The crew leader must review the plans and specifications and identify the required quality criteria. For reinforcing steel, the quality criteria would be the size, the placement, the anchoring, and the distance lapped. Quality measures must be specific (for example, the specifications may require that rebar be at least 1 1/2 inches from inside of forming and that rebar must be lapped 24 inches at splices). QC measures are to be listed in "plain language" on the CAS sheet. These measures are then transferred to the QC plan. The crew leader, QC rep, and resident officer-in-charge of construction (ROICC) inspector should agree in advance on how the various tests are to be performed and exactly what the requirements are. For example: If laying asphalt 2 inches thick, how is it to be measured, with a poker device or with a string line and a tape measure? If laying block and the requirement is within 1/4 inch plumb within 10 feet, will this be measured with a string line, level, or some other method? Figures 3-1 and 3-2 are samples of project QC plans.

Select Construction Methods

The second step in ensuring quality is the proper selection of construction methods that are essential to safe, quality construction. Construction methods must be determined very early in the planning stage of the project as they impact on equipment, tools, material, labor, training, and safety requirements. Construction methods selected in the planning stage will also, to a great extent, determine the quality of the finished product. Commonly accepted construction practices have resulted from people doing the same work for many years. They are usually the most effective way to accomplish safe, high-quality work. Use these accepted practices where you have the skills and equipment to do so. Discuss methods with your crew, your chain of command, and the QC inspector if you have any doubts about the value or safety of these practices.

Identify Required Training and Equipment

The crew leader must be aware that many activities require specialized training or qualifications. Some activities, such as welding certifications or cable splicing, may only be satisfied through formal instruction. Formal training for a great many activities is simply impractical. It is frequently necessary to