Precast Inc. - March/April 2008 - (Page 36)

produced in a plant that is certified as a high-quality manufacturer. Higher quality leads to greater durability of the precast and prestressed units, resulting in reduced life cycle costs. • Reduced field plant inspections by agencies. By pushing responsibility for inspections and quality assurance back to the precast and prestressed concrete producers and the industry, some DOTs and other agencies have been able to reduce the frequency of their own plant inspections. This allows agencies to either reallocate or reduce manpower, providing greater efficiency or cost savings. • Industry self-regulation of quality issues. Self-regulation by the industry removes some of the burden and cost from the agencies. This also forces the companies and associations representing the industry to constantly strive to improve in the eyes of the specifying community. As experts in manufacturing precast and prestressed concrete, the industry should be the best resource for maintaining a certification program. • Prequalified list of quality producers. By certifying more than 500 precast and prestressed concrete plants across the United States and Canada, various third-party certification programs have built a substantial list of manufacturers that meet stringent quality control programs. This offers specifiers a list of precast and prestressed plants that have made the conscious effort to be among the best quality producers. • Greater quality assurance for products received from producers located out of state. Many agencies have problems personally inspecting production facilities that lie outside of their state or region. Certification helps ensure consistent quality regardless of where the product is manufactured. Adding it up Plant certification programs generally have three basic components: a quality control manual, a predetermined grading schedule and an inspection process. Precast and prestressed concretespecific plant certification programs generally include minimum requirements in their quality control manuals for anything that can affect the quality of the final product, including: • Plant quality control procedures and management policies • Raw materials such as admixtures, aggregates and cement • Concrete mixes • Batching and mixing • Plant safety • Production practices • Fabrication of reinforcement and blockouts • Pre-pour, casting, curing, stripping and repair operations • Post-pour and final inspections • Product handling, storage and shipment • Concrete and aggregate testing • Quality control record-keeping Plants are scored on the degree of compliance with the requirements in the quality control manual using a predetermined grading schedule. All plants must attain a minimum passing score in order to be certified. NPCA plant certification inspections are Tricon Precast Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of precast concrete products for heavy highway and commercial construction. Products include MSE Retaining Walls, Concrete Traffic Barriers, Sound Wall Systems, Redi-Span Bridge Systems and Con-Struct Bridge Systems. We are currently looking to fill the following positions at both our Houston and New Braunfels (San Antonio) Plants: • Project Estimator (Houston Plant only) • Product Manager • Shipping/Dispatch Manager • Plant Manager • Sales Engineer For more information please visit: www.triconprecast.com or send resumes to our HR Department @ HR@triconprecast.com performed by independent engineering firms, ensuring an unbiased opinion of the plant. Additionally, since the inspectors have usually been in numerous plants, they can offer tips to an individual plant on improving operations, efficiency and quality. “Our inspection last year was great,” said Donnie Womack, plant manager for Barbour Concrete, Independence, Mo. “(The inspector) was thorough in his inspection, and he actually understood what a precast plant has to achieve on a day-to-day basis.” Expecting to hear only criticisms during the closing conference, the plant workers heard an unexpected message from the inspector. “He recognized all the hard work we have put into being an NPCA certified plant. They sat up a little straighter in their chairs and held their heads a little higher,” exclaimed Womack. “It was a great feeling. They walked out of that room focused and determined to do better.” By specifying that precast and prestressed concrete manufacturers supplying products to a particular project must be certified, the minimum level of quality is set for all producers who bid on that project. The precast and prestressed concrete industry helps build confidence and ensures quality in the projects of owners and specifiers while benefiting the industry as a whole. Precast and prestressed concrete-specific plant certification programs reinforce the inherent characteristics of all precast and prestressed concrete products – namely quality, value and permanence. For more information regarding the NPCA Plant Certification Program, please contact Rich Krolewski, promotion specialist, at (800) 366-7731 or rkrolewski@precast.org. For assistance with specification writing, please contact Greg Stutz, vice president of technical services, at (800) 366-7731 or gstutz@precast.org. Visit www.precast.org to learn more about NPCA. Tricon Precast 15055 Henry Road Houston, TX 77060 36 MARCH/APRIL 2008 | PRECAST INC. http://www.triconprecast.com http://www.precast.org http://www.triconprecast.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Precast Inc. - March/April 2008

Precast Inc. - March/April 2008 Contents Technically Speaking Concrete Repairs Return-to-Work Programs Marketing in a New World Building Confidence Risk Management Culture Bloquea La Energia – Es Tu Vida! Lock It Out – It’s Your Life! Fiber Optics in Countertops MCPX Wrap-Up Product Profile People & Products Advertisers Index NPCA Calendar

Precast Inc. - March/April 2008

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