Precast Solutions - March/April 2008 - (Page 29)

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. percent have 20 or fewer. The average number of employees for all certified plants in NPCA’s Plant Certification Program is 28. NPCA’s QC Manual is an essential resource for smaller plants because it can provide the framework for a formal quality control program. Likewise, the NPCA QC Manual can enhance already existing quality control programs to provide an added layer of quality for the plant. WHAT’S NEW WITH NPCA’S PLANT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM? NPCA is pleased to announce the expansion of its Plant Certification Program to include a new prestressed component. The Prestress Plant Certification Program is a natural extension of NPCA’s already mature Precast Plant Certification Program and was approved by NPCA’s Quality Assurance and Technical committees in October 2007. Like the Precast Plant Certification Program, the Prestress Plant Certification Program is designed to raise the bar of quality within the manufactured concrete products industry. As part of the rigorous development process for this new program, NPCA consulted with multiple ENR Top 500 engineering firms, numerous prestressed concrete producers, Departments of Transportation around the country and academics at several top civil GOOD FOR THEM engineering university programs. NPCA’s Prestress Plant Certification Program has been recognized as an equivalent to similar independent third-party certification programs within the industry. NPCA is currently working with Departments of Transportation across the United States to include the Prestress Plant Certification Program in their specifications for prestressed concrete products. As part of this new initiative, NPCA released the sixth edition of its “NPCA Quality Control Manual for Precast and Prestressed Concrete Plants.” To download a free copy of this manual, including the new prestressed concrete requirements, visit www.precast.org/qcmanual. In addition to the prestress standards, the sixth edition of “NPCA’s QC Manual” also provides an avenue for specifiers and DOTs to request additional reinspections of certified plants. Occasionally, a DOT or other specifier may have concerns regarding a certified plant’s continued adherence to the NPCA Plant Certification Program. With objective evidence provided in writing from a DOT or other specifying agency, the NPCA QA Review Subcommittee can require an immediate unannounced reinspection of the plant in question to ensure it is complying with program guidelines. Following receipt of the inspection report from the independent third-party inspection agency, NPCA can then provide your DOT with confirmation of the plant’s certification status. This process provides an added layer of quality control to NPCA’s Plant Certification Program and reassurance for the specifier. These inspections are in addition to the annual unannounced inspections certified plants receive, and the additional random reinspections that 10 percent of NPCA’s certified plants receive at no additional cost. On projects where a plant certification program is required, a single standard of quality is set for all precast and prestressed concrete manufacturers and their products, effectively leveling the playing field for all plants wishing to supply products to the project. The program creates additional opportunities for plants and the precast and prestressed concrete industry as a whole by showing a commitment to produce high-quality products. As the level of quality increases, satisfaction from owners and specifiers improves, the reputation of the industry grows and the number of new opportunities for plants increases. Plant certification provides recognition for plants that strive for and achieve a high degree of excellence. A certified plant stands out among plants wishing to supply products to a particular project. NPCA’s Plant Certification Program is a valuable tool to precast and prestressed concrete plants of all sizes. Of the more than 300 certified plants in the Program, 57 percent have 30 or fewer production employees, and 41 MARCH/APRIL 2008 | PRECAST SOLUTIONS 29 http://www.precast.org/qcmanual

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Precast Solutions - March/April 2008 Contents Smooth Move Riding the Waves Comparing RCP With Plastic Pipe Cost-Value Analysis of Storm Sewer Pipe Concrete Testing On a Grand Scale Building Confidence

Precast Solutions - March/April 2008

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