Precast Solutions - March/April 2008 - (Page 30)

• 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. A survey conducted by NPCA polled certified plants NPCA plant certification inspections are performed by independent engineering firms, ensuring an unbiased opinion of the plant. regarding their opinions of the NPCA Plant Certification Program. Ninety-six percent of the respondents reported that the certification program was beneficial to their plants. In addition, 100 percent of the respondents reported that they would recommend other precast concrete plants become certified. The survey results also showed plants can save a substantial amount of money, often more than the cost of the program, by becoming certified. This is possible because plant employees learn proper manufacturing and quality control procedures, which lead to a reduction of rejections and repairs, greater efficiency and increased new and repeat business. NPCA plant certification inspections are 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 ADDING IT UP 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. Plant certification programs generally have three basic components: a quality control manual, a predetermined grading schedule and an inspection process. Precast and prestressed concrete-specific 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 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 e-mail at gstutz@precast.org. Visit www.precast.org to learn more about NPCA. 30 PRECAST SOLUTIONS | MARCH/APRIL 2008 http://www.precast.org

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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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