The application of total quality management principles to asphalt concrete specifications is discussed. Specifications from 16 states are reviewed, and their attributes are critiqued. Verification procedures, statistical compliance measures, tolerance limits, lot definition, point of acceptance, density determination, and pay adjustment methods are recommended. The innovative concepts of contractor rating systems and warranties are examined briefly.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Code of Federal Regulations. Title 23, Subchapter G, Part 637, Subpart B: Quality Assurance Procedures for Construction.
2.
HenryA., MoussaviH., and RestainoM.. 1993–1994 Asphalt Concrete Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) Pilot Projects.California Department of Transportation, Nov. 1994.
3.
SwissJ. E.Adapting Total Quality Management (TQM) to Government. Public Administration Review, Vol. 52, No. 4, July–Aug. 1992, pp. 356–361.
4.
Asphalt Content Test Offers Improvement over Solvents. TRNews, No. 180, Sept.–Oct. 1995, pp. 40–41.
5.
Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects. Manual FP-92. FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1992.
6.
WeedR. M.Revision of a Flawed Acceptance Standard. In Transportation Research Record 1056, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1986, pp. 21–35.
7.
KennedyJ. B., and NevilleA. M.. Basic Statistical Methods for Engineers and Scientists, 3rd ed. Harper & Row, New York, 1986.
8.
HeckertE., and ChapinL. T.. Agency or Contractor: Who's To Blame for 'Leaner' HMA Mixes?Roads and Bridges, Feb. 1995, pp. 48–51.
9.
Quality Assurance in Highway Construction. Report FHWA-TS-89-038. FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Oct. 1990.
10.
BensonP. E.Comparison of End-Result and Method Specifications for Managing Quality. In Transportation Research Record 1491, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1995, pp. 3–10.
11.
AlexanderM. L.Control of AC Compaction Using an End-Result Specification. Report 633189. California Department of Transportation, Sacramento, 1985.
12.
BrownE. R.Density of Asphalt Concrete—How Much Is Needed? In Transportation Research Record 1282, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1990, pp. 27–32.
13.
OMR Rating Systems Promote Quality in Georgia Transportation System. The Lab Reporter, Vol. 2, No. 2, Georgia Department of Transportation Atlanta, 1995.
14.
Highway Infrastructure—Quality Improvements Would Safeguard Billions of Dollars Already Invested. Report GAO/RCED-94-198. General Accounting Office, Sept. 1994.
15.
FlynnL.A First for U.S.: Five-Year Warranty Guides Wisconsin Paving Projects. Roads and Bridges, Sept. 1995, pp. 40–44.
