Definitions:
- Quality Assurance: A set of activities designed to ensure that the development and/or maintenance process is adequate to ensure a project will meet its objectives.
- Quality Control: A set of activities designed to evaluate a developed product.
Quality Assurance makes sure you are doing the right things, the right way.
Quality Control makes sure the results of what you’ve done are what you expected.
Advanced Special Inspection, Inc. (ASI) provides QA/QC & third-party services for the construction industry in the following sectors:
- Industrial
- Commercial
- Multi-residential
- Single-family residential
- Municipal/Public/Military (including hospitals & schools)
Service summary:
With increased pressure to complete buildings in a timely manner, many details are often overlooked, skipped or done incorrectly in order to make the deadlines and budgets. If these systems fail as a result, law suits, injuries, and damage oftentimes follow.
The purpose of QA/QC and third-party services is to help eliminate or greatly reduce the occurrence of these potential liabilities. These services can be tailored to focus on specific elements such as windows, roofing, plumbing or framing. Or, they can be applied to all elements of any given building. The extent to which these services are administered is at the discretion of the developer or construction manager. The following list is the usual areas of focus:
- Foundation
- Structural framing
- Windows and doors
- Mechanical/ventilation
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Roof/waterproofing
- Insulation
- Exterior cladding
QA/QC Reports can be used for the following:
- as documented evidence in legal proceedings (professional witness)
- as leverage against subcontractors who are not meeting their contract obligations
- as a sales tool for prospective buyers looking for proof of quality craftsmanship
- as documentation for bank or lender inspections
- as benchmark documentation for the developer (great for construction managers)
How it works:
- QA/QC services can be hired by any level of construction from the plumbing subcontractor up to the developer or construction manager. Any company that feels they would benefit from the additional documentation has the ability to hire these services. Oftentimes public projects such as schools, hospitals, along with lenders and/or insurance companies will require these inspections.
- A qualified QA/QC inspector will be onsite only for the task(s) specified by the service agreement.
- He will review the approved plans, specifications, submittals, shop drawings, standards, etc. for whatever element(s) are to be inspected.
- Each day upon completion of his inspection, he will write a QA/QC report of his findings.
- A copy of the daily report is left on-site. Backup copies are scanned and stored by ASI, Inc. Distribution of these reports can be authorized only by the company who hired these services.
- A punch-list of work that needs correction is left with the client.
- The inspector(s) perform follow-up inspections to make sure those items were corrected.
- A formal report of the final findings is composed upon completion of the inspected elements. This includes all photos and documentation.
- Fees are based on hours worked (including office hours for composition of reports). Additional fees may be applied under Special circumstances.
How ASI’s QA/QC services fit in with existing inspection, testing, and engineering firms:
QA/QC and third-party services easily fit into an existing inspection, testing, engineering firm’s mix.
- Add QA/QC services to an existing inspection and testing contract to prolong your presence on that jobsite.
- If another company is providing inspection and testing services on a job, then offer to provide QA/QC and third-party services in addition to your competitors services.
- These services can be offered on union and non-union jobs. QA/QC inspectors are considered “consultants” and/or “managers.”
- Expand your potential market to lenders, insurance companies, and all construction trades.
- By offering these services, you provide a more comprehensive list of services to potential clients.
