1. CVE 4070 Construction Engineering Quality Control Value Engineering
Prof. Ralph V. Locurcio, PE

2. Quality Control

3. Savings from quality

4. Quality control tools…

5. Pareto analysis…

6. Control chart analysis…

7. Preconstruction Conference…
Conducted by owner’s representative
Owner & user may attend
Sets tone for the project
General agenda items:
Review contract docs, award & notice to proceed info
Responsibilities of all parties
Review schedule & payment; contingencies; damages
Quality Control Plan & inspection procedure
Submittals: shop drawings, samples, record drawings
Changes, mods & claims procedures
Site safety & operational considerations
Labor & union procedures: EEO, Davis-Bacon wages
Emergency procedures & work stoppage
Project Closeout & Beneficial Occupancy

8. Quality Control & Assurance…
Quality control vs. quality assurance
Required on government contracts
Inspection & Testing manual
Policy matters that govern acceptance
Inspection procedures
Technical checklists
List of testing for materials & equipment
Work flow diagrams

9. Quality Control Process…
Must have a Quality Control Plan or Manual
An inspection" system”
Special considerations:
Timing of inspections; preclude delays
Protection of work in place
Most work is irreversible; i.e.. concrete, foundations
Logistical sequencing
Follow plans & specifications; changes not authorized
Report and correct errors & deviations from spec; documents
Three phased inspections… before each task
Preparatory inspection
Pre-inspection
Final inspection
QC Staff must be qualified, trained & dedicated

10. Inspection & Testing Manual…
Detailed inspection procedures:
Preparatory inspection: work flow, submittals, methods
Initial inspection: workmanship & components
Follow-up: results of work, tests, appearance
Acceptance/rejection criteria… per specs
Testing required & frequency… specs & sched
Responsibilities for testing… specific names
Outside labs & testing agencies… list or schedule
Timing of inspections & work… WBS & sched
Reports required, frequency & format… contract
Documentation of test results… contract

11. Value Engineering

12. What is VE… really?
VE is a “systematic” analysis of a project design to obtain the most value for every dollar of cost…
The elimination of any part of the project that adds to cost without adding to functionality…
Not only design & construction, but life cycle costs as well…

13. A second look at the design…
Major cost items
Materials cost & availability
Construction methods
Shipping costs
Organizing & project admin
But…

14. Most productive when… Contractor is involved
Advantage of contractor’s expertise in purchasing, construction methods, organizing, techniques and quality control…
Generally requires an incentive clause in the contract…

15. But there’s are risks…
VE analyst may not fully understand the design basis…
VE generates changes that could delay project completion…
VE may not recognize field conditions that might outweigh cost savings…
VE could result in lower quality components…

16. Role of the owner’s representative...
Advocate for the owner & the project…
Control the risks…
Retain the overall value of the project

17. VE in the design phase… VE considers costs related to: Materials Labor
Equipment
Overhead & supervision

18. Costs related to materials…
Transportation or shipping
Testing cycles
Complex inspections
Tolerances
Fabrication process

19. Costs related to labor…
Quality of workmanship needed
Excavation
Forming or finishing
Fitting
Availability materials that reduce labor
Construction timing

20. Costs related to equipment…
Allow use of high production equipment
Reduce need for special equipment
Minimize haul distances
Not force use of special equipment

21. Costs related to overhead…
Special security requirements
Limited site access or laydown areas
Complex supervision or inspection

22. Cost saving design features…
Duplicate members
Use modular components
Simplified structural components
Eliminate special forming or finishing
Siting to reduce excavation
Specify local materials
Use simple, clear or standard specs
Use prebid conferences

23. VE in construction phase…
Study physical features such as topography, geology, climate…
Construction phasing to minimize use of high cost equipment or labor
Modify construction methods to reduce forming or finishing
Increase use of new or high production equipment
Substitute materials or components that reduce cost

24. The VE process… Information or study Brainstorming Analysis
Development of alternatives
Presentation
Follow-up

25. Brainstorming techniques
Set time limits
Record all ideas; quantity vs. quality
Avoid judgment, detail or analysis
Neutral controller
Light free flowing atmosphere
Non-competitive; all contribute
Review and categorize at end

26. Presentation Describe the process & alternatives
Pros & cons of alternatives
Compare costs of original & VE
Compare quality & functionality
Present an implementation plan
Show cost savings to owner

27. Contractor incentives…
Generally 45% of any real savings
Must share with sub-contractors
Important to include in contract
VE suggestions are proprietary

28. Role of the owner’s rep Be the advocate for the owner & the project…
Control the risks…
Keep the overall value of the project in perspective…

29. Cost Estimate HW

30. Cost Estimate-1

31. What are the elements?

32. What are the elements? Foundation – units? Floor slab – units?
Floor covering - vinyl
Exterior walls – vinyl siding
Interior walls – wallboard
Insulation – exterior walls
Ceiling - wallboard
Roof – slope is 4/12

33. Cost Estimate-2

34. Cost Estimate-3

35. Cost Estimate-4

36. Cost Estimate-5 r = 16 + 144 r = 160 r = 12.649 Roof Calculations…
Roof slope given as 4 on 12 slope….
So… how much larger is the sloped roof than the flat roof?
Roof slope factor = / = 1.054
So the sloped roof will be x area of the flat roof r 4 12
r2 =
r =
r =
r =

37. HW #6 Due on Thursday Bring your solution to class
We will correct your HW in class
Also, study guide for Test 2
Test 2 is next week on Oct 27th

38. Questions?

39. Case Study
A chemical facility was to be redesigned. A key requirement was that the new design should operate at a higher efficiency than the existing facility.
The plant operator had completed conceptual engineering and simulation to finalize the process flow scheme.
There was considerable skepticism that value engineering might improve the design. However, the client was open-minded and the engineering team persuasive and it was agreed that the exercise would proceed.
The value engineering facilitator prepared functional flow diagrams. A representative of the operator and several contractor engineers from different disciplines met for 2 sessions, each of which lasted for 4 hours.
During these well-planned and carefully facilitated sessions, 12 ideas were generated, of which 6 were deemed practical. The most significant idea that emerged from these focused brainstorming sessions was to change a column configuration from parallel to series, thereby saving significant condenser costs and improving the energy efficiency tremendously.
The idea was refined and implemented. Overall, the capital cost saving was about $1 million (5% of total capital), with an operating cost saving of about $4 million/year.

40. Ethics Paper due Nov 27 NSPE Rules of Professional Conduct
Read all of the rules
Summarize each of the obligations in one paragraph
Pick a case study: 1,7,58,58,60
Write a 2-page paper applying the NSPE rules to the situation in the case
What errors were made
How should the engineer behave in the case