Key Issues and Differences in Practical Components of Quality Management in Design-Build Highway Projects

Abstract

Assuring quality management is essential for a project’s success for a specific price and within a specific time period. With an increasing number of highway projects being delivered by the design-build (DB) project delivery system, conducting quality assurance (QA) programs represents new challenges for state departments of transportation (DOTs) in the United States, which leads to the variation in quality management practice across the states. Despite those changes, achieving outstanding quality is still one of the most important goals of highway agencies and ultimate road users. This study examines the state of practices in quality management to achieve the main objective, which is to capture the underpinning of materials and workmanship quality management as utilized by DOTs in the development of DB highway projects. This study employs a content analysis methodology that involves reviewing literature, federal regulations, quality manuals, and state DOT solicitation documents. To obtain a deeper understanding, structured interviews of DOT personnel and industry experts were conducted. The findings of this research consisted of two major parts: roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders in the QA process, and the associated cost mechanisms to fund it. Under these parts, five key issues in practical components of quality management in DB highway programs were identified: (1) agency acceptance approaches; (2) nonconformance reports; (3) selection criteria; (4) QA budgeting mechanism; and (5) pay adjustment factors. Some DOTs use a consistent approach to QA management, and other DOTs tend to change their approach based on their experience in implementing QA program. DOTs continue using similar QA practices with the traditional design-bid-build method or adjust their practices in compliance with the DB environment. The major contributions of this research to the body of knowledge are identifying major issues associated with QA for DB highway projects and determining differences in practical components of quality management currently in use by various DOTs in their DB programs.