The goal of this project is to build top-level support and awareness of quality management and to provide training to State highway agencies in statistical quality control techniques. It is part of the National Quality Initiative.

This project involves four quality management activities:

• Participate on a joint FHWA/AASHTO/industry Steering Committee to guide and help focus efforts on the quality of design, construction, performance, and quality management with emphasis on a partnership effort.
• Carry out activities included in the Long-Range Plan developed by the Steering Committee.
• Hold seminars for upper management of Federal, State, industry, and others to educate and gain support.
• Provide technical training, guidance, and tools to those responsible for implementation.

In an effort to widely disseminate the principles and ideals promulgated at the first National Quality Initiative Conference in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas, four AASHTO Regional NQI Seminars and seminars in 50 States, involving well over 20,000 people nationwide, have been conducted. Additional support for numerous State-level NQI activities has been provided.

A second "NQI National Conference" was held in Alexandria, VA, in 1995. The inaugural NQI Achievement Award was presented to a project team that had clearly demonstrated its dedication to teamwork, innovation, value, and customer focus which resulted in a quality highway project. The North Carolina Department of Transportation and C.C. Mangum, Inc were the recipients for the Raleigh Beltline Rehabilitation Project (Phase I).

The third NQI National Conference was held on November 13-14, 1997 in Salt Lake City, UT. For information about the Conference and other NQI-related activities, please visit the NQI home page at http://www.nqi.org/.

With a primary focus on customer satisfaction, the NQI Steering Committee commissioned a National Highway User Survey to determine the general public's satisfaction with the Nation's highway system and to identify the public's priorities for highway improvements. For the entire results of the survey, please visit the NQI home page at http://www.nqi.org/.

A 5-day training course (Materials Control and Acceptance: Quality Assurance) and a 2-day workshop (Quality Management for Managers) has been co-sponsored with the National Highway Institute.
For information, contact the Project Manager.

Several statistical quality assurance computer programs were developed by the New Jersey DOT. A user manual (Publication No. FHWA-SA-96-026) was completed and distributed. In addition, a national workshop on technician training and certification was conducted. The participants provided the framework for a document on general administrative guidance for States establishing or revising their current certification program. This document should be available early 1998. Other NQI-related products have been produced and are available by contacting the NQI Project Manager.

One-week course, two-day workshops, technical assistance, speakers, and computer programs.

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HIGHWAYTECHNET   VIRTUAL EXPO   PAVEMENTS INDEX

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration