QUALITY CONTROL AND ITS RISKS

QUALITY CONTROL IS A NECESSITY FOR GUARANTEEING THE BEHAVIOUR AND LIFE OF STRUCTURES, AND CONSEQUENTLY THE VIABILITY OF THE INVESTMENT. THE AUTHOR EMPHASIZES THIS AND INDICATES THE OPERATING MODE OF THE CONTROL WHICH RESTS ON ADEQUATE CONTRACTUAL STATEMENTS, REPRESENTATIVE TESTS OF SUFFICIENT FREQUENCY AND A CORRECT INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS IN ORDER TO DECIDE ON ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF MATERIALS OR OF THE WORK COMPLETED. THIS INCLUDES INEVITABLY CERTAIN RISKS (AT THE LEVEL OF THE SPECIFICATION, TESTS, ACCEPTANCE) WHICH MUST BE REDUCED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT LOSING THE PRACTICAL CHARACTER WHICH MUST BE PRESENT IN ALL CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES. THE VOLUME AND RHYTHM OF PRESENT LARGE WORKS NEED AN EVOLUTION OF THE STRATEGY OF CONTROL AND AN IMPROVEMENT OF TEST METHODS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION IN ORDER TO ALLOW A TIGHT COORDINATION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE CONTRACTING PARTY AND AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PRICE AND QUALITY. THE TWO PARTIES MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY; IN THE CASE OF THE ENTERPRISE, ITS PREOCCUPATION IN THE MATTER WILL BE A GUARANTEE OF EFFICIENCY AND SOLVENCY IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WORKS TENDING TO OFFER OPTIMUM CONDITIONS IN THE ECONOMIC AND OPERATIVE PLAN.