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INTRODUCTION 5 being experienced, and earlier studies show that the scale of the problem is not new.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT While the committee focused on governmentâparticularly at the federal levelâsuch cases illustrate that both private and public sectors share the problem of assuring construction quality. The committee's deliberations thus considered both sectors, and this report is meant to have a broad bearing on the construction industry as a whole. The following pages summarize the committee's discussions of construction quality and current practices for its assurance, highlighting the role of inspection. Chapter 2 presents the underlying principles and definitions the committee adopted for their discussions. Chapter 3 describes inspection strategies of various federal agencies and the private sector, highlighting some of the latter that are likely, in the committee's assessment, to be particularly effective for assuring quality in federal construction. Chapter 4 considers the limitations of inspection and presents selected alternative strategies to enhance inspection for assuring quality. Chapter 5 summarizes the committee's specific recommendations for achieving government construction quality. Appendices present supplemental information on topics introduced in these chapters. Quality in construction occurs through a complex interaction of many participants in the facilities development process. The committee's recommendations are aimed primarily at agency managers, but address design and construction professionals, educators, and policy makers as well. The committee agreed that quality in construction is assured only when there is a commitment to quality throughout planning, design, and con 8 Building Research Board, 1986. Supervision and Inspection of Federal Construction, Federal Construction Council Technical Report No. 54, National Academy Press.
INTRODUCTION 6 struction, and that quality facilities require that this commitment continue through operations and maintenance. Quality facilities that meet and exceed expectations âenhancing our safety, productivity, and overall quality of lifeâare the real goal of the committee's deliberations.