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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is an extension to the NCHRP Guidebook on Alternative Quality Management Systems for Highway Construction. The research report documents the research process, data collection and analysis used to develop the guidebook. This intent of this research report is to provide more detailed information to individuals conducting future quality management research and state transportation agency (STA) engineers who are charged with implementing alternative quality management systems (QMS). The need for research is, in part, a consequence of both the growing use of alternative project delivery methods and the need for a better definition of quality management in the context of alternative project delivery. Innovations in quality assurance organizations (QAO) and other features of quality programs are being used by STAs across the country. The roles of owners and contractors in QMSs are changing. These changes are leading to varying QAOs, which range from the agency-dominated system of quality management associated with the traditional design-bid-build (DBB) method to design-build (DB), construction manager/general contractor (CMGC) and public-private partnership (PPP) agreements where the responsibility for quality management is shared to varying degrees between the contractor and owner. This research has resulted in QMS guidance that will promote efficiency and allow for the transfer of knowledge to continuously improve these systems. This research was conducted in nine tasks as documented in this report. Task 1 established the state of practice regarding alternative QMSs through a comprehensive literature review and online survey. Task 2 developed a consistent coding structure for use with the literature review, survey and case study analysis. Ten case studies were conducted and analyzed in the third task. Task 4 involved a critical analysis of the QMS approaches discovered in Tasks 1-3 to form conclusions on their use and Task 5 compared these QMS approaches to the baseline system. The research team worked closely with the NCHRP panel in Tasks 6 and 7 to outline and develop the guidebook. Task 8 documented incremental improvements to the baseline system through the development of 25 quality management tools relating for pre and post-award functions. The final task involved the development of the guide and research report by the research team and a review and approval of these documents by the NCRHP panel. This research report records the activity from all nine tasks. The work is presented in six chapters and 13 appendices. The work from Tasks 1-9 is incorporated throughout the various chapters of the report. Chapter 1 provides an introduction and overview of the research process. Chapter 2 contains data from the literature review, industry survey and coding structure. Chapter 3 presents a series of documented quality management models. Chapter 4 includes case study summaries with basic project information, the QAO model employed on the project, a comparison to the baseline system, and relevant findings and observations. Chapter 5 discusses the QAO and tool selection procedures. Chapter 6 addresses the conclusions, limitations and future research. The appendices include definitions, the online survey, the case study protocol and the full-length summaries of each case study. 1
