SEDL / STP / STP1299-EB / STP16303S

Minnesota's Quality Management Program “A Process for Continuous Improvement”

Wegman, DE
Demand Creation Area Leader, Koch Materials Co., St. Paul, Mn

Pages: 16    Published: Jan 1996

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Abstract

Minnesota's Quality Management Program began in 1986 when the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association (MAPA) formed a partnership to develop a process for improving the quality of asphalt pavements within the state. A Quality Management Task Force was formed with members representing Mn/DOT Construction and Materials, Counties, Cities, Consultants, FHWA, Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Contractors and a Consultant hired as a technical advisor. The Task Force was charged with the goal to “Develop and Implement a Quality Management Program to Assure Construction of Quality Asphalt Pavements”. This was the beginning of a continuous evolution which has and will continue to guide the production and placement of HMA Mixtures.

Today the key components of the program are: 1. Volumetric Quality Control(QC), Quality Assurance (QA) and Independent Assurance Sampling and Testing (IAST) 2. Technical Certification 3. Plant Certification 4. Incentives/ Disincentives 5. Program Evaluation through Data Analysis 6. An Issue Resolution Policy