scholarly journals Monitoring the quality of sewer renewal using polymeric systems in Sweden

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parastou Kharazmi

Abstract Water and wastewater pipes require some of the highest levels of infrastructure investment; they also deteriorate faster than they can be repaired. The use of alternative rehabilitation technologies, which are quicker and less expensive than pipe replacement, has therefore increased significantly in recent years, worldwide. Field studies on relined wastewater pipes removed from buildings in different parts of Sweden revealed the existence of a variety of common defects, most of which could have been prevented by better installation. Increased quality-focused monitoring could help to ensure that relined pipes reach their expected service life, while comprehensive documentation could assist in providing sufficient information to facilitate progress in the field. This paper includes a brief overview of the technologies used in Sweden, current quality control practices, repeated observed defects related to installation, crucial steps that affect final quality, and recommendations to be considered in the contexts of detailed quality control and quality assurance procedures.

Author(s):  
Robert P. Elliott ◽  
Yanjun Qiu

A common provision in quality control/quality assurance construction contracts is the adjustment of the contractor's pay on the basis of the quality of the construction. The expected impact of the provision on the pay should be examined to ensure that the adjustments are neither unduly severe nor excessively lenient. Most pay adjustment plans have been developed around a quality index by using a percent defective approach. Analyses of these plans are complex but reasonably well defined. Other plans, however, are more complex and do not lend themselves to direct analysis. These plans can be examined by computer simulation. The use of computer simulation to examine a complex pay adjustment provision is demonstrated. The analyses show that simulation can reveal that a pay adjustment schedule behaves differently than it appears on the surface. For example, the schedule examined bases pay solely on averages and appears to ignore construction variability. The analyses, however, demonstrate that the pay adjustments are at least as sensitive to construction variability as they are to construction averages. It is also shown that the simulation process can provide a better, more detailed examination of the pay schedule than is possible by simply determining the expected pay. In particular, the simulation process can provide an indication of the variability of pay at various quality levels and can identify the factors most responsible for pay adjustments.


2019 ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
O. A. Zdoryk

Formulations and in-pharmacy preparation process of compounded drugs were being created for centuries, and seem to have no concerns regarding the quality, compatibility and stability during storage or usage. Taking in mind modern trends for quality assurance and standardization of drugs, quality of preparation process of compounded drugs can be proved by using of a systematic approach that is based on pharmaceutical quality systems. Variability of preparation conditions, preparation equipment from pharmacy to pharmacy, personal professional skills require the development of defined standards, rules and summarized the strategy of quality assurance of compounded drugs. The aim of this paper was determination of critical factors and development of the design for quality assurance of compounded drugs. The materials of this study were the regulative base of Ukraine, international documents, guidances and own investigations concerning the requirements for the preparation process and quality control of compounded drugs. The methods used were data systematical analysis, bibliosemantic and summary. The achievement of good quality of compounded drugs can be present as a step-by-step process, that cover adherence to necessary preparation procedure and knowledge of peculiarities of drugs, process understanding, identification of risks and its evaluation, minimization and implementation of the quality management system for documentation, equipment and personnel. As a result of preparation schemes analysis, the critical factors were determined and the Fishbone diagram was proposed. The factors contributing to the general strategy of compounded drugs quality assurance, such as prescription analysis, personnel, regulative base, conditions of preparation process and equipment, documentation, dispensing, characteristics of active ingredients and additives, compounding design, preparation technology, containers and package, quality control, stability and labelling were determined. The proposed diagram of causes and effects can be used as a template for the identification and quantification of risks during preparation and quality control of compounded drugs. The proposed general scheme for quality assurance is necessary for organization and optimization of monitoring preparation and quality control, implementation of remedial and preventive measures, tracking of causes, nonconformities, and prevention of its repetition, management of variables, determination of improvement possibilities and audit conducting.


1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Bea

This paper addresses human and organization errors (HOE) in the context of quantitative reliability analyses (QRA) that are intended to help improve the quality of offshore structures. A classification of HOE is proposed that addresses individual, organization, equipment/hardware, procedures/software, and environmental considerations. A generic process to address the life-cycle quality characteristics of offshore structures incorporating HOE is discussed. Based on these developments, a probability-based risk analysis is developed that addresses HOE in addition to the structure system aspects. Alternatives for improved management of HOE are discussed including quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), and design of error-tolerant or “robust” structures. Application of the HOE classification, generic assessment process, QRA formulation, and QA/QC measures are illustrated.


2006 ◽  
Vol 45 (03) ◽  
pp. 267-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Rogers

Summary Objective: To review the literature concerning the quality assurance of medical ontologies. Methods: scholar.google.com was searched using the search strings (+ontology +”quality assurance”) and (+ontology +”evaluation/evaluating”). Relevant publications were selected by manual review. Other work already familiar to the author, or suggested by other researchers contacted by the author, were included. The papers were analysed for common themes. Results: Four broad properties of an ontology were identified that may be quality-assured: philosophical validity, compliance with meta-ontological commitments, ‘content correctness’, and fitness for purpose. Each published methodology addressed only a subset of these properties. ‘Content’ may be divided into domain knowledge content, and metadata describing either the provenance of domain knowledge content, or relationships between it and lexical information (e.g. for display and retrieval). ‘Correctness’ (whether of domain knowledge content or metadata) may also be further subdivided into truth, completeness, parsimony and internal consistency. Conclusions: Understanding of how to assure the quality of ontologies, or evaluate their fitness for specific purposes, is improving but remains poor. A combination of methodologies is required, but tools to support a comprehensive quality assurance programme remain lacking.Perfect quality of an ontology is not provable and may not be desirable: an ontology compliant with all current philosophical theories, following necessary ontological commitments, and with entirely ‘correct’ content, may be too complex to be directly usable or useful.The extent to which an ontology’s fitness for purpose is predicted or influenced by its other properties remains to be determined. Field studies of ontologies in use, including interrater effects, are required.


2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 361-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margherita Branca ◽  
Adhemar Longatto-Filho

Objective: We aimed to critically evaluate the importance of quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) strategies in the routine work of uterine cervix cytology. Study Design: We revised all the main principles of QC and QA that are already being implemented worldwide and then discussed the positive aspects and limitations of these as well as proposing alternatives when pertinent. Results: A literature review was introduced after highlighting the main historical revisions, and then a critical evaluation of the principal innovations in screening programmes was conducted, with recommendations being postulated. Conclusions: Based on the analysed data, QC and QA are two essential arms that support the quality of a screening programme.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (47) ◽  
pp. 108-118
Author(s):  
O. Lytvynenko

The analysis and generalization of theoretical approaches to the formation of the construction quality system, the generalization of the legislative and regulatory framework for quality control in construction. Analysis of the theoretical prerequisites for the formation of quality control of construction revealed that the digital transformation of construction is an integral part of the development of modern society, a prerequisite for changing the system of construction, including control, quality assurance and evaluation of construction processes, works, materials, products and structures. It was found that the quality in construction is directly affected by the following factors: quality and completeness of design documentation; the possibility and obligation to comply with legal requirements; quality of construction processes and works, strict compliance with the requirements of technology and construction organization; quality of construction products and structures; technical ability to provide a given level of quality with the help of machines, mechanisms, means of small mechanization, etc .; the level of qualification of management staff, workers and line ITP. The quality system itself can be presented in the format of a "black box", where the factor will be named at the entrance, and at the exit - buildings and structures that meet a given level of quality throughout the life cycle of the object. It is proposed to consider the construction quality management system in the form of a multicomponent formation and at the same time a dynamic environment, which is constantly changing under the influence of external and internal factors and has a high degree of scholasticism and uncertainty. With the introduction of digital technologies in the organization of construction, including VIM modeling, use of artificial intelligence, cloud services for information storage, quality control tools that can be performed without human intervention, such as drones, robotic elements, surveillance cameras and others, the construction quality assurance system has to change, taking into account the realities of time. Therefore, the system of quality formation in the article is proposed to be considered throughout the life cycle of the object - from pre-project research to liquidation. This will, in contrast to existing approaches, not only combine into a single system all the components of assurance, evaluation and quality control, which are used at the level of all participants in the construction, but also to ensure integrated process management.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Pierre van Eijl ◽  
Henmar Moesker ◽  
Marleen Eyckmans

Can we match formal procedures for quality assurance with the creativity and individuality that defines honours? In a session at the Utrecht Honours Conference 2016: Honours Futures we discussed experiences in quality assurance of honours programmes in the United States of America, the Netherlands and Belgium. To illustrate the possibilities, a case study of using an external audit for honours education and two case studies of the use of internal quality assurance tools in an honours programme were presented. It is concluded that a form of quality assurance is needed to continuously improve. So honours educators must at least care for internal quality control. Student involvement is stimulating for the engagement of all participants in the process of quality control. Internal quality control may result in an annual report. Annual reports can be used both internally and in external quality control.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-101
Author(s):  
Mirela Ilikj ◽  
Irena Brchina ◽  
Liljana Ugrinova ◽  
Vasil Karcev ◽  
Aleksandra Grozdanova

In 2015, in Republic of North Macedonia, a new law for narcotics has been adopted, where the changes include legal cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use as well as legal production of cannabis extracts for medicinal use. In order to gain high quality of cannabis and cannabis products for medicinal use and to meet some quality standards that will guarantee consistency, traceability and continuous quality of the product, it is necessary to implement Quality Systems. Good quality system is ISO standard system but for cannabis for medicinal use, GACP, GMP and GLC standards are used more often. Production of cannabis for medicinal use consists of: process of cultivation where GACP standards are applicable, primary processing where GMP standards are the most important and quality control of final product regulated with GLP standard. In this review, explanation of these standards as well as overview of modes of their implementation has been made. Keywords: GxP, GMP, GACP, GLP


Author(s):  
Robert L. Schmitt ◽  
Jeffrey S. Russell ◽  
Awad S. Hanna ◽  
Hussain U. Bahia ◽  
Galadriel A. Jung

State highway agencies and contractors have been implementing quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) specifications in recent years to advance the quality of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) construction. During their continued development, attributes of these QC/QA specifications have varied among states. The objective of this paper is to provide a compilation of state-of-the-practice in QC/QA for HMA construction and provide recommendations for state highway agencies and contractors when modifying or developing a QC/QA specification. Survey data from 42 state highway agencies and 61 contractors working within 14 states found that a majority of states are using contractor data for acceptance. A review of QC/QA specifications from 40 states found that most states are using plant-produced mix properties, density, and smoothness tests to determine overall quality and acceptance of HMA construction work. A larger number of states are using quality level analysis for specification compliance by estimating percent within limits or percent defective for mix properties and density. Consideration is given to key attributes of a QC/QA specification, including ( a) whether to use contractor or agency data for acceptance, ( b) use of quantity or time for lots, and ( c) testing frequency. State highway agencies and contractors may find this report useful for understanding the components of different QC/QA specifications and furnishing essential information as both parties collaborate during specification development.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1159-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Marian Scott ◽  
Philip Naysmith ◽  
Gordon Cook

ABSTRACTRadiocarbon (14C) dating is routinely used, yet occasionally, issues still arise surrounding laboratory offsets, and unexpected and unexplained variability. Quality assurance and quality control have long been recognized as important in addressing the two issues of comparability (or bias, accuracy) and uncertainty or variability (or precision) of measurements both within and between laboratories (Long and Kalin 1990). The 14C community and the wider user communities have supported interlaboratory comparisons as one of several strands to ensure the quality of measurements (Scott et al. 2018). The nature of the intercomparisons has evolved as the laboratory characteristics have changed s. The next intercomparison is currently being planned to take place in 2019–2020. The focus of our work in designing intercomparisons is to (1) assist laboratories by contributing to their QA/QC processes, (2) supplement and enhance our suite of reference materials that are available to laboratories, (3) provide consensus 14C values with associated (small) uncertainties for performance checking, and (4) provide estimates of laboratory offsets and error multipliers which can inform subsequent modeling and laboratory improvements.


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