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Here at LDNL we believe that the outcome of our knowledge, our skills, our integrity, and our commitment, is evident in the outcome of our deliverables to our clients.

We have a strong team of QAQC experts, who guide us to ensure that we meet our project quality requirements and our quality objectives. Our main objectives are to meet or exceed our clients’ expectations, and also to eliminate the need to redo work.

Within the Kampala Industrial Business Park project, we have a strict regime of inspecting, testing, auditing, and monitoring. That is why it is imperative that our procedures and method statements are frequently reviewed, our laboratory and testing equipment is always within the calibration dates, and our operations and processes do not only come under our self-check program but are also frequently audited by our internal audit team.

By adhering to these procedures we can never stray from our policy of “Build it Right the First Time”.

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Self Certification

Our contract is based on the FIDIC conditions for EPC/Turnkey projects. Therefore LDNL have the freedom to carry out the works in our chosen manner provided that the end result meets the performance requirements specified by our Client.

It is for that reason that we have our self-certification program which involves our own team carrying out inspections and tests of the works, according to our QAQC Plan and specific ITPs. They ensure that the results of these inspections and tests are thoroughly documented and recorded and can confirm that the works are in compliance with the contract requirements.

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Laboratory Tests

In construction projects, laboratory and field tests play a crucial role in ensuring the quality, safety, and durability of structures. Here are summaries of laboratory and field tests commonly conducted in construction.

1. Concrete Compression Test

• Purpose: Determines the compressive strength of concrete.
• Procedure: Cylindrical or cube specimens are tested in a compression machine to assess the concrete's ability to withstand axial loads.

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2. Soil Testing

• Purpose: Evaluates soil properties for foundation design and construction.
• Tests: Includes tests for soil classification, compaction, moisture content, and shear strength.

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3. Asphalt Mix Design

• Purpose: Determines the optimal combination of asphalt materials for road construction.
• Procedure: Involves testing asphalt mixes in the laboratory to ensure they meet specified criteria for stability, durability, and performance.

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4. Steel Tensile Test

• Purpose: Assesses the tensile strength and ductility of steel. • Procedure: Steel specimens are subjected to tension until failure to determine mechanical properties.

5. Aggregate Testing:

• Purpose: Evaluates the quality of aggregates used in concrete and asphalt.
• Tests: Include assessments of particle size distribution, moisture content, abrasion resistance, and specific gravity.

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6. Water Quality Testing:

• Purpose: Ensures water used in construction meets quality standards.
• Tests: Analyzes water for impurities, contaminants, and pH levels.

Field Tests

1. Compaction Test

• Purpose: Verifies the density of soil or asphalt layers.
• Procedure: Involves using a compaction device to assess the degree of compaction achieved during construction.

2. In-situ Concrete Strength Test

• Purpose: Determines the in-place strength of concrete.
• Procedure: Involves using non-destructive testing methods like the rebound hammer or ultrasonic pulse velocity.

3. Concrete Slump Test

• Purpose: Assesses the workability and consistency of fresh concrete.
• Procedure: Measures the "slump" or deformation of a conical sample of concrete after it's placed on a surface.

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The Quality Assurance Process: Roles, Methods & Tools

A project isn’t successful just because it’s been completed on time and within budget. There’s another project constraint that is critical to success: quality. Stakeholders aren’t going to be happy if the quality of the product or service doesn’t meet their expectations. So, how can project managers control quality? Quality assurance, that’s how. Let’s start with a brief quality assurance definition.

What Is Quality Assurance?

Quality assurance (QA) is a quality management process that establishes standards, guidelines and procedures to prevent quality issues and maintain the integrity of the product or service throughout its development.

Quality assurance is often confused with quality control (QC), another component of a quality management system.

A quality management system is a set of methods and tools that lets organizations manage all aspects of quality management including quality planning, quality assurance, quality control and quality improvement

Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control

The main difference between QA and QC is that quality assurance focuses on planning to prevent risks that could affect quality during the production of services or goods, while quality control focuses on testing the quality of the output once the product or service has been delivered

Quality Assurance Principles

There are two principles to quality assurance. One is “fit for purpose,” meaning the product or service meets its intended purpose. The other is “right first time,” in which any mistakes are immediately addressed. With the two above principles in play, the goal is to make the product or service work correctly all the time through the management of project constraints. To do so, quality assurance involves the management of the quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components; services related to production; and the management, production and inspection process.

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Failure Testing

Failure testing is a simple quality assurance method that tests products by pushing their limits through extreme stress conditions, such as temperature, pressure or tension until they break. This process exposes product flaws. In addition, data is gathered throughout the process so that quality assurance measures can be taken to improve the product. Process and Product Quality Assurance (PPQA)

This quality assurance approach focuses on setting quality standards and procedures at an organizational level to measure, evaluate and solve quality management issues. This method relies on a thorough gap analysis of the different business processes related to quality assurance.

Quality Assurance Methods

QA is particularly important in product development and manufacturing. It should be implemented by any business that produces goods or services, and there are different quality assurance methods that have been created over time. Here are some of them, so you can decide which of them is best for your organization.

Total Quality Management (TQM)

Total quality management is a quality assurance approach that consists of developing a company-wide quality management mindset. That means all departments and individuals involved with activities that affect quality management, such as supply chain management or inventory management are trained to maintain quality standards and strive for continuous improvement.

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Quality Assurance Roles and Responsibilities

Quality assurance is not a one-man show, it’s achieved through team effort. Here are two key roles and responsibilities when it comes to QA.

Quality Assurance Specialist

A quality assurance specialist, as the title suggests, oversees the QA portion of quality management. He or she collaborates with the quality manager to ensure strategic alignment.

Quality Manager

A quality manager is involved with all areas of a quality management system. Quality managers work closely with different team members to ensure quality assurance aligns with quality planning, quality control, quality improvement and the organization’s strategic goals.

Quality assurance uses a quality system that is set up to implement administrative and procedural tasks, which create goals for the product or service of the project. This provides a systematic measurement and comparison with a standard, along with a monitory of processes and a feedback loop to make sure no errors pass through production. Quality control, however, is primarily just focused on process output.

Quality Assurance Testing

Testing is the process used to execute a system of quality assurance. It’s used to detect problems in a product or service. The importance of quality testing is obvious: the product or service that’s completed improperly will dissatisfy the stakeholder, but there can also be safety issues that will put people in harm’s way if not addressed.

History of Quality Assurance

Quality assurance isn’t a new concept. You can find evidence of it back in the Middle Ages when guilds maintained the quality of goods and services of their members by setting quality standards that were a requirement for guild membership.

The duties of quality control were also placed on royalty, to maintain their warships, for example. They also helped standardize the training for navies to make sure long sea journeys were as safe as possible.

The Industrial Revolution revolutionized quality assurance, too. No longer were workers solely responsible for the quality of their work. Systems and groups were set up to specialize in quality assurance, and foremen and management could oversee this work.