Product Control and Incentives

The problem in the adaptation of product control to construction is that the contractor is not left alone to control his product as is the manufacturer—the owner's engineers have a lot to say about it. The basic facets of product control are variability, and the level of performance or quality, which is governed by economic factors and pressures. The care to be used in applying the laws of probability to product control is stressed. Perhaps the most important is the development of sampling plans and random sampling. The incentives to be found in product control because of the reduction in variability are analyzed, and the additional or side incentives resulting therefrom in the form of value engineering and improved efficiency are pointed out. It is concluded that neither the owner nor the contractor or producer can ignore these incentives and their resulting economic benefits and advantages.