I. Pre-contract Phase (13 Questions)
A. Project delivery, contract, and payment models
Project delivery methods
Identify different types of clients (e.g., private, commercial, federal, state, municipal, and international) and their use of project delivery methods, such as Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management (EPCM), Design-Bid-Build (DBB), Design-Build (DB), Design, Build, Finance, and Maintain (DBFM), Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), and Construction Manager for Fee (CMFF). Understand how project life cycle phases (e.g., project initiation, project planning, project execution, monitoring & control, and project closeout) align with project delivery methods. (Understand)
Contract types
Understand different types and sources of contracts (e.g., Public-Private Partnership (P3), Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), American Institute of Architects (AIA), International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), lump sum, subcontract, consultant agreement, consultant staffing agreement, joint venture contracts, and purchase orders) as well as their quality requirements. Recognize contract terms and conditions (e.g., liquidated damages [LDs], liquidated and ascertained damages [LADs], and general damages [GDs]). (Understand)
Payment models and methods
Understand the risks associated with and the differences between payment models (e.g., unit rates and reimbursable costs) and methods (e.g., Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP)). (Understand)
Payment documentation requirements
Understand payment documentation requirements, such as a schedule of values, determining percentage of completion (cost complete vs. work complete), retainage, billing methods, and invoicing provisions. (Understand)
B. Contractual requirements
Scope, schedule, and resource planning
Define project scope components (e.g., constraints), develop a schedule and resource plan, track milestones, and identify roles and responsibilities in terms of quality from various entities (e.g., trade partners, contractors, owners, and quality managers). (Analyze)
Quality management inputs
Define and analyze quality management inputs (e.g., Certificate of Authorization (CoA), inputs for proposals, and Request for Proposal (RFP)) to comply with project quality standards. (Analyze)
Stakeholders
Identify and acknowledge internal and external stakeholders and engage them. (Apply)
Local contract opportunities and contract values
Understand the impact of local contract opportunities (e.g., DBE, SWaM, local small businesses and suppliers) and contract values (e.g., percentage allocations to local resources) as it relates to project quality. (Understand)
Procurement and contracting methods
Understand procurement methods, such as sole source, single source, competitive bid, lowest bid, technical bid, and contracting methods, such as general contracting, and subcontracting. Identify and understand best value proposals. (Understand)
Delegated design
Apply delegated design or specialized engineering to shift specific design responsibility for a project to a contractor or subcontractor and understand the associated risks. (Apply)
C. Bid evaluation and finalization
Prequalification process
Analyze the role of audits in the prequalification process, align the prequalification process to meet the organization’s needs, and describe the prequalification process for short-listed bidders. (Analyze)
Criteria development
Review the criteria for evaluating and comparing bids (e.g., dollars, schedule, lead times, labor, product, assemblies, safety, sustainability) to integrate bid criteria with quality requirements, critical to quality (CTQ) concepts, and examine the bid criteria for the specific contract type being used. (Analyze)
Bidding process
Differentiate the role of quality requirements in the context of various contract types during the bidding process. Identify strategies and techniques for building consensus when finalizing quality requirements. (Analyze)
II. Planning Phase (30 Questions)
A. Strategic quality planning
Project quality strategy development
Formulate a comprehensive project quality strategy, integrating stakeholder requirements (expressed and implied), procurement requirements, contracting approach, and compliance with regulations based on the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), and secure management commitment. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to align with each element of the quality strategy. (Create)
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices
Apply sustainable practices and programs (e.g., LEED®, ENERGY STAR®, and Cradle to Cradle Certification), social responsibility, and governance standards to enhance the overall quality and long-term viability of the project. (Apply)
Alignment of quality plan with other project plans
Create a quality plan, ensuring it is aligned with the quality strategy and technology strategy. Align the quality plan with other project plans, such as the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Plan, Execution Plan, Communication Plan, project schedule, and Risk Management Plan. (Create)
B. Quality management systems (QMS)
Industry standards
Analyze quality management systems (QMS) to ensure they are consistent with industry standards and understand how these systems comply with international standards (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 10006, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001) to deliver quality results. (Analyze)
Quality Management Plan
Create a project-specific quality management plan (QMP) that complies with the appropriate QMS, incorporating policies and procedures (e.g., nonconformance control procedures, inspection and testing procedures, and work methods). Integrate PMBOK® Guide principles and systems assurance practices into QMS and QMP development. (Create)
Quality assurance (QA)
Develop and implement quality assurance (QA) practices to verify the project meets quality specifications and conforms to applicable standards by establishing standard quality policies and procedures. (Create)
Quality control (QC)
Develop and implement quality control (QC) measures such as inspection and testing plans to ensure conformance to requirements. (Create)
C. Resource planning and analysis
Resource assessment and mobilization
Identify the specific quality resources and timely availability needed for the project and develop a mobilization plan including allocation and gap analysis of current and needed resources. (Create)
Roles of quality personnel and internal stakeholders
Ensure all quality personnel and relevant internal stakeholders understand the quality plan and have the necessary knowledge and skills to execute their responsibilities. Formulate the roles and expectations of quality personnel, contribute to the personnel qualification process, and ensure all personnel understand their roles and responsibilities. (Create)
Training needs in quality management
Identify the project team’s quality-specific training needs to achieve project results, develop a training plan, implement training, and evaluate the effectiveness of the training. (Create)
Third-party inspection and outsourcing
Identify the need for third-party inspection services where applicable and develop criteria for selecting and integrating outsourced quality services into the project. (Create)
Measurement systems analysis
Evaluate measurement systems and their requirements to verify if equipment accurately and reliably measures specific parameters. Ensure calibration and certification requirements are met and all equipment, including that used by subcontractors, is accurate, precise, and conforms to relevant standards and regulations. (Evaluate)
Quality management tools and infrastructure
Identify and evaluate quality tools (e.g., data analysis tools, statistical process control, dashboards, pre-construction checklists, and budgets) and quality infrastructure that are essential for effective quality management. (Evaluate)
D. Quality audits
Audit types
Identify appropriate audit types (e.g., first-party, second-party, and third-party) for various situations, such as the independence of the personnel from the area being audited. (Apply)
Quality audit plan
Create and evaluate a quality audit plan that aligns with strategic goals, key project controls, major contractor audits, and compliance checks for at-risk areas using specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound tactics. (Create)
Audit performance
Perform quality audits to evaluate the effectiveness of management systems, review conformance to standards, and identify nonconformities through detailed observation. (Evaluate)
III. Design Phase (20 Questions)
A. Design inputs
Quality objectives
Examine quality objectives established by the client, owner, or user from the initial scope agreement and determine how these objectives align with design inputs. Consider the delivery and contract methods when reviewing the design / development planning phase. (Analyze)
Coordination of functional and nonfunctional requirements
Explain the coordination between functional (e.g., foundation) and nonfunctional (e.g., finishes) requirements and illustrate their application at various levels, such as systems and components. Relate these requirements to industry standards and show their connection to broader quality goals. (Apply)
Design lessons learned and best practices
Apply lessons learned from previous projects and industry best practices to design inputs. Understand the impact of value engineering on design. (Apply)
B. Design process
Stakeholder involvement
Define the key stakeholders involved in the design process for each discipline. Collaborate with subject matter experts from each discipline responsible for making design decisions. Analyze the impact of these design decisions on quality. (Analyze)
Application of QMS in design feedback
Apply QMS procedures and interdisciplinary reviews to address feedback related to quality requirements within the design process. (Analyze)
Functionality and constructability reviews
Participate in reviews that assess the functionality and constructability of the design. Provide quality inputs that focus on various aspects, such as complexity, inspectability, testability, reliability, durability, survivability, interoperability, compatibility, maintainability, and comparative cost of ownership. (Analyze)
C. Design outputs
Quality objectives review
Apply verification and validation to design outputs to evaluate whether quality objectives are being met. (Apply)
Cross-disciplinary design review
Support the design review process across disciplines to identify and address gaps in design outputs using a design review checklist. Define and address conflicts in the overall system design, among individual component teams, and in the interactions between component teams. (Analyze)
Criticality levels and inspection
Analyze the proposed criticality levels for equipment and materials. Identify appropriate inspection levels and methods (e.g., in-process inspection and third-party design reviews) based on criticality and budget considerations. (Analyze)
D. Quality controls in design
Project controls
Evaluate the effectiveness of project controls, including the schedule, in meeting the quality expectations of stakeholders, such as the client, owner, or user. (Evaluate)
Design review output
Examine the design review outputs received at each phase (e.g., 30%, 60%, 90%) to determine their conformance to the expectations of stakeholders, such as the client, owner, or user. (Analyze)
Design changes
Understand the sources of design change communications, including requests for proposals (RFPs), change order directives, addenda, and requests for information (RFIs). Evaluate and track the impact of proposed design changes and determine the effectiveness of incorporating each agreed-upon change into the contract. (Analyze)
Design verification and validation
Understand design verification and validation and understand how design outputs conform to design inputs through the use of reviews, inspections, and testing. (Understand)
E. Measurement and monitoring
Design monitoring
Examine the effectiveness and progress of the design at various gates (e.g., schematic design (SD), design development (DD), construction documents (CD)) to align with quality objectives and the schedule. Address any deviations or issues found at each gate. (Analyze)
Peer reviews
Identify the need for peer reviews (e.g., design peer reviews and third-party consultant reviews), evaluate their inputs, and incorporate them into the quality documentation process. (Evaluate)
Quality documentation
Collaborate with design review facilitators to document all quality-related activities, decisions, and changes, ensuring a comprehensive record for evaluating the design’s adherence to quality standards. (Evaluate)
IV. Procurement (15 Questions)
A. Quality requirements
Quality requirements for procurement
Collaborate with the engineering team to design functional and nonfunctional quality requirements for the procurement of specific products or services. Analyze whether these requirements are clearly defined, complete, correct, appropriate, and coordinated. (Analyze)
Trade partner requirement alignment
Develop a strategy, incorporating methodologies such as first article inspection (FAI) and factory acceptance testing (FAT), to determine whether trade partners’ inspection and testing plans align with established quality requirements. Incorporate a rigorous review process for inspection and testing plans to ensure a comprehensive evaluation. Additionally, integrate specific quality requirements for subcontractors and vendors, focusing on their scope of work, historical performance, conformance to standards, and the completeness of their documentation and plans. (Create)
B. Resource management
Pre-activity meetings
Schedule, implement, and oversee pre-activity meetings (e.g., pre-assembly, pre-inspection, quality kick-offs) to review project requirements with relevant stakeholders. (Evaluate)
Material control and resource identification
Incorporate material controls, material traceability, and vendor requirements into the project before the start of work. Evaluate the resources needed for various inspections (e.g., self-inspection and certification, third-party inspection), including those performed at the source and as mandated by regulations. (Evaluate)
Resource mobilization and management
Integrate resource qualifications and training, along with warehouse quality and material management into the resource management process. Evaluate the need for specific resources tailored to each type of inspection, ensuring that these resources are available and properly allocated, and aligned with established inspection and testing plans. (Evaluate)
C. Risk management
Risk identification and analysis
Analyze various risk identification and assessment tools, including failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), fault tree analysis (FTA), and strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) analysis. Examine risks based on quantitative and qualitative data associated with potential impacts on the project. (Analyze)
Risk treatment
Evaluate risk mitigation strategies such as transfer, retention, acceptance, risk avoidance. (Evaluate)
Risk monitoring
Use risk monitoring tools (e.g., risk-based audit programs) and conduct surveillance audits to regularly evaluate identified risks and monitor key factors (e.g., cost, time, safety, supplier performance), and the criticality of materials and equipment. (Evaluate)
D. Quality reporting
Review and interpretation of quality documents
Evaluate inspection and test reports, quality records, and manufacturer data books to ensure traceability. Assess conformance with product specifications and quality criteria. (Evaluate)
Documentation and communication of quality insights
Evaluate and document key insights from the quality management process to inform future actions. Communicate quality-related insights and determine the appropriate timing, escalation, and methods to notify stakeholders of significant quality issues. (Evaluate)
Vendor performance evaluation
Analyze vendor performance periodically using quality key performance indicators (KPIs) and use supplier performance incentives (e.g., awards, greater share of wallet, premiums). (Analyze)
V. Construction (34 Questions)
A. Quality plan deployment
Construction plans and specifications
Evaluate plans and specifications (e.g., permanent and temporary work) in relation to the project quality plan to meet established quality standards. (Evaluate)
Required permits
Understand the importance of securing all critical permits prior to the start of the project. (Understand)
Construction submittals
Review various types of construction submittals (e.g., action and deferred / delegated), considering inter-trade dependencies and the project quality plan and standards. (Apply)
Material evaluation
Evaluate materials to verify their conformance with project specifications. (Evaluate)
Requests for information or changes
Participate in the process to track requests for information (RFIs), field change requests (FCRs), and design change requests (DCRs) to ensure the project stays on track and that objectives adapt when necessary. (Apply)
B. Process management
Risk-based inspection and testing strategy
Develop a risk-based inspection and testing strategy by identifying risks. Set priorities for inspections, including modifications based on changing project requirements (e.g., scope modification), and testing in line with specifications (e.g., concrete testing) and accepted standards or regulations (e.g., welding certifications). (Create)
Quality management processes
Identify inspection processes for various stages, including source, initial, intermediate, and ongoing. Prioritize program inspections and tests based on their criticality, respective project stages, and potential impact on overall project quality, ensuring alignment with evolving project needs and scope changes. Identify the need for procedures for specialized tasks, such as welding, heat treatment, coatings, and soldering. (Evaluate)
Quality control and monitoring
Develop systems to address nonconformities, manage nonconformance reports (NCRs) and corrective action requests (CARs), and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). Design quality protocols and establish criteria for work stoppage notifications. Establish a robust framework for maintaining quality records. Design a strategy for performing site quality audits and create a mechanism for generating and distributing quality reports. (Create)
C. Destructive and nondestructive tests
Determine appropriate scenarios for using destructive and non-destructive test methods and verify that those performing the testing are accredited or certified. (Evaluate)
D. Compliance management
Laboratory accreditation
Evaluate laboratory accreditation and conduct periodic reviews or surveillance audits based on project quality requirements. (Evaluate)
Compliance monitoring
Evaluate conformance with applicable regulatory requirements, standards, and codes, and conformance to specifications, procedures, and drawings. Document defects and nonconformities, and collaborate with technical authorities and engineering disciplines to review, disposition, and resolve identified nonconformities. (Evaluate)
Regulatory body or Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
Perform reviews and audits of regulatory bodies or AHJs to assess adherence to established criteria and maintain proper documentation of the reviews and audits. (Analyze)
E. Quality monitoring and reporting
Acceptance criteria definition and implementation
Establish criteria for accepting work at various stages, such as mock-up inspections and tests, initial inspections and tests, in-process work inspections, punch list inspections, and final inspections, tests, and commissioning. Integrate material verification at each stage to assess whether materials meet project specifications and quality standards. Implement escalation procedures for addressing materials that do not meet established acceptance criteria. (Evaluate)
Reporting and analysis
Design periodic reports and perform statistical analysis to identify quality trends and assess waste elimination. (Evaluate)
Meetings and participation
Hold pre-inspection meetings that include a sample quality meeting agenda addressing key topics, such as upcoming inspections, current quality metrics, recent findings, and open issues. (Evaluate)
Lessons and improvements1
Incorporate lessons learned from previous projects into the quality monitoring and reporting process. Document and communicate these lessons learned for future projects. Develop stra2tegies for assessing and managing quality risks. Engage in root cause analysis and investigations to understand underlying quality issues. Develop a quality improvement program based on identified needs and insights. (Evaluate)
Levels of commissioning
Understand and determine when to use the 5-level (factory acceptance test, component verification, system construction, individual system and major equipment operation verification, integrated system testing) and 8-level (preparation, design, pre-construction, construction, commissioning of services, pre-handover, initial occupation, post-occupancy care) commissioning frameworks. (Evaluate)
VI. Project Turnover and Closeout (11 Questions)
A. Documentation management
Impact assessment and compliance
Evaluate the potential impacts arising from the demobilization of quality resources. Review and evaluate inspection and test records associated with safety-critical equipment to determine if they conform to required standards. Confirm how final documentation will be transferred to the client (e.g., digital platforms, electronically, and hard copies). (Evaluate)
Required documentation
Maintain comprehensive documentation throughout the project’s duration, including records of all activities and changes. (Apply)
Nonconforming work
Ensure all work that does not conform to contract specifications (i.e., punch lists) is closed out. (Evaluate)
Quality deliverables verification
Verify the completeness of all quality deliverables. (Evaluate)
Final certification
Facilitate the process to obtain final certifications, ensuring the inclusion and maintenance of all documentation associated with each closeout milestone and phase (e.g., beneficial occupancy / use, substantial completion, and final completion). Use the most current version of the Issued for Construction (IFCs) documents. (Evaluate)
Final turnover and closeout documentation
Audit the final turnover plan and related closeout documentation, including permit closeout, operations and maintenance manuals, as-built drawings, attic stock / spare parts log, commissioning reports, and owner training materials. Confirm all quality inspection and test records are reviewed and validated for usability. (Evaluate)
Warranties
Apply effective communication regarding warranty programs and warranty documentation or work to all relevant stakeholders. (Evaluate)
VII. Operations and Maintenance (5 Questions)
A. Sustaining quality requirements
Prepare the necessary quality objectives for operations and maintenance (O&M) based on customer expectations. Understand how maintenance programs within the contract and warranty are used throughout the project life cycle. Report future O&M inspection and testing strategies needed (e.g., building component health, risk-based) to the design team. (Apply)
B. Business continuity
Provide input for facility shutdown plans, considering both planned (e.g., O&M required) and unplanned (e.g., weather-related or disaster) events. Align quality plans with business continuity plans for operational resilience. Implement drills and simulations to test these plans. Monitor quality-related impacts resulting from shutdowns. (Apply)
VIII. Quality Manager Skills (22 Questions)
A. ASQ Code of Ethics
Demonstrate appropriate behaviors and actions that align with the ASQ Code of Ethics. (Analyze)
B. Stakeholder analysis and alignment
Identify the perspectives, needs, and goals of various internal and external stakeholders. Integrate collaboration and negotiation techniques to align the organization’s strategic goals and stakeholder expectations. (Apply)
C. Team building
Vision development
Collaborate with stakeholders to adopt a clear quality goal and vision for the team or project. (Apply)
Stages of team development
Identify and differentiate between the stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. (Analyze)
Effective team dynamics and communication
Use a variety of communication techniques (e.g., verbal, nonverbal, written, and visual) and active listening. Collaborate with diverse groups (e.g., designers, project management, and craft teams). Apply the RACI Matrix (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) to clarify roles and responsibilities and streamline decision-making processes. Understand decision-making pitfalls (e.g., groupthink and power dynamics) to promote healthy team dynamics and achieve project goals. Resolve conflicts through established procedures. (Apply)
D. Change management
Organizational culture
Define and describe the factors that shape organizational culture. (Apply)
Change management strategies
Analyze and provide input into various change management strategies to address organizational resistance, adapt to global changes, assess the degree of change achieved, and review outcomes for effectiveness. (Analyze)
E. Cost of Quality (CoQ)
Cost of Quality (CoQ) analysis
Examine the methods and sources for gathering CoQ data. Interpret CoQ data to derive meaningful insights. Report and communicate findings from CoQ data analysis. (Analyze)
Improvement plans
Incorporate CoQ as a foundation for improvement methodologies, along with Lean, Six Sigma (e.g., DMAIC), and Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK). Identify areas for improvement from CoQ data analysis, and participate in an improvement plan to address them, integrating the plan with existing business processes. Evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of CoQ tools and methodologies. (Evaluate)
Organizational goals
Evaluate how CoQ improvement efforts align with organizational goals. Monitor and measure the progress made toward achieving organizational goals. Evaluate the steps taken to achieve organizational goals based on CoQ improvements. (Evaluate)
F. Customer satisfaction
Customer feedback systems
Apply feedback collection tools, such as listening posts, focus groups, complaint logs, warranty data, surveys, and interviews to capture both positive and negative feedback. (Apply)
Customer value analysis
Analyze customer value analysis to determine the financial impact of customer retention and the potential consequences of customer loss. (Analyze)
Customer experience enhancement
Evaluate corrective strategies and proactive methods to enhance customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention. (Evaluate)
G. Quality management tools
Quality tools
Select appropriate tools and evaluate the outputs of the seven classic quality tools (Pareto charts, cause and effect diagrams, flowcharts, control charts, check sheets, scatter diagrams, and histograms) as preventive measures, root cause analysis, and problem-solving. (Evaluate)
Learning and best practices analysis
Incorporate after-action reviews, and root cause analysis (RCA) meetings to critically assess project outcomes and identify lessons learned from all project phases, identifying successes and areas for improvement. Analyze critical success factors that led to best practices applied in a project. Use key performance indicators (KPIs) to systematically track and evaluate the impact of implemented improvements and evaluate strategies for reinforcing and replicating these improvements across future projects. (Evaluate)
Knowledge management analysis
Document knowledge management strategies and outcomes throughout the project. (Apply)
