This session will review case studies from various backgrounds on the benefits of planning and having a robust quality management system in place. The benefits can be from increasing productivity, reducing rework, improving reputation, better employee retention, and cost savings, to name a few. Performance tests and updated standards will also be discussed. This session will be for all aspects of the industry, from designers to contractors to suppliers.
Learning Objectives:
(1) Recognize the benefits of having a quality management system in place;
(2) Review case studies to better understand the potential for company savings by having a quality management system;
(3) Identify areas of improvement across the different stakeholders in the concrete industry;
(4) Understand the importance of having an investment in quality.
Exploring the Concept of “Quality is Free” in Concrete Construction
Presented By: Samuel Lines
Affiliation: Concrete Sealants, Inc.
Description: Several decades ago, Phillip Crosby authored Quality is Free, addressing the actual expenditures associated with quality management. He identified mistakes, rework, and downtime as some of the many direct costs resulting from poor quality. Beyond direct expenses, experts frequently reference the “iceberg principle,” which suggests that indirect costs related to poor quality may be three to four times greater than direct costs. This session will examine sources of nonconformance expenses within the construction industry and demonstrate that the investment in prevention is comparatively lower, thereby substantiating the assertion that quality is indeed free.
- Speaker Bio: Sam Lines is an active member of ACI Committee 121, where he has previously served as chair. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Before assuming his current position as Engineering Manager at Concrete Sealants, Sam was Quality Engineer for a leading precast concrete products manufacturer, guiding the organization through ISO 9001 certification. He is a certified Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma and a credentialed speaker, trainer, and coach with Maxwell Leadership.
Concrete Proof: Quality that Saves
Presented By: Kyle Kammer
Affiliation: CONCRETE STRATEGIES
Description: Implementing a structured quality control (QC) program in concrete operations delivers measurable cost savings while improving consistency, safety, and client confidence. This presentation highlights a brief case study of how data-driven QC improves compliance, strengthens accountability, and protects project schedules as well as the bottom line. Real-world examples demonstrate that quality control is not an added cost, but a practical investment that directly preserves margins and improves operational efficiency.
Strategies’ Quality program, advancing practical low-carbon solutions and improving concrete performance across commercial and industrial projects.
- He serves on the ACI Missouri Board of Directors and is the Student Activities Chair, as well as being an active member of ACI International, participating on Committees ACI 121 (Quality Assurance), ACI 306 (Cold Weather Concreting), ACI 308 (Curing), and several ACI 301 subcommittees. Kyle is also an engaged member of the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), contributing to both the Technical and Sustainability Committees.
Investing to Quality Control Every Load; use of RMX On-board Sensors to Delivery Quality
Presented By: Nathan Tregger
Affiliation: Verifi LLC
Description: Commercial systems exist that can provide concrete performance monitoring for every load of concrete delivered by a producer. These IoT (Internet-of-Things) systems can not only measure slump and temperature, but also can automatically adjust slump via water or admix on the way to the job site. This presentation will highlight how quality control can be vastly improved through data and process improvements, leading to significant cement savings without increase risk to the producer.
Nathan Tregger is the Director for Data Analytics for Verifi LLC, a Saint-Gobain company, located in Andover, MA. With over 20 years in the concrete industry, he has been a technical lead on projects ranging from admixtures to sensors to machine learning. He is an active member of ACI committees 135 (Secretary), 212, 237, 238 (Chair), 241, 304, 552 and 564.
- Speaker Bio 2: Jaymi Fridley is a Strategic Partnerships Manager at VERIFI, a Saint-Gobain business that offers an innovative AI-based solution for monitoring and managing concrete rheology during transit. She graduated with a Concrete Industry Management B.S. from California State University, Chico. With a decade of experience in the concrete industry, Jaymi's passion lies in advancing technology to enhance concrete sustainability and resiliency, advocating for concrete as the preferred building material.