New Quality Management Guidelines on the Way

APEGBC has been working to improve the quality management related guidance it provides to members and licensees, particularly in light of the amended Quality Management Bylaw 14(b) that was brought into effect in December 2010. To support member practice, the Organizational Quality Management (OQM) Committee directed and supported the preparation of six quality management guidelines—four new and two updated.

The following draft guidelines have been submitted to Council for approval:

  • Quality Management Guidelines - Use of the APEGBC Professional Seal
  • Quality Management Guidelines - Direct Supervision
  • Quality Management Guidelines - Retention of Project Documentation
  • Quality Management Guidelines - Documented Checks of Engineering and Geoscience Work
  • Quality Management Guidelines - Independent Review of Structural Designs
  • Quality Management Guidelines - Field Review of Projects During Implementation or Construction.

In conjunction with Quality Management Bylaw 14(b), the guidelines provide guidance and establish a standard of care for members and licensees to follow in their practices.

Quality Management Guidelines – Use of the APEGBC Professional Seal
These updated guidelines deal with the notion of professional responsibility and cover a range of quality management practices related to the authentication of engineering and geoscience documents.

Quality Management Guidelines – Direct Supervision
These updated guidelines provide basic and general guidance on direct supervision as defined in the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, and introduce the notion of “active involvement” and “adequate supervision.” They discuss the responsibility for engineering or geoscience decisions when direct supervision is in effect, and present considerations with respect to experience when delegating professional tasks.

Quality Management Guidelines – Retention of Project Documentation
These guidelines discuss retention of project documentation, the types of documents that should be retained, and keeping good professional records. They also deal with the many issues surrounding the creation, issuance and receipt of documents; their coding and naming; their revision; their filing, archiving, storage and destruction.

Quality Management Guidelines – Documented Checks of Engineering and Geoscience Work
Bylaw 14(b)(2) requires a written quality control process, appropriate to the associated risk, for the documented regular checking of all engineering and geoscience work. These guidelines expand on the purpose of checking, and on the requirement levels and the qualifications of those involved. They further provide guidance in establishing an appropriate quality control process.

Quality Management Guidelines – Independent Review of Structural Designs
Largely drafted in consultation with the Structural Engineers Association of British Columbia (SEABC), these guidelines expand on the requirements found in Bylaw 14(b)(4). The relationship between independent reviews and regular checks is also discussed.

Quality Management Guidelines – Field Review of Projects During Implementation or Construction
These guidelines describe the purpose and intent of field reviews, what they should include, who can perform them, how often and when they should occur. They also deal with what to do if an APEGBC professional is not engaged for field reviews and how issues found during field reviews should be addressed.

Developed as companions to the upcoming OQM Manual, these six guidelines will be applicable to all APEGBC members once approved by Council. It is anticipated that these quality management guidelines will come into effect in Spring 2012. Members will be notified as more information becomes available.