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Field Testing of Construction Products Seminar Program Needs Analysis

Dave Fuller
AET/570
January 18, 2016
Randy Howell

Field Testing of Construction Products Seminar Program Needs Analysis

Scope
While a training of this type has been informally requested by customers, discussed by
industry experts, and has been viewed as a solution for an industry problem, a formal needs
analysis was performed over a six month period. This analysis sought first to determine if this
type of training was desired in the industry. Secondly, the needs analysis was used to determine
the most common field tests that are performed by field engineers. Thirdly, the goal was to
understand and identify what specific tests resulted in the most project issues and complaints.
Techniques
The analysis consisted of three commonly used techniques in performing a needs
analysis. Questionnaires were sent out to the top 100 engineering firms in North America. Our
contractor training exams/feedback forms were updated to include a number of questions
concerning job site issues and field testing. Lastly, a document investigation was performed by
reviewing the company complaint and claim files over the past seven years.
Questionnaires
The questionnaire was sent to the top 100 firms in North America. The questionnaire
was in the form of a survey connected to a free trial of our On-line University. Engineering
firms could receive an online password to the on line modules by completing a short
questionnaire concerning field testing issues. The questionnaire asked the percentage of testing
related issues per year, identified the most common tests performed by their field engineers,

asked how training of field engineers currently is performed and whether they would pay to have
their testers attend this type of training.
The results of this questionnaire showed four test standards that were commonly cited as
the basis for project issues, ASTM D7234, F1869, F2170, and ICRI 310.2R-2013. Two of these
tests were also cited as the most common field tests performed by their engineers. Most firms
train their own field engineers with 50% having a formal process and others having informal
mentoring or coaching. No firms have used an outside training program but are more than likely
to send their employees to a fee-based field testing program.
Training Exams
Over this six month period, an update was added to the exam/feedback form provided at
five customer training events. The feedback form consisted of 3 questions concerning field
testing in the industry. The first question asked what the most common tests were performed on
their jobs by outside engineers. The contractors were then asked how often the results of these
tests resulted in lost time on a project. The customers were then asked what type of testing
resulted in the most project issues.
From the contractors we evaluated, errors in field testing resulted in an approximate
average of $500,000 per company over the last three year period. The most common tests
resulting in issues were ASTM D7234, F1869, C1521, and general concrete repair strength
testing.

Document Review
As part of the analysis the past seven years of complaint and claim files were
investigated. This review consisted of gather data on project issues. Reviewing all claims and
complaints that had the cause as jobsite testing, physical properties, or engineering discrepancy
were investigated further to determine what cost to the organization was a result.
This investigation showed that over the course of the last seven years our organization
was involved in claim and complaints related to field testing on 35 projects. These ranged from
nuisance complaints by contractors to a large legal issue. 75% of these claims were a direct result
of improper field testing by an engineering agency with an estimated cost to the organization of
nearly $1.1 million.
Conclusion
These various needs analysiss showed a direct link between field engineers
understanding industry testing protocols, skills in performing these tests appropriately, and
common project issues in the industry which result in substantial costs to all involved parties.
The analysis also confirmed the most common tests resulting in project issues. It confirmed that
field engineers need both an understanding of the protocols as well as hands-on skills to perform
them properly.