Date & Time
April 11, 2012   12:00 p.m. EST

Length
1 hour

Learning Objectives
At the end of this course participants will be able to:

• Build an effective emergency “how to” manual for stand in QC personnel
• Identify what critical questions you need to ask and who you need to talk to as soon as you find yourself without a trained QC manager
• Prepare an arsenal of valuable resources to help a new QC manager get up to speed quickly and keep your plant running smoothly

Course description
 Your QC manager quits the day before your unannounced plant audit and you have to get someone new up to speed within hours…Sounds like a nightmare, right? It’s been the harsh reality for a number of precast plants around the country. NPCA’s Quality Control manual requires you have a knowledgeable QC Manager, but how do you get a new person trained – and fast? This course will guide you through creating an action plan to address this very issue. We’ll discuss key resources you should have available, a list of key personnel your new QC Manager should speak to within the first 24 hours, what questions s/he needs to ask, and more. You’ll learn how to create a critical “how to” manual BEFORE you find yourself in this situation that will help get your new QC Manager up to speed quickly. Don’t miss this valuable session that could make the difference between passing and failing your next plant audit!

This class is intended for:
QC personnel, production supervisors, plant managers, and anyone aspiring to these positions

Presenter
Phil Cutler, PE

Phillip Cutler joined NPCA in 2004 and is currently the Director of Technical Services and Plant Certification. He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed P.E. in Indiana. Prior to his role in technical services with NPCA, Phillip spent more than 25 years engineering, manufacturing and quality assurance of components for heavy diesel powered equipment and electronic enclosures for domestic and military applications. He also has more than 20 years experience in residential building construction and rehabilitation. Phillip is a member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), and has significant experience with ISO, QS, and ANSI quality systems.

Webinar Title
PQS II – Quality Assurance

Dates
May 9, 2012
May 16, 2012
May 23, 2012
(Participants are required to attend all three sessions in order to receive credit for this course.)

Length
12 hours total
Each of the three sessions will be 4 hours.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this course participants will be able to:

• Build an effective Quality Control program
• Identify the importance of a well-executed Quality Control program
• Decrease errors, improve safety and enhance employee morale through a well-rounded Quality Control program

Course description
A well-executed Quality Control program is vital to the success of any precast operation. This Quality Control module will present a number of topics that will build on NPCA’s Quality Control Manual and support the NPCA Plant Certification program. Coursework covers aggregate gradations analysis, aggregate moistures, hot-temperature concrete and cold-temperature concrete. Attendees will learn why water-to-cement ratio is so critical to concrete properties and the need for frequent testing to assess water absorption and movement in concrete. The Maturity Method will be presented in layman’s terms so that a precaster can accurately assess strength development and timing of construction operations. Additional topics include averages and trends in data, and reinforcing steel. A calculator is needed for this course.

This class is intended for:
QC personnel, production supervisors, plant managers, and anyone aspiring to these positions

Presenter
Claude Goguen, P.E., LEED AP

Claude Goguen has almost 20 years of experience in the precast concrete and construction industry. He holds degrees in Civil Engineering and is a licensed P.E. in Indiana and a licensed P.Eng in Canada. Prior to his role in technical services with NPCA, Claude was an operations manager at a precast concrete manufacturing plant. He also worked as a field superintendent, project manager and project engineer on numerous large residential and commercial projects.  Claude is a member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) and CSCE (Canadian Society for Civil Engineering).

Webinar Title
The Do’s and Don’ts of Placing Reinforcement in Precast Concrete Structures

Date
June 27, 2012

Length
1 hour

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the importance of the bond between concrete and reinforcement
• Distinguish poorly placed reinforcement from properly placed reinforcement
• Describe proper lap splicing procedures for reinforcement

Course description 

Everyone who works in a precast plant knows that reinforcement is a key element of quality precast concrete structures. Not everyone knows how steel and concrete become one in resisting forces due to handling, placement and in-service loads. Without this knowledge, plant personnel who work with rebar and welded wire reinforcing may not recognize the risks associated with improper placement of reinforcing and improper casting practices that may diminish the effectiveness of reinforcing. This course takes a holistic and simplified approach to understanding how reinforcement works in concrete, what type works best in whatever situation, and how placement and consolidation play a huge role in producing a reliable product. Common mistakes when working with reinforcing will also be discussed.

This class is intended for: Production workers, QC personnel, production supervisors, plant managers, and anyone aspiring to these positions

Presenter: Claude Goguen, P.E., LEED AP

Claude has almost 20 years of experience in the precast concrete and construction industry. He holds a degree in civil engineering and is a licensed P.E. in Indiana and a licensed P.Eng in Canada. Prior to his role in technical services with NPCA, Claude was an operations manager at a precast concrete manufacturing plant. He also worked as a field superintendent, project manager and project engineer on numerous large residential and commercial projects. Claude is a member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) and CSCE (Canadian Society for Civil Engineering).

Webinar Title
Top 10 Pre-Assessment Plant Deficiencies for NPCA Plant Certification (Chapters 1-5)

Date
August 8, 2012

Length
1 hour

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the 10 most common NPCA QC plant deficiencies (do you have any in your plant?)
• Provide clarification to your plant personnel and management about NPCA QC Manual requirements
• Create a corrective action plan to address areas of nonconformance in your plant

Course Description 

Compliance with NPCA’s Quality Control Manual is essential for plants in the NPCA Plant Certification Program, as well as those plants pursuing plant certification. Additionally, NPCA’s Quality Control Manual outlines industry best practices, which are valuable to all plants wanting to achieve and maintain the highest level of production quality for their precast products. In this course, we will review 10 of the most frequently violated NPCA QC Manual requirements as found in pre-assessment audits and plant certification inspections. We will also identify common areas of nonconformance, provide clarification to the NPCA QC Manual requirements, and provide corrective action based on industry best practices.

Presenter: Evan Gurley

Evan is a civil engineer with NPCA. His roles with NPCA include: providing the precast concrete industry with technical support; developing technical publications; providing industry representation on standards committees; and residing as a staff liaison for the Precast Concrete Paving Slabs (PCPS) Committee, the Stormwater Management Committee, and the Wall Committee. Evan is an active member in ASTM and a member of ASTM C27 on Precast Concrete Products. He has been involved with the AASHTO Technology Implementation Group (TIG), representing the precast concrete industry in numerous product showcases.

Webinar Title
So, how much can you lift… safely?

Date
September 12, 2012

Length
1 hour

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the safety hazards associated with lifting precast
• Examine lifting equipment to verify it meets safety standards
• Identify basic calculations and assumptions associated with lifting design

Course description 

Proper lifting procedures can be a matter of life and death both in the precast plant and in the field. In this webinar, we’ll explore common mistakes that can be costly both financially and physically. We will discuss the importance of using proper equipment for the task at hand, how to identify potential safety hazards, and routine inspections needed to ensure your plant personnel are practicing safe lifting procedures. Finally, we’ll review basic calculations that are associated with lifting design.

This class is intended for: Production workers, QC personnel, yard workers, safety managers, plant managers

Presenter: Chris Von Handorf, P.E., MBA, NPCA Technical Services Engineer

Chris is a registered P.E. who holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Ohio University and an MBA from the University of Dayton. Prior to joining NPCA, Chris was a structural engineer with a precast concrete manufacturer, where he designed numerous architectural and structural precast concrete buildings. He is a member of ACI, participating in the Precast Concrete Structures committee. His roles at the NPCA include serving as a staff liaison to the Building Committee, Wall Committee and Utility Structures Committee as well as providing NPCA members with technical support.

Webinar Title
PQS II – Technical

Dates
October 31, 2012
November 7, 2012
November 14, 2012
(Participants are required to attend all three sessions in order to receive credit for this course.)

Length
12 hours total
Each of the three sessions will be 4 hours.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify basic mechanics and fundamental aspects related to stress, strain and stiffness
• Interpret the basics of blueprint reading and reinforcement as it relates to plans
• Apply proper lifting techniques of concrete elements to prevent unexpected movements or failures
• Discuss the development of standards and the requirements to comply with them

Course description 

PQS Level II – Technical is designed for plant personnel who are responsible for the design, interpretation of drawings, product setup or quality control in the plant. Attendees will learn the technical concepts that explain why we do things the way we do them in the plant. This curriculum will decode technical industry jargon and provide attendees with a better technical understanding of the entire precasting process. Technical concepts such as “center of mass” and “structural analysis” will be presented in layman’s terms, as well as discussing their impact on reinforcement placement and proper lifting techniques. We will discuss the mechanical properties of concrete and steel, blueprint reading, proper rigging and lifting, knowledge of specifications and much more. In preparing to take PQS II – Technical, attendees should possess a basic knowledge of geometry, trigonometry, elementary algebra and basic physics. A scientific calculator is recommended for this course.

This class is intended for: QC personnel, production supervisors, plant managers, and anyone aspiring to these positions

Presenter: Claude Goguen, P.E., LEED AP

Claude has almost 20 years of experience in the precast concrete and construction industry. He holds a degree in civil engineering and is a licensed P.E. in Indiana and a licensed P.Eng in Canada. Prior to his role in technical services with NPCA, Claude was an operations manager at a precast concrete manufacturing plant. He also worked as a field superintendent, project manager and project engineer on numerous large residential and commercial projects. Claude is a member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) and CSCE (Canadian Society for Civil Engineering).

What is the cost?
NPCA’s Production and Quality School courses are $50 per chapter; there are nine chapters.

How long is each chapter?
Most chapters are between one and two hours in length. The exact length is noted next to each chapter under the “Available Courses (link)” section.

What will I learn?
Each chapter has a different focus, from pre-production to curing to material handling. A course description for each chapter can be found in the “Chapter List” section above.

Who are the instructors?
PQS online is taught by two instructors, Mel Marshall and Brian Miller. Both Mel and Brian are experienced PQS instructors and have decades of experience within the precast concrete industry.

What equipment do I need?
Most PCs with a high-speed Internet connection will allow you to view the courses. Please see the System Requirement section for more details.

What do I do if I’m having problems with getting the course to play?
Please contact NPCA at (800) 366-7731 or email Kathy Shelton.

What if I need more information about the course or have additional questions?
Please contact Kathy Shelton at 800.366.7731.