Achieving Best Practices in Quality Management Systems

A Guide to Utilizing SBCA’s Quality Resources

By Greg Greenlee and John Arne

Building and supplying quality products is a keystone of our industry. Having a robust quality program helps ensure you are meeting project design requirements and exceeding your customers’ expectations. SBCA and SBCRI have the tools and accreditation for plants to create and utilize an effective quality management system.

The terms “quality”, “quality management”, “quality assurance”, and “quality control” are used in the building codes as well as ANSI TPI-1, which itself is referenced in the codes. While these terms are similar, they do have different meanings which are important to understand. Using them interchangeably can cause confusion. Below are generally accepted industry meanings of these terms: 

• Quality: Quality is the degree to which a product or service fulfills requirements and conforms to users’ expectations.
• Quality Management: Quality management is the act of overseeing all activities and tasks that must be accomplished to maintain a desired level of excellence.
• Quality Control (QC): QC is “part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements” (https://asq.org/quality-resources). Quality control focuses on the product and is often done through product sampling or testing. It helps the company verify that the finished product meets the defined specification.
• Quality Assurance (QA): QA is “part of quality management focused on providing confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled” (https://asq.org/quality-resources). QA helps the manufacturer form a strategy for how it will approach quality. Quality assurance is a proactive activity that focuses on the documented processes and policies. 

It is also important to understand the difference between an inspection and an audit, and when each is used as part of a quality program. Generally, an inspection is performed on a finished product to verify it meets the defined specifications as part of the quality control system. An audit is a quality assurance activity performed to verify that the defined processes in a quality plan are operating correctly.

ANSI TPI-1 and the building codes specify who is responsible for performing each of these tasks and minimum requirements for each. The component manufacturer is responsible for conducting daily quality control checks as required by their in-plant quality control manual. Quality assurance audits are to be conducted by a plant’s appointed personnel or, in the case of construction per the IBC, the in-plant audit is to be done by an independent (third-party) approved agency at least quarterly.  

While not defined above, a Quality Management System consists of three parts: quality management, quality assurance, and quality control. In a component manufacturing facility, these functions are the responsibility of different people.  

• Management: Responsible for establishing and supporting the quality management system. The management team should also conduct regular management review meetings and promote continuous improvement based on information obtained from the quality control inspections and quality assurance audits.
• Plant Quality Personnel: Conduct regular quality control inspections of manufactured products based on the requirements of the facilities’ quality manual and ANSI TPI-1. The inspectors check what has been manufactured.
• Quality Assurance Auditor: Perform audits of the quality management system. The audits proactively review the system to ensure the quality requirements will be fulfilled. For components manufactured for IBC projects, the auditor needs to be an accredited third-party auditor. For components manufactured for IRC projects, the auditor can be a qualified member of the plant’s quality personnel.

Digital QC

As progress is made in this industry, improvements and innovative ways to excel and advance occur every day. Moving beyond paper and pencil, which was the norm in the past, a digital option is available through the association: SBCA’s Digital QC, which came onto the scene in 2020. With Digital QC, you can use a tablet, smartphone, or computer to do your quality control inspections. “The SBCA Digital QC program is not merely a technological upgrade but a catalyst for positive change, fostering a culture of continuous improvement,” says Steve Kennedy, SBCA Member and Engineering, Risk and Quality Manager at U.S. LBM. “It’s heartening to witness our workforce becoming adept at leveraging digital tools to enhance quality control.”

Digital QC gives a component manufacturer (CM) the power to run reports on their inspection data for better continuous improvement. A picture, rather than using vellum, is a great learning tool for showing crews why a joint failed the inspection. It is also more environmentally friendly and can save physical storage space by eliminating those old paper and vellum records.  

Using the SBCA’s Digital QC website, you can enter your hours worked per setup for even more detailed reports and to also ensure you are meeting the proper inspection frequency of three inspections per setup per shift per week. Additionally, the website has a place to upload a copy of your quality control manual to be sure the plant has a backup on file, should something happen to the plant’s copy (such as a computer/server crash or the file gets corrupted). 

“Quality Control is not sexy, but I would argue it is an essential part of the production process,” says Scott Ward, SBCA Member and President of Southern Components, Inc. “If you aren’t doing everything you can to ensure you are putting out high quality products in the most efficient way, you are going to find it difficult to compete in the years ahead.”

To learn more, visit: sbcacomponents.com/digqc-resources. 

SBCRI Third-Party Quality Assurance

One of the many benefits that are available to members through SBCA is its SBCRI Third-Party Quality Assurance, which has an ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation through the nationally recognized ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) based in Milwaukee, WI. SBCRI audits a plant’s in-plant quality program to ensure the program is meeting TPI-1 requirements. An audit reviews a plant’s quality control documentation, whether it be paper or Digital QC. At the heart of an in-plant program is its quality control manual. It lays out the plan for how the plant will monitor the quality of the products being built and how to handle any issues like non-conforming raw materials or finished products. The quality control manual should be reviewed and updated, at least, annually. The audit also reviews production and how trusses are stacked, banded, and stored in the yard per BCSI guidelines. The majority of audits are performed virtually via a video meeting such as Zoom or Teams, but in-person audits are available as well at an additional cost. The program is available to any wood truss, wood wall panel, steel truss, and steel wall panel plants, but there is a significant discount for SBCA members and an even bigger discount for wood truss plants using Digital QC. To learn more, visit: https://sbcri.info/.

SBCA In-Plant Certification

In addition to SBCRI Third-Party Quality Assurance, there is also the SBCA In-Plant Certification, which is a voluntary program available to SBCA members that use Digital QC. Each quarter, the plant receives a quarterly data review by SBCA staff (using SBCRI quality criteria) providing the plant with valuable feedback on how their in-plant quality control program is performing. The report also gives feedback on how the plant is doing compared to the averages of all plants in the program for non-conformances for the previous four quarters.

“I saw a great opportunity to implement the SBCA Digital QC, SBCRI Third-Party Quality Assurance, and SBCA’s In-Plant Certification to create the best quality management program possible,” says Steve.

When Digital QC, SBCRI QA, and SBCA In-Plant Certification are utilized together, it performs as an industry best practice, enhancing and establishing an effective quality management system for component manufacturers. To ensure they have an effective quality program, component manufacturers are encouraged to take advantage of these resources. 

“I was thrilled to see such positive feedback from our teams across the country as they started using our total management program with the help of these programs,” exclaims Steve. “The plants are leveraging this system to train our production staff effectively – focusing on plate placement, ensuring lumber quality, and mastering the art of wane placement.”

“If you haven’t joined the wave yet, I strongly encourage you to dive into the world of efficiency and quality with SBCA Digital QC, SBCRI Third-Party Quality Assurance, and SBCA’s In-Plant Certification,” concludes Steve.

Digital QC Bootcamps

In 2025, SBCA will begin offering two-day, in-person Digital QC Bootcamps. The goal of these bootcamps is to provide a solid foundation for component manufacturers’ quality control and quality assurance programs. Attendees will leave with a thorough understanding of both concepts and how they can be applied to their component manufacturing plant.

The bootcamps will consist of both classroom and hands-on training, and take place at various regional locations around the U.S. The content will include a wide scope focused on the components of a thorough quality control program and give learners a clear understanding of the requirement of ANSI TPI-1 Chapter 3.

Whether you’re a paper/vellum or Digital QC inspection shop, these bootcamps are for you! They’ll also include plate supplier breakout sessions and how to use the Digital QC website reports to track and improve quality in your plant.   

Watch for more information and your chance to sign up soon on www.sbcacomponents.com!