Every successful infrastructure or energy project — whether it’s a high-voltage substation, a bridge span, or a wind-turbine tower — shares one common factor: a living QA/QC plan that governs how quality is achieved, measured, and proven.
Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) are often treated as technical checklists, but in practice they are the heartbeat of trust between owners, lenders, and contractors.
They define how design becomes reality — and how the project team proves to investors that each bolt, weld, and circuit meets its promise.
From paper to practice: Implementing the QA/QC plan
A well-designed QA/QC plan is not a static document but a management system.
Implementation begins at the design-review stage, where the Owner’s Engineer (OE) ensures the contractor’s plan aligns with FIDIC obligations, ISO 9001 standards, and project-specific performance guarantees.
The plan typically establishes:
- Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs) for every work package — from excavation to electrical commissioning.
- Hold points and witness points, defining when the OE or client must verify quality before proceeding.
- Material traceability systems, ensuring certificates of origin and conformity are logged for all critical components.
- Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) and Corrective Action Reports (CARs) for any deviation.
- Document control procedures, linking QA/QC evidence to design revisions and progress claims.
Each stage produces a trail of verifiable documentation — an essential prerequisite for both technical acceptance and lender disbursements.
Typical QA/QC documentation set
- Project Quality Plan (PQP)
- Inspection & Test Plan (ITP)
- Method Statements and Checklists
- Calibration Certificates and Material Certificates
- NCR / CAR Register
- FAT & SAT Reports
- Quality Dossiers and As-Built Records
The OE’s role: Quality custodian and evidence manager
Under FIDIC Silver Book or EPC contracts, the contractor holds responsibility for construction quality — but the OE acts as the independent verifier.
Their QA/QC oversight includes:
- Auditing the contractor’s implementation of ITPs.
- Witnessing key tests (e.g., transformer oil dielectric, weld radiography, earthing resistance).
- Reviewing calibration logs and test certificates.
- Maintaining an independent Quality Verification File (QVF) for final handover.
This meticulous record-keeping gives banks and investors tangible proof that the project complies with contractual and ESG conditions.
Why documentation equals value
In infrastructure finance, documentation is not bureaucracy — it’s currency.
Every signed test report, inspection photo, and compliance certificate becomes part of the project’s asset file used in due diligence, refinancing, or future sale.
For ESG-linked financing, QA/QC documentation demonstrates not just technical quality, but also ethical governance— showing that materials, waste, and workmanship meet environmental and safety norms.
ESG dimensions of QA/QC
| ESG pillar | Quality link |
|---|---|
| Environment | Verifies low-emission materials, waste segregation, and compliance with noise/dust standards. |
| Social | Confirms safe working practices, PPE compliance, and fair subcontracting. |
| Governance | Demonstrates transparent record-keeping, traceability, and auditability. |
Digital quality: The next step
Modern QA/QC systems are increasingly digitized.
Site teams use tablets for real-time inspections, while cloud platforms store test data linked to 3D BIM models.
This creates an auditable digital chain where each weld, pour, and cable termination can be traced back to a verified record — a revolution for both O&M teams and financiers.
Digital QA/QC reduces disputes, accelerates handovers, and integrates seamlessly with FIDIC-compliant reporting systems.
Quality is the project’s signature
In high-value industrial and energy developments, QA/QC plan implementation and documentation are more than procedural formalities — they are the technical signature of credibility.
They ensure that what is built can be trusted, financed, insured, and operated safely for decades.
As energy grids, fabrication facilities, and renewable projects multiply across Southeast Europe, the discipline of QA/QC — rigorously implemented and transparently documented — remains the strongest assurance an owner, lender, or engineer can offer.
Elevated by www.clarion.engineer
