AASHTO re:source Q & A Podcast

We share some of the highlights from this past season and explain why we take a break in March and April (spoiler, it's because of the AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange).Related information:AASHTO re:source EventsThe Stream by AASHTO: A Conversation with AASHTO President, Craig ThompsonS4 E05: Paving with Recycled Plastic - Hawaii's Pilot Project - Part 4S4 E07: Geotechnical Investigations at Oklahoma DOTS4 E10: Soft Skills: Dealing with StressS4 E15: Talking Balanced Mix Design with Illinois DOTS4 E16: Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and the CO DOTS4 E22: Soft Skills: Goal Setting - Part 2

We share the audio from January 2024's webinar "A Behind-the-scenes Look at Assessment Scheduling." Related informaiton: AASHTO re:university Webinar Series: A Behind-the-scenes Look at Assessment Schedulinghttp://aashtoresource.org/lap 

Get a high-level overview of why a laboratory's AASHTO Accreditation is not an "umbrella" accreditation that extends to other locations. Related information:S1 E13: FAQ - Mobile Lab AccreditationS1 E16: Understanding Technician Certification RequirementsS1 E35: FAQ - AASHTO Accreditation Directory S1 E37: FAQ - Multi-Site and Off-Site PersonnelS2 E09:  FAQ - Can I back-date my accreditation to when I received my assessment? S2 E20: Terminology - Accreditation, Certification, and Related TermsS2 E37: FAQ - Field Tests and ASTM E329 (Concrete) AASHTO Accreditation Policy on Mobile LaboratoriesAASHTO Accreditation Policy and Guidance on Temporary LaboratoriesTemporary Facility Accreditation Extension FormWhat's the Difference? Accreditation, Certification, and Related TermsAASHTO Accreditation Policy and Guidance on Multi-Site PersonnelMulti-Site or Off-Site Personnel Form

We go through Brian's inbox to answer some of the questions he's been asked recently. Related information:S3 E17: From the Cutting Room Floor - Consensus Standards S2 E19: FAQ - Refusal of ServiceS1 E39: FAQ - Policy for New Lab Internal Audits and Management ReviewsS1 E31: FAQ - How long does it take to get accredited? AASHTO re:university Webinar Series: A Behind the Scenes Look at Assessment SchedulingAASHTO Accreditation Policy and Guidance on Refusal of ServiceSpecifiers

How familiar are you with fine and coarse aggregate specific gravity tests? Does your knowledge surpass Kim's? It's not difficult, but find out as we discuss some of the most common nonconformities for AASHTO T 84/ASTM C128 and AASTHO T 85/ASTM C127.Related information: Common Findings In Aggregate TestingS4 E34: Common Findings in Aggregate Testing - Part 1S2 E31: Top Nonconformities for AASHTO T84 and ASTM C128Top Nonconformities AASHTO T84 and ASTM C128S2 E05: FAQ - Which report findings are required to be resolved?How to Resolve AASHTO re:source and CCRL Report Findings

Have Kim's guesses of common nonconformities improved as we move along in this series? Find out how she does as we discuss some of the most common nonconformities during aggregate testing in regards to general equipment, AASHTO T 11/ASTM C117 and AASHTO T 27/ASTM C136.Related information:S4 E32: Common Findings in Concrete Assessments: ASTM C138, C172, C173, C231, C617, C1231S4 E18: FAQ - What is the difference between an observation and a nonconformity?S3 E34: Sieve Requirements and ASTM E11S2 E05: FAQ - Which report findings are required to be resolved?Behind the Screens: Determining the Sufficiency of Mechanical Sieving DevicesSieves: Making the Grade, Part ISieves: Making the Grade, Part 2Balances 101How to Resolve AASHTO re:source and CCRL Report FindingsAASHTO re:source Policy and Guidance on Go-No-Go Gauges 

While the policy on how to publicize your AASHTO Accreditation hasn't really changed, how it is being enforced recently did. We discuss what this means for AASHTO Accredited laboratories. Related informaiton:  AASHTO Accreditation Policy on Publicizing Accreditation S2 E07: FAQ - Publicizing AASHTO Accreditation AASHTO Accreditation DirectoryFalse Claims of Accreditation

In this "Common Findings" episode, we continue with the concrete series and discuss ASTM C138, C172, C173, C231, C617, and C1231.  As a refresher, in this series, Kim blindly tries to guess some of the most common nonconformities in concrete assessment reports, and then Brian shares the actual findings and some possible ways to resolve them. Related information: Common Findings in Concrete Assessments - ASTM C138, C172, C173, C231, C617, C1231 companion documentS4 E29: Common Findings in Concrete Assessments - ASTM C31, C39, C78, C511 S4 E26: Common Findings in Concrete Assessments - ASTM C1077S4 E18: FAQ - What is the difference between an observation and a nonconformity?S3 E10: Common Concrete Nonconformities S2 E05: FAQ - Which report findings are required to be resolved?How to Resolve AASHTO re:source and CCRL Report Findings

John, Ryan, and Joe join us once again, this time to discuss the recent Performance Graded Asphalt Binder, Viscosity Graded Asphalt Cement, and  Slurry and Micro Systems samples. Related information: S4 E27:  November PSP Insights - Unmodified Emulsified Asphalt and PaintS4 E20:  October PSP Insights - Aggregate Gradation and GravityS4 E14:  August PSP Insights - Polymer-Modified Emulsified AsphaltS4 E13: August PSP Insights - Gyratory S4 E12: August PSP Insights - Marshall and HveemS4 E06: June PSP Insights (PGB and BAC)S4 E03: May PSP InsightsS3 E30: November PSP InsightsS3 E23: September PSP InsightsS3 E15: July PSP InsightsS2 E29: The Proficiency Sample Program Participation Guide and Prerequisites for Accreditation 

Learn who, what, where, why, and when we can share specific customer information.Related information:AASHTO re:source Policy on ConfidentialityS2 E28: FAQ - Mail Call!S2 E15: What is the ATG?S1 E35: FAQ - AASHTO Accreditation Directory

Continuing the "Common Findings" series, with no context, Kim guesses the most common nonconformity in concrete assessment reports for ASTM C31, C39, C78, and C511. Then Brian shares a few of the real common findings for those standards and some general tips on how to resolve them.Related information: Common Findings in Concrete Assessments - ASTM C31, C39, C78, C511 companion documentHow to Resolve AASHTO re:source and CCRL Report FindingsThe Cure for the Cure: A Guide to ASTM C511 and Your Curing FacilitiesS4 E26: Common Findings in Concrete Assessments - ASTM C1077 S4 E18: FAQ - What is the difference between an observation and a nonconformity?S2 E13: FAQ - License PE Requirements S2 E05: FAQ - Which report findings are required to be resolved?S1 E12: Curing Facilities - ASTM C511 and AASHTO M 201

We are giving listeners a sneak peek into the planning of the 2024 AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange and sharing details about what they can expect from this unique industry event. Related information: aashtoresource.org/events 

John and Joe join us to discuss the most recent Unmodified Emulsified Asphalt and Paint sample rounds. Related Information: S3 E30 November PSP Insights (2022)http://aashtoresource.org/psp/schedulehttp://aashtoresource.org/psp/reportshttp://aashtoresource.org/psp/sample-round-analysis

In this "Family Feud" type episode, Kim tries to guess the most common nonconformity in concrete assessment reports for ASTM C1077. Then Brian shares a few of the real common findings for that standard and some general tips on how to resolve them.Related information: Common Findings in Concrete Assessments - ASTM C1077 companion documentHow to Resolve AASHTO re:source and CCRL Report FindingsAssessment Corrective Action Report FormProficiency Sample Corrective Action Report FormS1 E15: FAQ - How and when do I respond to low ratings?S1 E16: Understanding Technician Certification RequirementsS1 E19: FAQ - Does my Laboratory Manager have to be a Professional Engineer?S2 E04: FAQ - How many times can I try to resolve the same nonconformity?S2 E05: FAQ - Which report findings are required to be resolvedS2 E13: FAQ - License PE RequirementsS2 E19: FAQ - Refusal of ServiceS2 E30: Top Nonconformities of AASHTO T209 and ASTM D2041S2 E31: Top Nonconformities for AASHTO T84 and ASTM C128S2 E35: Top Nonconformities for AASHTO T 315 and ASTM D7175S2 E37: FAQ - Field Tests and ASTM E329 (Concrete)S2 E42: Top Nonconformities for AASHTO T 59S3 E02: Reports and RecordsS3 E10: Common Concrete Nonconformities S4 E18: FAQ - What is the difference between an observation and a nonconformity?

We look into the AASHTO Accreditation Program's recent internal audit to share insights as to how the process has added value to the program and organization. Related InformationS4 E24: The Value of Internal Audits - Part 1February 2023 Webinar - Internal Audits: What's the Point?S3 E7: Internal Audits - Back to BasicsS3 E3: Internal Audit Awareness Month - Who Can Perform Internal Audits?S2 E24: Taken from TechEx: Internal Audits: The Focus on ImprovementS2 E12: Conducting Effective Internal AuditsS1 E39: FAQ - Policy for New Lab Internal Audits and Management ReviewsS1 E28: Management Review Extended Q & AInternal Auditing: Just the Facts, Ma’am!S2 E15: What is the ATG?

We are joined by AASHTO re:source Quality Manager, Tracy Barnhart to cover some of the basics of conducting an internal audit and how the process is valuable to individuals and organizations. Related InformationFebruary 2023 Webinar - Internal Audits: What's the Point?S3 E7: Internal Audits - Back to BasicsS3 E3: Internal Audit Awareness Month - Who Can Perform Internal Audits?S2 E24: Taken from TechEx: Internal Audits: The Focus on ImprovementS2 E12: Conducting Effective Internal AuditsS1 E39: FAQ - Policy for New Lab Internal Audits and Management ReviewsS1 E28: Management Review Extended Q & AInternal Auditing: Just the Facts, Ma’am!AASHTO re:source ISO/IEC 17025 Assessment: What to Expect and Tips to Prepare

We share audio from the October 19, 2023 webinar Benefits of a Corporate Quality Management System (QMS) Review.   Senior Quality Analyst, Trudy Eckstine covers the basics of if an AASHTO re:source corporate QMS review is right for your laboratory. Related information: Complete Webinar Recording: https://youtu.be/odHZLzSJhSI?si=K7Wo4R65mvxajldWPolicy and Guidance on Corporate Quality Management System (QMS) Reviews Corporate QMS Review Request Form

We share 8 brainstorming questions to help you set more effective goals and discuss how these questions would be tweaked based on if you are setting personal or professional/organizational goals.Related information:S4 E21: Soft Skills: Goal Setting Part 1S4 E10: Soft Skills: Dealing with StressS3 E18: Soft Skills: Authentic Networking

We discuss the basics of personal and professional goal setting (including SMART, HARD, and DUMB goals), as well as the role personal and organizational values play in creating effective goals.Related information:S4 E10: Soft Skills: Dealing with StressS3 E18: Soft Skills: Authentic Networking

John Malusky and Ryan LaQuay from the Proficiency Sample Program (PSP) join us to discuss the results of the recent Aggregate Gradation and Gravity samples 3 and 4. Plus, share in our excitement as we discover the benefits of using slide lock bags in the PSP packaging process. Related information:S4 E14: S4 E14: August PSP Insights - Polymer-Modified Emulsified AsphaltS4 E13: August PSP Insights - GyratoryS4 E 12: August PSP Insights - Marshall and HveemI Received A Low PSP Score, What Next?S3 E23: September PSP Insights