Bigbee AISC Certified

BIGBEE STEEL BUILDINGS, INC.
Muscle Shoals, Alabama

AISC Certified

The American Institute of Steel Construction's
Quality Certification Program for
Metal Buildings Systems Manufactures

CRITICAL CRITERIA FOR CERTIFICATION
Eight of the most critical criteria for achieving AISC Quality Certification Include:

The management team must fully communicate its commitment to achieving ongoing quality certification in accordance with all program requirements.
All submittal documentation must be in place -- including job descriptions, policies and procedures.
Finished products in the plant must conform with design and quality parameters.
All engineering software must incorporate only those material specifications currently approved for metal building systems.

Raw materials in the plant must match engineering specifications.
Welding personnel and/or procedures must be properly documented, qualified and/or certified, and plant welding practices must conform with American Welding Society (AWS) procedures and workmanship requirements.
All building code requirements must be met or exceeded.
A quality control / quality assurance procedure must be articulated and practiced.

Independent organizations that establish quality standards have become an important part of the professional landscape in the United States. Attorneys, for example, have the American Bar Association, and accountants have the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In the metal building systems industry, the American Institute of Steel Construction offers a comprehensive certification program that sets exacting professional standards.

THE PROGRAM
The AISC Quality Certification program is designed to provide a uniform, nationally recognized certification process for metal building systems manufacturers. To maintain a high level of credibility, the program includes a rigorous examination of a participant's engineering and manufacturing policies and procedures, as well as its quality assurance and control standards.
The program is rapidly gaining popularity with both private industry and government agencies. Savvy design and construction professionals are incorporating AISC certification directly into their design contracts and specifications by requiring that "The manufacturing company shall be certified under the American Institute of Steel Construction's Quality Certification program for metal building systems manufacturers." This requirement ensures that the manufacturer has achieved a high level of competency in all aspects of design and fabrication.

THE BENEFITS
These are some of the benefits that building owners, architects, specifers and building code officials derive from the AISC Quality Certification program:

	Certified manufacturers have undergone rigorous third-party examination of their engineering and manufacturing policies, procedures and practices.
	Quality assurance standards and controls meet the requirements established in the certification program.
	Unannounced annual on-site audits show evidence of continued compliance with the program requirements.
	Certified manufacturers have demonstrated design and quality assurance procedures and practices capable of producing metal building systems that meet the needs of predictable structural integrity and quality.
	Local, national and international code groups can utilize an already established and nationally recognized certification agency to compliance with their standards.

THE PROCESS
     The certification program examines policies and procedures at each of the manufacturer's facilities and, on a limited basis, the application of those policies and procedures to randomly selected projects. It consists of nearly 200 question covering the areas of general management, engineering and drafting, procurement, manufacturing and quality control.
     Inspection and evaluation teams from a prestigious independent engineering auditing firm annually observe and evaluate the manufacturer in almost every aspect of operation. In addition, unannounced and unscheduled inspections verify continuous compliance with the detailed certification standards established by AISC, which has been setting steel construction standards and writing specifications for more than 75 years. These auditors verify that the manufacturer has a successful, up to date and active quality assurance program in place.
     As a result of all these measures, Architects, design professionals, building code officials and the insurance industry can be assured that certified metal building systems manufacturers are capable of meeting the industry's highest standards for product and design integrity.

THE ELEMENTS
AISC Quality Certification monitors and encourages the use of sound structural engineering principles in engineering software development, design and detailing practices, and order screening procedures. This promotes accurate translation of recognized building code into detail designs, drawings, instructions and procedures. Manufacturers use recognized engineering design methods, incorporate changes in accepted standards, and provide extensive and active continuing education programs to maintain their certification.
The certification program calls for a random sampling of the manufacturer's procedures for such items as welding, painting and bolt installation, as well as compliance with applicable building codes. It also includes random spot reviews of raw materials (including certified mill reports) and the product -- from the work-in-process stage through manufacturing of the final product. All materials and services must conform to engineering documents, specifications and design requirements.

     Certified companies are entitled to display the AISC Quality Certification program logo for metal building systems manufacturers, underscoring their commitment to quality in all areas of design, construction, materials and management integrity. This logo also confirms that the manufacturer has met the industry's most rigorous certification standards.
     Manufacturers earning AISC Quality Certification receive a certificate valid for three years. This certificate is renewed annually when the manufacturer meets all program criteria.
     Becoming certified is a difficult task, as anyone familiar with the process can attest. But for everyone involved in metal building systems construction, the end result provides numerous tangible benefits.
     To obtain additional information about the AISC Quality Certification program for metal building systems manufacturers or a list of current certified members, contact AISC at (312) 670-5435 or visit its Internet home page at http://www.aisc.org.