EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE DFI: Dedicated to Quality Q uality Assurance and Verification, the theme of this issue, is of utmost importance in a deep foundat ion construction project. Without quality assurance and verification, there can be project delays, serious injuries, and extra costs if defects are created and need repair, which can damage the design and/or construct ion f irm’s reputat ion. By definition, quality assurance is the maintenance of a desired level of quality in a service or product and verification is the process of checking for accuracy. As an association, DFI also implements quality assurance and verification into the management of our offerings. It is our goal to implement processes that produce continuous improvement, and we define what is acceptable to ensure the quality of our member benefits. Standard operating procedures are used by staff, and changes are made and communicated to the relevant personnel. They are used when training new or temporary staff to ensure consistency in the quality of all that we do. Our reputation as a reliable and valuable industry resource is the ultimate goal. As computer and software systems continue to evolve at a fast pace, and the media available to disseminate best practices and technical information becomes more vast, we must update the production of committee projects and our events to use the varied means by which our worldwide audience can receive the information shared by other members. This will improve the quality of DFI’s member benefits and assure that more people can access our educational resources and par t icipate in the conversation. Our objective is “get it right the first time,” which requires the management of each project to include efficiency, care, monitoring of the schedule and deadlines, and verification that all of the details have been covered. Everyone needs to be on board with our commitment to quality and must maintain consistent and constant practices to ensure the final product. To do so, we need to track the satisfaction of our members via an evaluation of the activities and through statistics gathered through online means. In addition, all employees are trained to understand all of the different aspects of our activities so there’s an overlap of knowledge and backup when necessary. The membership team is apprised of the status of events so they can provide customer service to inquirers; the events team is aware of upcoming publications so they can advise attendees of what to be on the lookout for; the administrative team is clear on deadlines so they can support where needed; and the marketing team is made familiar with everything so all activities can be coordinated to complement each other internally and externally. Also, new employees are given background information on the history of DFI, what is important to our members, what we’ve tried in the past that hasn’t worked well and what is working well so we don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Outside perspective from new employees is also welcome; it keeps us fresh and aware of other ways of approaching challenges. Theresa Engler Executive Director [email protected] In the end, it’s all about DFI’s culture and having the right attitude. At DFI, we celebrate our successes, evaluate challenges, define opportunities and pursue improvement. Though we are often juggling many activities at once, we take our time to do it right the first time because, if not, we likely will not have time redo it. If the results are less than desireable, we have the quality assurance program in place to tweak our procedures and verify that adjustments will improve the result the next time. Special thanks to my friend Ed for this plaque he made, which sits in my office to ensure we don’t forget our goal. DFI of India Quarterly Newsletter DFI of India, one of DFI’s three regional chapters, produces a quarterly eNewsletter with updates on chapter activities and initiatives, news of member companies, and case studies on projects in India. If you are interested in submitting news for the eNewsletter, following are the deadlines for submissions: • December 1 — January 2020 issue • September 1 — October 2019 issue • June 1 — July 2019 issue • March 1 — April 2020 issue You can view the most recent eNewsletter from the home page at www.dfi-india.org. If you have any questions, contact G. Venkata Prasad, director of operations for DFI of India, at [email protected]. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • MAY/JUNE 2019 • 9
