Title:
Optimum Standards for Construction Products
Author(s):
Emilio Rosenblueth
Publication:
Journal Proceedings
Volume:
73
Issue:
4
Appears on pages(s):
207-213
Keywords:
acceptability; concrete construction: concrete products; construction materials; cost analysis; costs; decision theory; economics; optimization; probability theory;quality control; statistical analysis;stochastic processes.
DOI:
10.14359/11067
Date:
4/1/1976
Abstract:
Four questions are analyzed: (a) how to choose the best variant available of a given product: (b) how to establish at present the characteristics that a product should meet when it is used; (c) what bonuses or penalties should be assigned to a product as a function of the quality with which it is delivered and which should be the corresponding acceptance criteria so that the owner’s utility not be affected thereby; and (d) which are the owner’s optimum policies specified in a bid, assuming that the supplier will behave in a way optimum to himself. The first two questions apply to construction products whose properties are established before delivery to the job site (veneer, fixtures, etc.). The other two apply to products tested during con-struction (concrete, reinforcing bars). In all cases the sum of expected present values of initial cost and losses due to failure is minimized. The last two questions have the same answer.