MdQI
 
Maryland Quality Initiative
 Initiatives in Action 
 Partnerships for Quality
 
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Description
Mission 
Overview
National Partnership for Highway Quality
Partnering
Tools
MdQI Conference
Training Links


Welcome to the MdQI Website

MdQI Description

MdQI is a cooperative effort by Maryland's highway industry dedicated to the continuous quality improvement in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of Maryland's highway system. Formerly known as National Quality Initiative (NQI), the quality journey began in 1994 when Maryland’s first "Road to Quality" conference/workshop was held.

Mission Statement
"To provide the Maryland highway industry a forum that fosters coordinated and continuous quality improvement in order to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally sensitive highways which meets the needs of all transportation stakeholders"

Overview
In the early 1990's, Maryland's State Highway Administration (SHA) recognized the need to address quality at all levels and areas of the highway community. SHA, along with other local industry members, attended the preliminary National Quality Initiative Conference and came away with a strong commitment to incorporate the concepts and strategies as a way of doing business in Maryland. To this end, Maryland sponsored its first "Road to Quality" Conference in 1994. A Steering Committee, comprised of a diverse group of industry professionals, was established to organize and present this conference. During this process, the committee recognized that the conference itself was only one way of advocating quality as a way of doing business throughout the industry. As a result, its mission was broadened beyond the conference to foster ongoing dialogue among members of the industry.

SHA's four-year business plan is the document that drives our efforts. The deployment of the business plan is strategically linked to its quality initiatives. Fostering an atmosphere of open communication and cooperation with our partners is critical to defining and achieving our goals. The MdQI Steering Committee draws industry partners into the business plan as we strive "to provide our customers with a safe, well-maintained and attractive highway system that offers mobility and supports Maryland's communities, economy and environment." The Steering Committee is the link between our stakeholders and this mission statement, and guides strategic thinking on a day-to-day basis.

The Chief Engineer chairs the committee, which has top level commitment from all the members. It meets monthly to discuss a broad range of quality-driven initiatives as well as deliver the annual conference, which features a series of workshops on pressing issues and future focus of the industry. Thus, the Steering Committee has evolved from conference organization to industrywide driving force in the continuing quality journey. As a result, Maryland has become a lead state in the quality initiative movement to encourage other state transportation agencies to initiate quality movements of their own, as well as support them in their efforts. The Steering Committee's Organizational Structure reflects the breadth of this commitment.

National Partnership for Highway Quality
NPHQ is a groundbreaking partnership of the Federal Highway Administration, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the American Public Works Association, the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, and 9 of the nation’s leading roadway construction trade associations, including:

  • American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
  • American Concrete Pavement Association
  • American Council of Engineering Companies
  • American Public Works Association
  • American Road and Transportation Builders Association
  • American Traffic Safety Services Association
  • Associated General Contractors of America
  • Asphalt Institute
  • Federal Highway Administration
  • National Asphalt Pavement Association
  • National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies
  • National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

Link: National Partnership for Highway Quality

MdQI News Headlines    
Updated: April, 2008

Save the Date: 2008 MdQI Annual Career Day

April 10, 2008 at Aggregate Industries in Clinton, MD.


Maryland Quality Initiative's
Construction & Engineering 2007 Career Day



Construction Management Services Pilot Project




MdQI Newsletter: 

Fall/Winter 2007

Previous Newsletters:
Spring/Summer 2007
Fall/Winter 2006
Spring/Summer 2006

Fall/Winter 2005
Spring/Summer 2005

 

 
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Please contact Barbara Smith with questions and comments 
(410) 545-0361