Glossary¶
Consolidated definitions and abbreviations used throughout the Quality Control Manual. Terms are listed alphabetically. The Section(s) column shows where each term is defined.
Items Requiring Review
Entries marked ⚠️ have conflicting definitions across sections. The Principal should select the canonical definition and update the source sections to match.
| Term | Definition | Section(s) |
|---|---|---|
| After Receipt of Order (ARO) | Indicates that lead time begins once the supplier receives the order. | P |
| Assembly | When two or more components are joined together. Joining methods include welding, bolting, pressure fit, molding, and adhesion. | X |
| Blanket Purchase Order (Blanket PO) | Blanket Purchase Order: A purchase order issued for repetitive purchases from the same supplier over a set period or dollar limit, typically for the same item. Each release under the blanket PO references the original PO number that includes either a Seacoast job number or an asset number. | P |
| Bill of Lading (BOL) | A legal document issued by a carrier to a shipper acknowledging receipt of goods for transportation, serving as a receipt, contract of carriage, and document of title. | AB |
| Bill of Materials (BOM) | A comprehensive list of materials derived from Released-for-Construction drawings or as directed by a competent person. | P |
| Camber | The intentional upward curvature built into a structural member to offset expected deflection under load, ensuring proper alignment and performance. | I |
| Corrective Action Report (CAR) | A document that records the details of corrective action and frames both the problem and its solution. | O |
| Commercial Driver's License (CDL) | A driver's license required under federal law (49 CFR Part 383) to operate commercial motor vehicles exceeding 26,001 lbs GVWR, or transporting hazardous materials or 16+ passengers. Class and endorsement requirements vary by vehicle weight and load type. | W |
| Certification | Certification recognizes an individual's proficiency in a specific area, obtained through formal education, training, or assessment, and results in a certificate or credential. In some cases, Seacoast facilitates staff training through external agencies such as AAMP, AISC, CWI, or other relevant organizations. | R |
| Certificate of Compliance (COC) | A document certifying that supplied materials meet specified standards and contract requirements. | P |
| Corrective Action | A formal process used in the fabrication industry to address and rectify identified problems or issues. Corrective Action is part of Seacoast's quality management system as a systematic way to address issues, refine processes, and enhance overall quality and efficiency. | O |
| Certified Weld Inspector (CWI) | As certified by the American Welding Society. | H, I, L, T, V |
| AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5 Bridge Welding Code (D1.5) | The current version of AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5 Bridge Welding Code, a normative standard for Seacoast bridge fabrication. | H, T, V |
| AASHTO/AWS Fracture Control Plan (D1.5 FCP) | The current version of Clause 12, AASHTO/AWS Fracture Control Plan for Non-redundant Members, contained in AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5 Bridge Welding Code. | T |
| Dry Film Thickness (DFT) | The measured thickness of a cured coating on a substrate, used to verify compliance with specification requirements. | M |
| Documented Training | Training that includes a record of the course outline, a record of who attended, the date it was given, and the instructor who provides the training. | R |
| ⚠️ Engineer of Record (EOR) | Engineer of Record (Owner Representative for Design). Review: Section H says "Owner Representative for Design"; Section V says "the customer's representative for design." Recommend standardizing. | H, V |
| Estimating Team | The cross-functional team assigned by the Management Representative to review bid documents and assess project requirements. | D |
| Fracture Critical (FC) | Designation for members or components whose failure would be expected to result in the bridge's collapse. | T, V |
| ⚠️ Fracture Critical Member (FCM) | Fracture Critical members or member components are members whose failure would be expected to result in the bridge's collapse. All welds to FCM are considered FC and will conform to the requirements of D1.5 FCP. Review: Section AA defines as simply "Fracture Critical Material." Recommend using Section T's full definition everywhere. | AA, T |
| Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) | Florida Department of Transportation. The government agency responsible for maintaining Florida roads and bridges and the primary owner Seacoast fabricates for. Each state has their own transportation agency with different contract requirements, which must be reviewed before fabrication can begin. At Seacoast, this review is typically performed by a Field Engineer responsible for documenting shop drawings and submitting those drawings for owner approval. | W |
| Final Inspection | The comprehensive examination of a completed product or component to ensure it meets all specified standards, requirements, and quality criteria before it is approved for delivery or release. | G |
| Free on Board (FOB) | Indicates the point at which ownership and responsibility for goods transfer from the seller to the buyer, typically at a specified shipping location. | P |
| Heat Number (HT#) | The Heat Number (HT#) is a unique identifier assigned to a batch of metal during its production, typically during the melting process. It tracks the specific batch of material used in manufacturing, allowing traceability to the raw material's origin, chemical composition, and processing history. The Mill Test Report includes the HT#. | G |
| Hold Point | A hold point is a predefined stage where work is paused for inspection or approval, ensuring quality and compliance before proceeding. | G |
| In-Process Inspection | The examination and verification of products or components during the manufacturing process to ensure they meet specified standards and requirements before continuing to the next stage of production. | G |
| Letter of Transmittal (LOT) | A cover document used to formally send submittals, drawings, or other contract documents between Seacoast and the customer. | F |
| Less Than Truckload (LTL) | A shipping method for freight that does not require a full truck, where the carrier is responsible for securing the load. | AB, W |
| ⚠️ Material, Cut, Layout, Fit-up, Deburr (MCLFD) | Material, Cut, Layout, Fit-up, Deburr: The in-process inspection checklist used at each fabrication step. Review: Section L includes a descriptive clause; Section Q is abbreviation-only. Recommend using Section L's fuller definition. | L, Q |
| Mill Test Report (MTR) | A Mill Test Report (MTR) is a quality assurance document that certifies a metal product's chemical and physical properties. It provides detailed information about the material's composition, mechanical properties, heat treatment, and compliance with industry standards per ASTM A6, verifying that the metal meets specified requirements for use in fabrication or construction. | G |
| Management Review Meeting (MRM) | A periodic meeting conducted by executive management to review the quality management system's performance, audit findings, corrective actions, and continuous improvement opportunities. | S |
| Material Supply Agreement (MSA) | A formal agreement between Seacoast and a supplier that defines terms, pricing, and expectations for ongoing or project-specific material supply over a specified period. | P |
| ⚠️ Material Test Report (MTR) | Material Test Report: Documentation providing chemical and mechanical properties of materials, typically required for qualified materials. Review: Section P uses "Material Test Report"; Section T uses "Mill Test Reports"; Section Q is abbreviation-only. Recommend standardizing to "Material Test Report (MTR)" with Section P's definition, noting that "Mill Test Report" is a common industry synonym. | P, Q, T |
| Nonconformance (NC) | A product or process that does not meet Seacoast's quality standards. Examples include a product that fails to meet contract requirements or a process that yields unsatisfactory results. | O |
| Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) | Testing methods used to evaluate properties of materials, components, or assemblies without causing damage. Synonymous with NDT. | L |
| Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) | Testing methods used to evaluate properties of materials, components, or assemblies without causing damage. Synonymous with NDE. | H, T |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | The federal agency that provides calibration standards and measurement traceability for inspection equipment. | M |
| Non-conformance | When something does not meet the specification or requirements in some way. Non-conformance is not limited to a non-conforming product. Non-conformance can be in a service, a product, a process, from a supplier, or in the system itself. | N |
| Non Conformance (NC) | A condition that does not meet contract requirements, specification requirements, or Seacoast quality standards. | D |
| Notice to Proceed (NTP) | A formal notification authorizing the start of work or procurement activities. | P |
| ⚠️ Purchase Order (PO) | Purchase Order: A formal authorization to procure materials, services, or rentals from an approved supplier. Review: Section P has full definition; Sections Q and T are abbreviation-only. Recommend using Section P's definition. | P, Q, T |
| Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) | Documentation of the welding variables and test results used to qualify a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS). | H, T |
| ⚠️ Quality Control Inspector (QCI) | Seacoast Quality Control Inspector, authorized via a Letter of Authority (LOA) by the Quality Control Manager. Review: Five sections define this term differently. Section U has the most complete general definition. Section H specifies "for Welds." Recommend using Section U's definition as the canonical entry and noting the weld-specific usage in Section H. | H, L, T, U, V |
| Quality Control Manual (QCM) | The Seacoast Quality Control Manual. | H, T, V |
| Quality Management System (QMS) | Quality Management System: A set of policies, processes, documented procedures, and resources that an organization establishes and maintains to ensure that its products or services consistently meet or exceed customer requirements and expectations. | O |
| Qualified Material | Materials that meet Seacoast's quality standards and project specifications, often including the need for Material Test Reports (MTR) or Certificates of Compliance (COC) to ensure contract compliance. | P |
| Qualified Supplier | A supplier evaluated and approved based on Seacoast's performance, quality, and compliance criteria. | P |
| Request for Information (RFI) | A specific submittal used to request clarification when contract documents require additional information or interpretation. | D |
| Request for Modification (RFM) | A specific submittal used to request approval or notification of a proposed change to contract documents. | D |
| Request for Information (RFI) | A formal communication from Seacoast to the customer asking for clarification on a topic. | AA, F |
| Request for Material (RFM) | A formal communication from Seacoast to the customer asking for approval to use a material that is a change from original specifications. | AA, F |
| ⚠️ Request for Quote (RFQ) | Request for Quote: A material or service quote request issued to suppliers. Internally, this is sometimes referred to as a Material Quote. Review: Section I is abbreviation-only; Section P has the full definition. Recommend using Section P's definition. | I, P |
| Subject Matter Expert (SME) | An individual who possesses specialized knowledge and experience in a specific field or topic. They are relied upon for their expertise to provide accurate guidance, insights, and to assess training subjects' learning outcomes. | R |
| Submittal (SUB) | Communication requiring customer approval or notification. | D |
| Training Unit | A structured segment of an educational program designed to impart specific knowledge, skills, or competencies to learners. Each unit focuses on a particular topic and serves as a building block within a broader curriculum. Components include learning objectives, content, training methods, assessment, resources, and duration. | R |
| Transmittal | A communication package used to send one or more submittals, drawings, or related contract documents. | D |
| Wet Film Thickness (WFT) | The measured thickness of a coating immediately after application, before curing. Used to predict the final Dry Film Thickness (DFT). | M |
| Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) | A document that defines the welding variables and techniques to be used for a specific weld joint, ensuring consistent and qualified welding processes. | H, T, V |