Why should I be PCI certified? This is a question I’m often asked when a new plant is considering the process of certification. As someone who has experienced the process myself, I understand the task at hand and appreciate the time and effort plant personnel put forth to both secure and maintain certification. It is the very nature of the process itself that I reference as a number one reason to be certified.
Place yourself in the shoes of a designer/specifier on a project. Wouldn't it be comforting to know that a plant has gone through a rigorous process to become certified and maintains that process through two unannounced audits every year to stay certified? The quality assurance alone from a certified program offers a solid piece of mind. This comprehensive quality is the reason why more than 45 states, as well as the FHWA and AASHTO, recognize PCI certification.
As a simplified example, imagine drinking water that has never been tested or certified to be pure! It could come from anywhere and possibly contain harmful contaminants or maybe have been bottled using unsafe practices. Most likely, you would prefer a product that you know to be safe and monitored for quality. PCI certification provides such assurances. The program and the specifications dictate a level of quality in the industry no matter where you go in the country.
PCI is an institute, and as an institute, it is recognized as the gold standard in the precast/prestressed industry. The research, specifications, innovations and committee structure provides an enormous amount of technical information at a certified producer’s disposal. PCI also provides a huge network of information between producers. It is unlikely that a producer is facing a difficulty that another producer hasn’t already experienced and solved. PCI certification forces a plant to develop and maintain a standard that is recognized and sought after by designers/specifiers. The investment in a PCI certification is an investment in the plant, as well as the precast industry in general.
