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3 Audit Methodology
Following the approval by the Scottish Executive to commence work, Flint & Neill Partnership received a copy of the draft report (dated 28/9/05) produced by Faber Maunsell entitled "Forth Road Bridge - First Internal Inspection of the Main Cables Report (Shortened). This report was used as a basis for drawing up an audit plan.
An audit record has been prepared ( Appendix A) that sets down the scope of the audit and list all audit actions that have been carried out. This appendix gives the audit items raised by the audit team and gives the audit team's understanding of the answers to those aspects. The third column in the table provides the audit team's comments or close out action requirements. Appendix B sets out the documentation received and reviewed as part of the audit process.
This document was developed as the project developed and was used first as a basis for discussing the draft report with Faber Maunsell. A meeting was held at their London offices on 16th November 2005 (David MacKenzie and Neil Adamson - Flint & Neil Partnership; Faber Maunsell - Charles Cocksedge and Beverly Camfield) to review the draft report; to understand the process followed by Faber Maunsell in carrying out the inspection and assessment and to determine how the inspection and assessment was carried out by Faber Maunsell and their New York based sub-consultants, Weidlinger. At the meeting a general discussion took place on the background, inspections, testing and analysis and Faber Maunsell agreed to provide FNP with various documents to illustrate Faber Maunsell's work. A list of documents required for the audit process was agreed and Faber Maunsell was tasked to send this information to FNP. The information was received promptly on 21st November 2005.
Following that meeting it was decided that the most effective and efficient process for the audit would be for Flint & Neill Partnership to audit Faber Maunsell's work and for Ammann & Whitney to audit Weidlinger's work. This makes best use of the audit team's experience and geographical disposition.
Ammann & Whitney met with Weidlinger in New York on Tuesday 22nd November, where they were provided with a copy of the initial cable strength calculations. Ammann & Whitney were also advised that Weidlinger were working on a revised degradation model. Calculations for future cable strength projections and details of individual wire test results were subsequently received by Ammann & Whitney on Wednesday 30th November. Ammann & Whitney met again with Weidlinger on Thursday 8th December to discuss the methodology used in developing the strength calculations and degradation models.
On 24th November, a meeting was held at the bridge and was attended by the Scottish Executive, FETA, Faber Maunsell, Fairhurst and Flint & Neill Partnership. A further presentation was given by Faber Maunsell, and Fairhursts explained their role in calculating the loading in the cable. Following the presentation, additional audit questions were raised and further background data was requested from Faber Maunsell; this was received within a few days.
When all the responses had been studied by both Flint & Neill Partnership and Ammann & Whitney, a further set of questions was put to Faber Maunsell who together with Weidlinger, promptly provided answers.
A final series of questions was sent to Faber Maunsell on 12th December and a response received on 15th December. Following the production of a draft report, a meeting was held on 5th January 2006 with the Scottish Executive, Faber Maunsell, FETA and Flint & Neill Partnership to review the report and to address any outstanding matters. Additional feedback was received in written form from Weidlinger which has been incorporated into this final report, either in the audit trail document or as a series of footnotes to this document, cross referenced to Appendix D.
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