A quality assurance program will help staff follow the policies and procedures in pursuit of the quality standard. Effective communication and training rely on having a quality assurance program which can change and have direct input into improving the staff's abilities. In the case of CO production, we want to make sure that we have found the true cause of the problem and that we have corrected the CO problem as inexpensively as possible. We do not necessarily need to inspect the unit to determine if the problem was properly diagnosed. Systems should be in place to determine if staff understand the process and a training component should be available to improve abilities.
Focused evaluation makes sure that the program intended to be delivered is really in place.
Many programs adopt standards that do not relate to their building stock, climate, or staff's ability. A good evaluation will show the strengths and weaknesses in the system. Rob deKieffer is executive director of Sun Power Incorporated in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.