Inspection & Quality Control Flashcards
7 cards from real AEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Inspection & Quality Control flashcards as text
An AEP quality inspector is reviewing a contractor's As-Built drawings at project closeout. What is the inspector's primary concern?
Answer: That the drawings accurately reflect all field changes and deviations from the original design
As-Built drawings must accurately document all field changes so that future maintenance, operations, and design work reflect the actual installed conditions.
When inspecting the installation of a new circuit breaker in a substation, the torque on bus connection bolts is found to be 20% below the specified value. This should be documented as:
Answer: A non-conformance requiring re-torqueing and re-inspection before the breaker is energized
Under-torqued bus connections have elevated contact resistance, which causes heating, potential failure, and is a clear specification non-conformance that must be corrected.
Which of the following scenarios represents a correct application of quality control during overhead line reconductoring?
Answer: Inspecting conductor condition, sag measurements, and hardware installation in every span before the project is accepted
Quality control on reconductoring requires per-span verification of conductor condition, sag, and hardware to ensure every span meets design and safety standards.
A contractor presents a substitution request to use an alternative manufacturer's insulator that is not on AEP's Approved Materials List (AML). The inspector's role is to:
Answer: Reject installation until the substitution is formally reviewed and approved through AEP's engineering and procurement process
Only materials that have completed AEP's qualification and approval process may be used on AEP facilities; field inspectors do not have authority to approve unlisted substitutions.
What is the purpose of a 'first article inspection' (FAI) when AEP receives a large order of custom manufactured hardware?
Answer: To verify that the first production item meets all specified requirements before mass production or bulk delivery is accepted
A first article inspection verifies that the manufacturer's production process produces items that meet all specifications before accepting a large quantity, preventing bulk non-conformance.
During an inspection of a newly installed ground grid in a substation, which measurement confirms the installation meets AEP's safety requirements?
Answer: Earth resistance measurement that meets or is below the design value specified in the grounding study
Earth resistance measurement is the definitive test of grounding system effectiveness, as it directly measures the system's ability to dissipate fault current safely.
A quality inspector finds that a welder on an AEP project does not have a current qualification certification for the weld procedure being used. What is the correct course of action?
Answer: Stop the welder immediately; all welds made by the unqualified welder must be evaluated and the welder must be properly qualified before continuing
Welding by an unqualified or uncertified welder is a critical quality non-conformance; all suspect welds must be assessed and the welder must achieve proper qualification before any further welding.