The asphalt paving process: plans for action research

Recent significant changes in public sector procurement in the Netherlands are forcing road construction companies to professionalize one of their primary processes: on-site asphalt paving. This paper describes an initiative aimed at improving quality in the process. A literature review confirmed that research into the asphalt paving process seems to be in a state of infancy. Interviews with on-site plant operators confirmed that operational choices in the asphalt paving process depend heavily on craftsmanship and that the work methods and equipment are mainly selected on the basis of tradition and custom. Also, the operators were reluctant to use new (available) technologies. Since improving the paving process requires integrating new technologies with the learning of new work methods, this paper proposes an action research strategy. Such an approach involves operators and researchers in addressing the apparent mismatch between current technology development, work methods and the operators ' (tacit) operational strategies. 1