The Hidden Costs of Overlooking QA in Rolling Stock Procurement
In the world of public transit, procurement decisions often hinge on timelines, budgets, and vendor capabilities. But there’s one area that is frequently undervalued—until it’s too late: quality assurance (QA). Public transit agencies are constantly balancing budgets, timelines, and technical specifications when procuring new rolling stock. But one critical component that’s too often underestimated—until it’s too late—is independent quality assurance (QA).
At Railcar Quality Services, Inc., we’ve spent over 30 years in the field, working shoulder-to-shoulder with manufacturers and agencies to ensure every vehicle delivered meets the highest possible standard. We’ve seen what happens when QA is overlooked—and it’s rarely pretty. Our team has been embedded on the factory floors of major railcar manufacturers, inspecting and overseeing vehicle production across the country. And in that time, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when QA is deprioritized or delayed. Spoiler alert: the consequences are rarely immediate, but always expensive.
What Happens When QA Comes Too Late (or Not at All)?
Many agencies assume quality control begins and ends with the manufacturer. In reality, objective third-party QA is your safety net—catching issues that internal teams may miss, overlook, or be incentivized to rush past.
Without experienced QA oversight, agencies often face:
Rework and re-delivery costs due to missed weld issues, component misalignments, or noncompliance with technical specs.
Warranty disputes over unclear failure origins or undocumented production errors.
Delays in vehicle acceptance, slowing service expansions and causing reputational damage.
Safety risks that expose agencies to public scrutiny—or worse, litigation.
The “Hidden” Price Tag of Skipping QA
On paper, it might seem like skipping third-party QA saves money. But here’s what’s often left out of the RFP budget model:
Delayed service launch = lost fare revenue + frustrated stakeholders
Extra inspections and corrective actions = labor and travel costs
Unplanned maintenance post-delivery = costly downtime and service interruptions
Loss of public trust = harder-to-measure, but incredibly costly over time
The true cost of poor QA isn't just financial—it's operational, reputational, and cumulative. Perhaps most concerning: once these issues surface, they’re almost always harder (and more expensive) to fix than if they’d been addressed at the point of manufacture.
Proactive QA = Long-Term Value
Investing in a seasoned QA team early in the procurement process ensures that every stage—from welding and assembly to final testing—is held to the highest standard. At RQS, our on-site inspectors are certified professionals who serve as your eyes, ears, and advocates at the manufacturer’s facility.
We don’t just inspect—we help you document compliance, de-risk delivery, and preserve your capital investment.
RQS deploys veteran, certified QA professionals directly to your manufacturer’s site—serving as your objective representatives during production, testing, and delivery.
We support agencies with:
Welding and quality inspections
Factory audits and vendor surveillance
FTA Buy America compliance reviews
Documentation and milestone reporting
Our role is simple: help you catch issues before they cost you.
Don’t Let Quality Be an Afterthought
Your fleet is only as reliable as the standards it’s built to. Agencies that embed QA from day one don’t just avoid disasters—they build safer, longer-lasting, and more cost-effective transit systems.
Transit infrastructure is one of the most important investments a city can make. Don’t let that investment suffer from overlooked welds, missed specs, or unchecked vendor promises.
Ready to rethink how your agency approaches quality assurance? Contact Railcar Quality Services, Inc. today to learn how we can support your next procurement.
