Lindsay Kaufmann, P.E. Design-Build Project Manager
Julie Thurman, P.E., DBIA, Design Quality Manager
At Michael Baker International, our philosophy is simple: deliver quality from the very start. For every project, that means anticipating challenges early and addressing them before they become costly setbacks. It’s about being proactive, thoughtful and intentional at every step so we can deliver results that stand the test of time.
From company-wide strategies to detailed design practices, every phase of our process is built around one goal: making quality the cornerstone of everything we do.
At the Company Level
For our team, quality is a company-wide commitment, and our quality management approach ensures that both the final product and the overall project meet the highest standards of excellence and client satisfaction. In fact, a core component of The Michael Baker Way is quality management, a comprehensive process that ensures client satisfaction and project excellence. It involves three key components: quality planning, quality assurance and quality control.
Here’s how we make it happen at the company level:
- Assemble the right team: Having the right team in place makes a big difference. We’re fortunate to work with people who bring deep expertise and a strong focus on quality. Assembling the best team isn’t just about credentials; it’s about understanding the project’s unique needs and matching them with the right mix of disciplines, perspectives and leadership.
- Take a cross-disciple view of quality: Our approach begins at the discipline level, where every detail is carefully reviewed. From there, we take a broader view, looking across disciplines and assessing constructability. It’s easy for teams to get caught up in their own scope, but even small changes can have a ripple effect. That’s why we take the time to look at the full picture and make sure nothing is missed.
- Capitalize on key learnings: We’ve learned a lot from solving complex infrastructure challenges for more than 85 years, and we’re applying those lessons to our other projects, adapting best practices to strengthen our work across the board.
Pre-Design Phase
The pre-design phase is where we set expectations, align on vision and uncover the details that will shape the entire project. During this phase, these steps ensure we’re prepared to deliver a design that meets quality goals and exceeds client expectations.
- Set expectations: Before a project’s design takes shape, we begin by asking the big questions like “What do stakeholders truly need?” and “Are we all aligned on the vision?” These discussions ensure that we’re designing a project that meets expectations, avoids costly missteps and delivers lasting value.
- Communicate early and often: In the early days of a project, communication is key—it sets the tone for everything that follows. As the project progresses, regular updates ensure that our team, the client and our partners stay on the same page, enabling quick problem-solving and ensuring transparency.
- Understand the project’s content: We use proven tools to gather requirements and dive into site analysis, looking at environmental, regulatory and logistical factors that could shape the project. These steps help us understand the full context before design begins and allow our team to make informed decisions and build a design strategy that’s realistic and aligned with quality goals from the start.
- Identify Risk Early: Risk management begins long before the first design takes shape. In the pre-design phase, we take time to identify potential risks by listing out assumptions and planning for contingencies—whether related to cost, schedule, or design. This proactive approach sets the foundation for smoother execution and minimizes surprises later in the project, ensuring we stay on track and deliver with confidence.
Notably, in Design-Build projects, the design phase is where we lay the foundation for quality. During this stage, we create a comprehensive quality manual that includes both a design quality management plan and a project-specific plan. This framework keeps quality front and center from day one, guiding every decision and ensuring consistency throughout the project.
Design Phase:
As we move into design, our goal is clear: create solutions that deliver lasting impact. Here’s how we make it happen:
- Engage in Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaboration is the backbone of successful design. We bring together disciplines to share ideas early and often, oftentimes resolving potential conflicts before they become costly issues. This ongoing communication between teams leads to smarter decisions and stronger outcomes.
- Adhere to Design Standards and Quality Controls: Consistency matters. Unless defined in the project contract, our team uses established benchmarks, industry codes and internal standards to keep designs aligned with best practices. We also engage in peer reviews to add an extra layer of assurance, catching errors and improving precision before plans move forward.
- Embrace Technology-Driven Design: Modern tools make precision possible. BIM (Building Information Modeling), digital twins and simulation platforms allows us to visualize, test and refine designs in real time. We can also push updates to any plans to our clients and partners within moments, ensuring that the entire team is working off of the most up-to-date plans.
- Provide Detailed Checking: Detailed checks in structural design are critical because even small errors—like a wrong formula or unit—can lead to major issues during design and construction. To prevent costly rework, every calculation and drawing is reviewed by a designated quality control engineer.
Quality doesn’t stop when the design is complete—it carries through construction and beyond. Post-design and throughout the construction phase, our focus shifts to partnering with our client and the contractor to ensure that every detail in the plans is executed as intended
For us, quality isn’t just a process, it’s a promise. We believe that every project deserves the highest level of care, precision, and collaboration. From planning to execution, we’re committed to delivering solutions that stand the test of time and exceed client expectations.
