Quality Assurance at S&ME
Quality is built into how we communicate, review, and deliver S&ME services.
Our Commitment to Quality
With 50+ years of consulting at S&ME, quality is integrated into every phase of our work. Our teams combine technical expertise, structured review, and continuous improvement to deliver engineering, environmental, and construction solutions.
1,100+ employees certified and trained in AEC industry best practices.
70+ Senior Reviewers overseeing client deliverables and reports.
Our Approach to Delivering Quality Work
Across markets and service lines, S&ME follows consistent documentation procedures and dependable service delivery. Our quality approach emphasizes:
- Training employees to stay current with technical standards, delivery systems, and best practices
- Improving processes through internal reviews, lessons learned, and continuous feedback
- Maintaining clear communication from proposal through final deliverable
With 30+ years of experience at S&ME, Randy works closely with leaders across the company as Director of Technical Services to strengthen our high-quality services.
“In the AEC industry, quality starts with leadership… aligning teams, technical consistency, and strategic initiatives” shares, Randy Martin PE.
Senior Review Program
To become Senior Reviewers, highly experienced and appropriately endorsed project managers complete a rigorous process that includes technical and loss prevention training, mentoring, portfolio submission, committee review, and debrief.
Each S&ME project has a designated Senior Reviewer and a structured quality review process. Technical reports, proposals, and recommendation-based deliverables are reviewed by at least two qualified professionals to promote accuracy.
12 to 24-month Senior Review certification process for qualified technical professionals.
Complex projects may involve multiple Senior Reviewers when several disciplines or technical areas are involved.
Our Technical Principals have daily engagement with our senior reviewers and project managers.
For largescale projects, a Technical Principal’s review provides an additional layer of quality assurance.
Technical Leadership and Continuous Training
S&ME’s Technical Advisory Committees and Service Line Leaders help our teams stay aligned with evolving standards. These groups support internal continuing education through technical alerts, training curriculum development, and S&ME’s annual Empower Technical Conference.
Service Line Leaders are responsible for optimizing resources within a particular service, ensuring quality and excellence, and supporting both regional and local clients.
What This Means for Clients
- Access to specialized expertise across S&ME’s service lines
- Consistent application of technical standards and internal best practices
- Companywide knowledge sharing that supports local project teams
Field and Laboratory Quality Assurance
S&ME maintains quality systems for field and laboratory services, including equipment calibration, proficiency testing, and accreditation aligned procedures.
Program Elements
- AASHTO and ACI standards: Equipment inventories, calibration procedures, test records, and reporting practices
- Internal audits: Diagnostic review, corrective action, proficiency testing, and onsite inspection programs
- QA training: Technician evaluation, training, and personnel development
- Equipment manuals: Calibration records and procedures for field and laboratory equipment
- Laboratory accreditation: Internal quality control procedures aligned with AASHTO Accreditation Program (AAP) criteria and certifications
Nuclear and Radiation Quality Assurance
S&ME’s Radiation Safety Program prepares personnel responsible for handling, transporting, or using nuclear density gauges and regulated XRF devices. Training includes:
- Nuclear gauge use
- HAZMAT certification
- Operating and emergency procedures
- Proper gauge transport, storage, and utilization tracking
S&ME maintains a NQA-1 compliant Quality Assurance Program which includes:
- Safety-related testing in our laboratories and nuclear environments
- U.S. Department of Energy programs
- Nuclear Procurement Issues Corporation (NUPIC) and Nuclear Industry Assessment Corporation (NIAC) audits
Quality in Action: From Planning Through Construction
From planning through construction, S&ME helps clients navigate complex decisions, permitting requirements, technical documentation, and testing. Hear what clients have to say about our work.
Ned Barrett from Play Advocate Live Well shares, “S&ME has been crucial from pre-design through construction. They’ve done a lot of work with us about permitting and shepherding those permits through federal agencies that are pretty complicated. And during construction they’ve provided third-party testing.”
Partner with a Quality Focused Team
From routine testing to complex, multidisciplinary projects, S&ME’s quality programs help clients make informed engineering decisions.
Quality in Practice: Geosynthetics and Engineering Design
As a thought leader in quality-driven engineering and environmental solutions, S&ME understands that quality assurance and quality controls (QA/QC) play a critical role in the long-term performance of many engineering applications, including waste management systems.
Design Consideration in Waste Management
Geosynthetics and QA/QC work together to maintain reliable landfill performance. The right QA/QC practices:
- Manage risk
- Support regulatory compliance
- Improve containment performance
- Protect soil and water resources
