Quality Policy: a winning approach to structural design

Quality. How often does this word emerge in a wide range of contexts, used – and at times even overused – to refer to excellence. While in architecture it naturally brings to mind elegance and harmony, in structural engineering logic takes precedence: concepts such as strength, efficiency, precision, and safety come to the fore. And, moreover, the cleanliness and effectiveness of the outcome. Order. The concept of quality suggests an abstract notion that must be so evident as to be recognisable even to those outside the profession; in a corporate context, therefore, it is synonymous with prestige. In today’s fast-paced world, focused solely on excellence and turnover, quality policy risks being trivialised and oversimplified, overlooking the hard work behind the scenes necessary for such an important qualification.

How can the meaning of “quality” be clarified? How is it achieved? Above all, how can it be demonstrated at a corporate level?

Formally and practically, a company’s quality management is ensured through an official certification, obtained exclusively by verifying compliance with established standards. The key reference is the UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standard, recognised and promoted internationally as a benchmark. This guarantees a company’s ability to consistently provide products or services that meet client requirements and enhance client satisfaction through the definition and application of processes. Moreover, to ensure the service itself complies with multiple requirements, it confirms the effective implementation of a continually improving system. In other words: focus on the service recipient, a well-structured internal organisation, and the ability to demonstrate consistency between words and actions—accompanied, of course, by work carried out to the highest standards. This therefore concerns defining and identifying a successful, logical, and, as far as possible, correct modus operandi for an organisation.

ISO 9001 certification for DVS and the other satellite companies of DVArea

This is the case of DVArea, which today proudly boasts certified recognition for every satellite company in its network. While the experience of DVA and DVMep has long been accompanied by ISO 9001 certification, entities such as Bim Factory and DVS have now also achieved this important milestone. It was precisely the process undertaken to certify DVS, the DVArea company specialising in structures, that led to a study and a deeper understanding of the meaning of “quality”.

What DVS has done is formalise the application of a scientific method to rationalise, analyse, and resolve every aspect of each individual process, from those related to the business/management sector to the more operational phases. A thorough analysis that begins with the fundamentals, such as understanding the organisation and its context, and extends to the types of services provided that the client expects, including safety assessments, the various design phases, site supervision and structural testing. Stakeholder requirements are met by effectively combining the professionalism of team members with the application of their expertise through FEM (Finite Element Method) structural analysis, BIM (Building Information Modelling), and parametric optimisation. By contextualising and relating all aspects to both internal and external factors affecting DVS, potential critical issues are assessed: the plan-do-check-act process and the compilation of risk matrices (risk-based thinking) are described, which is only possible following a precise and careful mapping of processes and the interactions between the parties involved. Strategies are then defined for planning actions in relation to risks and growth opportunities, resource allocation, and organisation. The common denominator across all these analyses is the use of measurement and monitoring indicators: everything is brought back to the logic and unmistakable rigour of numbers. Safety lies in numbers, as the Latin proverb “Defendit numerus” states. In view of all the aspects discussed and the requirements to be met, it is clear that the formal process for obtaining quality certification is certainly laborious and demanding, though not impossible. Reviewing the list of documents, spreadsheets, and the branching folders of archives, anyone would be positively impressed by such dedication.

Is this extensive list, as defined by quality standards, sufficient to determine genuine quality?

Although there are few ISO-certified structural design firms in Lombardy, what truly sets DVS apart from them?

At this point, an often underestimated element comes into play—perhaps the most important: the human component. Quality means understanding that a company is made up of the people who work within it, their balance, their skills, and their effective approaches to overcoming challenges. Quality is the balanced richness of the group, made possible by valuing each of its members. Quality becomes teamwork, sharing of expertise, respect and self-reflection, mutual support in navigating together towards a common vision – after all, DVS is part of DVArea, and as such shares its values, goals, and vision, developing and adapting them within its own context and as needed. Finally, quality in the workplace means trust between all parties involved, both between clients and the company, and among every member of the team. These are the values that distinguish the know-how of a successful company from another that may be formally identical, truly making a team and its work top-notch, and making all the difference. This is the true objective that DVS seeks to achieve.