The Four Cornerstones of Risk Management: Quality Assurance/Quality Control-The Four Cornerstones of Risk Management Quality AssuranceQuality Control Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this comprehensive online session, Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management at Willis Towers Watson A&E, explores quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) within architectural and engineering (A&E) risk management. Drawing on 25 years of experience, Mark presents QA/QC as one of four key pillars in managing professional risk, alongside client selection, contract negotiation, and construction contract administration.<br /><br />Mark emphasizes documenting the basis of design as fundamental to QA/QC, highlighting challenges posed by climate change and the increasing severity of weather risks. He underscores the importance of clear project objectives, thorough data review, and direct client engagement—especially vital in design-build settings where risk is heightened. Engaging constructability reviews early, involving experienced professionals and contractors, is advocated to reduce design errors, avoid costly change orders, and improve project integration.<br /><br />Peer review, project guidelines, continuing education, and robust information management are core QA/QC components. Mark notes that the most profitable firms invest substantially in training and maintain institutional knowledge for improved outcomes. He warns against inconsistently following written QA/QC plans, stresses maintaining comprehensive, organized documentation—including formal meeting minutes and correspondence—and advises caution with retaining redline documents due to potential legal exposure.<br /><br />Addressing common causes of change orders, Mark points to specification inconsistencies, coordination challenges, communication breakdowns, and incomplete designs. He advocates standardized change order forms and rigorous change management protocols to safeguard against unmanaged scope and cost changes.<br /><br />Importantly, Mark highlights that managing client expectations through clear communication and documented informed consent reduces claims related to unmet expectations. He concludes with a real-world case illustrating that undocumented verbal warnings can undermine defense in claims, reinforcing that thorough, consistent documentation is the best protection and foundation for successful risk management in A&E projects.

Keywords

Quality Assurance

Quality Control

Architectural Risk Management

Engineering Risk Management

Design-Build Risk

Constructability Review

Change Orders

Client Expectations

Documentation Practices

Professional Risk Management