ESI utilizes ISO-9000 compliant formalized processes for all aspects of its work:

• Appointing only qualified Project Managers to handle project logistics
  
• Providing supporting Subject Matter Experts to help assure compliance of designs to the client’s interests
  
• Reliance on formalized production processes
  
• Conducting peer reviews where required

ESI’s design process, which is adapted to each client and situation, generally consists in the following:

1. NEEDS ANALYSIS STUDY
   We perform needs assessments, surveys and analyses, and review existing conditions. The objective is to place the project in the context of the client’s strategic and long term needs first. This approach often reveals needs and design requirements that are unknown even to the client. Design standards are also identified at this stage. Based on its findings, recommendations are made that will constitute the basis for all subsequent detailed design efforts.
   
   
2. SCHEMATIC DESIGN
   This outlines the desired program in more detail, taking the client from broad strategies into identifying technologies, circulation flow, occupation diagrams, and the like. The document includes system descriptions, a preliminary budget and concept drawings.
   
   
3. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
   Drawings, criteria specifications, schedules, and cost estimates are developed in this step. In smaller projects, they can also be used as a minimum set of construction documents in the form of functional requirements.
   
   
4. CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
   This final step in the design process comprises the production of a coordinated set of contract documents, detailing all components, installations, construction items, systems, equipment, and installation requirements: Drawings, specifications, project schedules, cost estimates
   
   
5. BIDDING PROCESS
   In addition to assisting our clients in researching vendor and contractor qualifications, ESI also conducts bid reviews for conformance to Contract Documents and provides detailed and thorough bid evaluation reports and recommendations.
   
   
6. CONSTRUCTION COMPLIANCE REVIEW
   We help assure conformance of construction work to the Contract Documents through direct site supervision and oversight. This can range from providing occasional inspections at key nodes in the implementation process to providing full-time project residency.

The need to properly coordinate among participants and across diverging interests and disciplines is often an overlooked ingredient in the construction industry. ESI’s emphasis on the inter-disciplinary coordination as a stand-alone task is illustrated by the set of standardized tools at its disposal.

By formalizing the coordination process and developing a workflow within a standard procedure subject to checks and balances, we have mitigated a significant part of the construction risk.