QUALITY CONTROL

PSM is a firm of specialists, which recognises that quality people produce quality work. Our internal procedures are established such that no document containing factual information or designs or design recommendations is issued without review and signature by one of the nine Principals.

Factual information produced by the Company usually takes the following forms:

  • engineering geological maps, plans and sections produced by professional geologists or geotechnical engineers and reviewed by a Principal,
  • logs of boreholes and test pits, which are produced only by professional geologists or geotechnical engineers and are reviewed by a Principal,
  • laboratory test results, which are obtained from NATA registered laboratories on samples submitted using an appropriate Chain of Custody system,
  • results of computer analyses using commercially available software with a substantial track record in Australia and overseas,
  • results of scientific and engineering calculations using well established and accepted formulae.

Normally the most important information produced by PSM is "expert opinion" in the form of designs or design recommendations. Usually Codes of Practice or Australian Standards covers little or none of the work carried out by PSM. The work is based on professional skills in geology, soil mechanics, rock mechanics, hydrology and hydrogeology. Its quality depends on professional skill not the ability to follow a recipe.

Systems are in place, which cover the documentation and retrieval of factual information, computer analyses, drawings and documentation. These are available for inspection by Clients at any time.

PSM's Quality System is presently being established for third party accreditation in terms of ISO9001-2000 with the latest having been issued in April 2008.