This week marks exactly ten years since Broekbakema became ISO 9001 certified — the international standard for quality management.
A perfect moment to reflect on something that has now become second nature to us: quality.

Well before 2015, we already had an extensive quality management system, with clear drawing agreements, work processes, and project templates.
The switch to ISO helped us simplify that system down to the essentials: clear, practical, and embraced by the entire team.

For us, ISO 9001 is not an end in itself, but a way of working in which we continuously improve ourselves — in our designs, our collaboration, and our services.
A few examples:

Expectation Management

Good communication is crucial in our work. That’s why we take the time to align properly in advance: what exactly do we mean by certain project phases, and what can we expect from each other?

We ask questions, make agreements concrete, and check whether we understand each other well. This prevents misunderstandings and ensures everyone is working from the same perspective. The result is calm, trust, and better outcomes.

Risks and Opportunities

At the start of every project, we conduct a risk analysis, which we then discuss together. Is the budget clear? Are we talking about investment costs or construction costs? What forces influence this assignment and what might be the consequences?

We also discuss opportunities. Are there ambitions regarding social value, circularity, or nature-inclusive design? And is there budget for that? Often what initially seems impossible turns out to be possible after all.

All of this contributes to sustainable client relationships and helps us make tomorrow a little better every time.

So yes, we’re simply going to keep doing this!