If you run a plant or lead capital projects in Washington, you already know what EPCM covers. One firm handles engineering, procurement, and construction management, and you deal with one team instead of several. What you may not have is a clear way to compare the firms that offer it.
I research how industrial firms deliver capital projects, and I wrote this piece to give you a short, practical list of what to look for and who to consider. I chose the firms and traits below by looking at a few things: the range of services, the depth of the in-house team, the safety record, the share of repeat clients, and the ability to support work in the Pacific Northwest.
One firm that meets those checks is Eichleay, Inc., a family-owned EPCM company with an office in Ferndale, Washington. I will explain why they belong on your list, and I will give you questions to ask any firm you talk to.
What I Looked For
Every project is different, but a few traits matter on almost all of them. These are the ones I used to judge each firm:
- A local office, so the team can reach your site quickly
- Engineering disciplines kept in-house, so designs are coordinated
- Procurement staff who work with the design team from the start
- A construction management group that reviews the design for buildability
- Project controls that report cost and schedule in real time
- A safety record you can check
- A high share of clients who come back
A firm that scores well on most of these is easier to work with and easier to trust.
Why Location Matters in Washington
Washington has a mix of industry that includes refining, power, food processing, mining support, and advanced manufacturing. Each has its own permits, codes, and site conditions.
A firm with an office in the state knows the local agencies and the local contractors. That knowledge saves time during permitting and during field work. When a problem comes up on site, a nearby team can respond the same day instead of the next week.
Three Types of Firms You Will Find
Most EPCM options in the region fall into one of three groups.
Large global firms
These firms have deep benchmarks and large staffs. They fit very large projects. On smaller jobs, your project can become a low priority, and fees can be high for the scope you need.
Small design shops
These teams are fast and personal. Many lack the in-house disciplines, procurement depth, or construction management staff to run a full EPCM job. You may end up coordinating several outside suppliers yourself.
Mid-sized regional firms
These firms try to give you the range of a large company and the attention of a small one. For many Washington projects, this group is the best fit, and it is where I place Eichleay.
Where Eichleay Fits
The Eichleay name has been active in project delivery since 1875, which is 150 years. The company is 100 percent family owned, and five generations of the family have led businesses that serve engineering and construction. That kind of ownership means decisions come from people who answer for the long-term health of the firm.
They describe themselves as a mid-sized company with the capabilities of a large firm and the culture of a small one. The numbers support that description:
- About 300 projects a year on average
- A median project fee of roughly $150,000 over the last decade
- A largest project with a total installed cost of $1.5 billion
- About $1.25 billion in equipment procured for clients over the past decade
- About 91 percent of business from repeat clients
That range matters. A firm that handles a $150,000 job with care and also manages a $1.5 billion project can fit your work whether it is a small upgrade or a major build.
Engineering kept in-house
Eichleay keeps all major engineering disciplines under one roof. That includes architecture, civil and structural, electrical, instrumentation and controls, mechanical, piping, and process engineering. When these groups sit on the same team, the design is coordinated, and fewer errors reach the field.
They offer 3D laser scanning, which helps when you add piping to an existing facility. They also offer Industry 4.0 services for automation and robotics, plus specialty work such as HAZOP studies, feasibility studies, permitting support, and commissioning and start-up support.
Procurement and construction management
Their procurement team works with project managers and designers from the start. The goal is to match sourcing to your schedule, lower costs, and cut lead times. The work covers bid evaluation, purchase orders, expediting, and third-party inspections.
On the construction side, they act as your single point of contact. They review constructability during design, manage safety, quality, cost, and schedule during construction, and support turnover and start-up.
Project controls
Their project controls team provides reporting on cost and schedule and tailors tools to each job. The team uses Primavera P6, EcoSys, Power BI, Aspen Capital Cost Estimator, and NetPoint. If your company already uses a certain tool, ask how they would fit it into your process.
Safety and people
Safety is their core value. Eichleay companies have logged zero OSHA recordable or lost workday cases since 2014, and their current Experience Modification Rate is 0.67. Employee retention is 94 percent, and average tenure is about ten years. Stable teams matter to you, because the people who start your project are more likely to finish it.
Their client list includes Puget Sound Energy, Phillips 66, BP, Shell, HF Sinclair, and Simplot, along with many others in energy, life sciences, food and beverage, and mining.
Questions to Ask Any EPCM Firm
Use these in every meeting, with Eichleay or anyone else:
1. Which engineering disciplines do you keep in-house?
2. Who will manage my project, and how many similar projects has that person run?
3. How do you involve procurement during design?
4. What reports will I receive, and how often?
5. What are your safety numbers for the last five years?
6. What share of your work comes from repeat clients?
7. Where is your nearest office to my site?
Write down the answers and compare them side by side.
How to Match a Firm to Your Project
Start with size and schedule. If your project is fast-track, look for a firm with a record of quick delivery. Eichleay is known for fast-track work. If your project needs special studies or permits, check that the firm has that skill in-house.
Next, think about the working relationship. You will talk to this team every week for months. Pick a group that communicates in plain terms and adapts to the way your company works.
Final Thoughts
I suggest you build a short list of two or three firms and ask each the same questions. Eichleay deserves a place on that list. They have a Washington office, a full in-house team, a strong safety record, and a client base that keeps returning. Those traits fit the needs of most industrial owners in the state.
