​The current Covid 19 pandemic reminds us employees, operations, supply chains and customer relations can all be affected by unplanned disruptions.  That is why every business needs a plan to meet potential interruptions with clarity, confidence and calm.

​​That being said, the development of a set of comprehensive contingency plans comes in handy.  A good contingency plan will identify likely disruptions and identify develop action items designed to minimize the impact on operational performance.

To that end, we have detailed 8 steps for effective contingency planning:
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1. Start by setting up a committee and chose a lead.  The leader will provide the skills, tools and direction so that each department can develop its own plans.  Contingency planning is a big task, so involve the appropriate number of people to maximize input.
2. Record the business processes for each department.
3. Identify issues (real and potential) that can negatively impact business operations.
4. Review the issues list with department managers and rank contingency priority to help focus plan development.
5. Create plans to address each prioritized issue.  Try to minimize the number of steps required to resume operations.
6. Test your contingency plans. If a portion of the plan is flawed or conflicts with other contingency plans, modify and then reassess the plan.
7. Formalize and communicate the plan with applicable personnel within the organization.
8. Finally, make sure to review the plan at pre-determined intervals to insure continued relevance.   This review will help identify areas for improvement.

By following the steps outlined above, you will be well on your way to creating effective contingency plans that chart realistic tactics and achievable goals in addressing potential operational disruptions.

To learn more about how Accupoint can help streamline your contingency planning, please contact us today.
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Stay safe and healthy!

​New technology continues to overwhelm and amaze us as faster and smaller devices with specific software continue to make a major difference in how we live our lives and conduct our work. 

Here are two helpful reminders when considering purchasing and installing new technology. First, the education and training of the workforce is just as important as the equipment itself. New technology touted to save your staff time and energy cannot work if the staff doesn't fully understand how to use it. Training and support are required. Be sure to factor into any purchase decision the ability for users to ask questions and then be willing to consistently evaluate if the software is working as it was intended.
 
The second consideration is a focus on mobile technology. The benefits of mobile computing are numerous and include: data capture in the field, ease of collaboration from multiple locations, and better decision making. This in turn improves efficiency, communication and profitability.  Many organizations understand these benefits, but are not fully embracing it in their day to day operations. 
 
For more information on Accupoint's mobile solutions and our ability to empower employees and increase productivity in the manufacturing, energy and service industries, please contact us today.

Maintaining a management system that is effective, satisfactory and suitable is a requirement of the API Spec Q2 standard. In fact, section 6.5 states:

To that end, we thought we would discuss a couple of items to help streamline your Management Review planning.
 
When to Have a Review:
The standard requires that you review your system annually, at a minimum. However, best practice dictates that you schedule your reviews more often, say quarterly and focus on specific aspects during each session. Ultimately, this makes the process easier to manage and avoids duplication of efforts.
 
What to Include:
When you are setting up your Management Review agenda, make sure to compile data for use in the discussion.  Include internal and third party audit results, customer complaints, non-conformities and corrective action requests.  Develop a schedule that allows you to review each aspect of the management system by the anniversary date.  Be sure to allow for a discussion period, to address areas for improvement as well as ways that the system should be monitored.
 
Upon completion, prepare action plans to address required changes to processes, resources, and other items identified in the review.
 
Documentation:
Per the standard, the results of the Management Review must be documented and maintained.  In addition, top management must review and approve the summary assessment.  Results should be communicated with appropriate individuals throughout the organization.  Finally, the results should be used to drive continual improvement efforts within the organization.
 
To find out how Accupoint can help streamline your Management Review processes, please call toll free 800.563.6250 or visit us at accupointsoftware.com.

Managing field service contracts had never been easier with the arrival of Propel Field Service Management (FSM) solution from Accupoint Software.

Propel allows real time monitoring and management of all rig service work and corporate service contracts from a single interface.  Propel manages all contract pricing and issues and tracks work orders, as well as, completion status.

When a technician arrives on site, Propel can handle site inductions and pre-work site safety checklists.  Propel logs contractor time on site, tracks technician’s movements and provides real time location fixing, which is essential in case of emergency.
 
Propel is also a powerful audit tool and reporting platform.  It will accommodate any form of audit, inspections, surveys and checklists and any scoring or rating system.  All inspections are GPS located and photos can be attached easily.  Rectification of hazards and sub-standard work can be tracked using Propel’s Inspection Workflow system.

Realtime data visibility is enhanced with unlimited custom dashboards that enable managers and employees immediate access to the current status of the work being performed and outcomes relative to their responsibilities.  The  Propel dashboard streamlines contract reporting with auto assembly of real time or set period data in multiple graphical and tabular formats with the ability to add text and tables of contents.  Reports can be published to the Dashboard, viewed online or printed and emailed from within the application.

The Propel Messaging center handles and tracks all contract communications.  Emails generated by Propel users will appear in both Propel and email client app and all responses are automatically logged.  Users can open, close and track email trails and Propel keeps a permanent record of communications, even if deleted off of the email client server.

The Propel FSM System will change the way that contracts are managed and provides an end-to-end total service solution for oil and gas industry.   For more information, or to arrange a no-obligation demonstration contact us today. 

Procedure management is extremely important in any business. Procedures help direct employees on the how and why of task completion.  In addition, they can provide evidence that an organization is compliant with legal regulations and contractual requirements. For this reason, having a proper procedure management system is a must for all businesses.

When it comes to procedures, there are a few things that auditors will look for first. For example, auditors will verify that a procedure was put through the proper approval process. Also, auditors will look to see if a system is in place to objectively review the procedure. In order for businesses to answer these questions, proper documentation must be gathered.

One of the most difficult things about procedure management is keeping track of documentation. Since there are many ways that employees correspond with one another, there are many documents that may surface in the process of developing and maintaining a procedure.

For example, while email correspondence may be available for one procedure, physical or paper documents may be available for another. Because of this, many companies choose to rely on QMS software to keep track of all the documents related to the procedure management process. The use of an integrated document management system streamlines the corresponding auditing process.

Web-based software applications have the added benefit of providing the ability and store procedures in a convenient location. This streamlines the audit process and ensures that procedures are accessible to team members during operations.

To learn more about Accupoint Software’s comprehensive procedures management solution, please contact us to arrange a platform demonstration.