What is involved in the document approval process?

It depends. Oil and energy companies go about formalizing and approving documents in many ways. It could be as easy as defining the steps and processes that need to be completed. Typically, that is the initial step in most programs, and with automation software, that aspect can be more efficient and streamlined, enabling document approval to be implemented and communicated in a timely fashion.

A document normally goes through a series of approval steps, all of which can benefit from automation. The first step of this process is the document’s submission for approval. Next, people will be assigned to review the document for completeness and determine if it meets the standard for approval.
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Each person assigned to the approval process must assigned an applicable permission level, and timeframes should be utilized to guarantee that the process moves forward in an expedited fashion.

How to design, create and streamline the document approval process

When designing your document approval process, there are a number of paths you could take based on internal variables. Thus, you will want to consider the following items to create and optimize your document approval process:

1. Request submission - Pick how people can submit their work. That could be through email or an online submission portal. After a document is submitted, what are the next steps?
2. Define approval steps - Determine the steps needed within the approval process. If you have too many, that could cause delays. Having too few means, you may miss important oversight. Also, define the criteria needed to move on to the next steps.
3. Identify approvers - With an approval process, you must grant permission for approvers at every level.
4. Evaluate editors - Who has permission to edit the information if changes are required? The editor plays a key role in the approval process, whether manually or within an automated system.
5. Automated approvals or rejections - Finally, you can set up parameters by which submissions or documents are automatically rejected or approved to maximize efficiency and time.

Final thoughts
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Document approval is an integral part of an effective document management program. While it is an important process, it can be tedious and time-consuming. With an integrated QMS software like Accupoint, you will get a simple-to-use, intuitive system that combines the latest cloud technology and industry best practice to guarantee that your document control process meets or exceeds the requirements of international compliance standards such as API Spec Q1, API Spec Q2 or ISO 9001.

Contact us today to learn today how Accupoint can help streamline your document approval process.

Benefits of Adopting ISO 29001:2020
As an internationally recognized standard, ISO 29001 sets out the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an organization's quality management system.
 
Compliance with New Laws Governing Oil and Gas​
The oil and gas industry has undergone a dramatic change in recent years. With the rise of fracking, there is a huge amount of new business in the industry. At the same time, environmental awareness has risen dramatically, and new laws such as the EPA's Clean Power Plan, PSM, and HIPAA have been passed to help businesses comply with these changes.
 
ISO 29001 is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate the unique needs of an organization in the oil and gas industry, but it is also recognized by regulators, investors, and other stakeholders throughout the world. It provides a way for you to demonstrate your commitment to continuously improving your business processes -- from new construction projects, drilling operations, pipeline maintenance, right through to decommissioning sites -- while reducing costs and risks.
 
Improved Safety and Integrity
ISO 29001 is designed to help you protect sensitive data and maintain the integrity of your computer systems. The certification process evaluates how well you implement processes that control access to data and monitor its use.
 
The standard is based on the elements of continual improvement and risk assessment. Thus, an organization using the standard must continually improve its performance in terms of both quality and service delivery. To achieve this, it must identify risks which can hinder this objective and find ways to overcome them by performing a risk assessment before any new process can be initiated.

Learn More About Accupoint's Solution
The ISO 29001 standard provides you with a framework to improve your business processes and put an effective system in place for managing the risks involved with oil and gas operations. To learn more about how Accupoint Software can help you implement the ISO 29001 standard into your workflow or to schedule a platform demonstration, please contact us today.

What services have updated requirements in API Spec Q2?

API sets the standard to which Service and Supply Organizations (SSO) must adhere for best practices and claim API certification. In the API Spec Q2, 2nd edition, those services include:

• Drilling
• Field Production
• Well Closure
• Repair and Maintenance
• Construction
• Abandonment

 
Since the initial Q2 release in 2013, 150 sites have been able to claim API certification. Nearly a decade later, the API Spec Q2 2nd Edition is released, offering an even higher safety and environmental standards for organizations to meet.
 
Those organizations who were Q2-certified from the 1st edition, have six months to comply with the 2nd edition and maintain compliance.

What’s changed from the 1st Edition to API Spec Q2 2nd Edition?

The latest edition of Q2 for SSOs simplifies how it overlaps with the API Spec Q1standard for manufacturers, making it easier for collaborators to meet both specs and improve efficiency.
 
The API Spec Q2, 2nd Edition also updates employee requirements, ensuring workers have the knowledge and skills to safely perform their duties.
 
Finally, the new Q2 works in conjunction with many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, improving the industry's stance on environmental protection.

Begin Your Transition to API Spec Q2, 2nd Edition.

Our integrated SAM™ solution is packed with 43 integrated modules and 55 pre-defined reports that align with the new Q2 standard.. Contact Accupoint today to find out how we can help streamline your transition to API Spec Q2, 2nd Edition.