API Spec Q2: Are your Contingency Plans Updated?

As a member of a thriving, successful company, it’s logical to assume you have a proactive plan prepared for emergencies or unexpected events. It’s also reasonable to assume that you have proper documentation to ensure that your team knows what to do when the unexpected happens.

API Spec Q2 issues the directive that in order to remain in compliance with the standard, service organizations must have a contingency plan in place and must have the procedure expressly documented for this purpose. The standard also states, “The procedure shall include incident and disruption prevention and mitigation measures.” So your plan must be pre-emptive and include modified processes to implement when the need arises.

Have you tested your alternate plans to ensure they’re realistic? Do the members of your organization know about the plan? The standard requires that they do as well as your suppliers and customers.

Behind every standard is a logical, practical reason for its existence. The common elements are safety, productivity, and efficiency. So, when you drill it down to those terms, why wouldn’t you want to be in compliance? Having an up-to-date contingency planning in place—and making sure everyone knows about it— is a win/win business practice for you, your team, suppliers, and customers.

Managing these contingency plans is just as important as developing them. The best way to manage these plans is to store them within a reliable and accessible system. Accupoint offers solutions that allow you to effectively manage your important documents and retrieve them on a moment’s notice. 

Remember, the one certainty we can count on is change, Are you ready?

 For more information on how Accupoint’s solutions can help you manage your contingency plans, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us at (800) 563-6250.