1. Plan, Do, Check, Act
The Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle is a widely-used method for achieving continual improvement of quality management systems. The PDCA cycle consists of four steps; Plan, where organizations establish clear goals and objectives for their QMS; Do, where the organization implements the plan; Check, where the organization reviews and evaluates the QMS; and Act, where the organization implements corrective and preventative actions to improve the QMS. By continuously repeating the PDCA cycle, organizations can identify and address issues with their QMS, and continuously improve it in order to meet customer needs and achieve organizational goals. 2. Six Sigma Six Sigma is a methodology that can be used to achieve continual improvement of quality management systems. Six Sigma is a data-driven approach that focuses on identifying and eliminating defects in processes in order to achieve near-perfect quality. Six Sigma uses a variety of tools and techniques, such as statistical process control and process mapping to identify and eliminate sources of variation in processes. By implementing Six Sigma, organizations can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their processes and ultimately improve customer satisfaction and achieve organizational goals. 3. Lean Lean is a practice that focuses on eliminating waste and improving efficiency in processes. Lean uses a variety of tools and techniques, such as value stream mapping to identify and eliminate sources of waste in processes. By implementing Lean, organizations can reduce costs, improve quality and increase customer satisfaction. Lean also encourages teams to continuously identify and eliminate waste in their processes. Lean Six Sigma is a combination of both Lean and Six Sigma which can provide more comprehensive improvement in a business process. 4. Total Quality Management TQM is a management approach that involves all employees in continuously improving the processes and systems that produce goods and services. TQM focuses on customer satisfaction, employee involvement, and continuous improvement. One of the key principles of TQM is that quality is everyone’s responsibility, which means that all employees should be involved in the quality management system and continuously work towards improving it. TQM also emphasizes the use of data and facts to guide decision making and problem solving. TQM provides a comprehensive approach that covers all aspects of the business and requires regular review, evaluations, and improvement to ensure it is keeping up with the changing needs of the business. To learn more about how Accupoint Software can help with your continual improvement activities, please contact us today to arrange for a discovery session. Per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), every business must keep records and safety information about the chemicals they use. These records, called Material Safety Data sheets (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheets (SDS) list many types of information about the chemicals, including toxicology, ecological information, and fire-fighting measures. As part of the petroleum industry, properly organizing and managing your MSDS is important for many reasons.
To Comply with OSHA OSHA requires efficient management and organization of MSDS. If OSHA decides to perform an audit, they will check to see if you have MSDS readily available, along with other important safety documentation. Each chemical used in your facility must have an MSDS and a corresponding label on the chemical container to comply. Many Types of Chemicals The petroleum industry uses many types of chemicals in oil refineries, especially gasoline, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, and other types of fuels. These chemicals can be dangerous if proper safety procedures are not known. The MSDS for each chemical will list this information so it is readily available to all employees. Efficient management of MSDS is crucial because there are so many types of chemicals used in the petroleum industry. For the Safety of Your Employees One of the main reasons OSHA requires MSDS is in case of emergency. If there is an accident and a chemical gets into an employee's eye, another employee can look up the MSDS and find out how to treat the affected employee. Another example of an emergency situation is a fire. If a chemical fire breaks out, it is important for employees to know how to fight the fire or alert firefighters about the chemical. Having readily available and organized MSDS is imperative in these situations. Contact us today to find out how Accupoint Software can help you organize the management of your MSDS program. Happy New Year. Companies relying on the traditional spreadsheet to manage their QMS often find it to be overwhelming to manage as the data volume continues to grow. Those using spreadsheets have to contend with issues like how best to collaborate when working within the same sheet or how to maintain data integrity. Integrated quality management software can be advantageous for organizations that want to save time and improve productivity when managing data.
Barriers with the traditional spreadsheet Traditional spreadsheets can be challenging to keep updated. Different individuals working on the same spreadsheet can lead to versioning issues where it’s difficult to keep track of the most current file. Collaboration within a spreadsheet is also limited. Comments can be hidden or mistakenly overlooked due to the very layout of the spreadsheet. Working within multiple spreadsheets can lead to difficulty when reconciling data. One version may have been edited with the current information, while a team member works concurrently on a different file at the same time, making updates to a different item. It can be challenging to reconcile the two versions. Integrated quality management software makes for a good alternative to the long and often cumbersome spreadsheet. Top advantages of a quality management software solution Millions of companies are utilizing integrated quality management solutions to answer the need for a better way to manage data and information. Both management and team members alike recognize the value in being able to better manage large volumes of data in order to improve their information flow. Adopting Integrated Quality Management Software Accupoint’s quality management solutions can automate your program updates based on parameters set. This means that you don’t have to worry about changing and overhauling your system because the solution evolves as your business needs do.
Cutting costs with accurate real-time data and improved collaboration are the most common reasons for making the switch to an integrated quality management software solution. Better reporting, collaboration, data integrity, and automated program updates become possible with the right solution in place. Excel spreadsheets can serve a purpose for a specified amount of time; when data is limited in volume. As the amount of data grows, management must be prepared to evaluate an integrated quality management system if they are to remain productive. For more information on Accupoint solutions or to schedule a platform demonstration, please call us toll-free 800.563.6250 or visit us at www.accupointsoftware.com Visitors to public buildings pose a substantial security risk. This affects the oil & gas industry as much as any federal facility. A smart company can reduce that risk, however, by managing its visitors.
Some visitor management systems are "low-tech"; that is, the person signs her name, the time she enters the building, what office/employee she will visit, and signs out when leaving the building - all done using pen and paper. The most successful visitor management relies on computerized systems to confirm visitor identity, conduct background checks, confirm security clearances and otherwise obtain information with regard to the person that may affect his or her ability to visit or that impacts the company. To be successful, a visitor management system should combine security checks with access control. The low-tech method used keys, key cards, and badges to limit access to sensitive areas. Comprehensive visitor management systems now use smart software technology and web-based programs able to document a visitor's whereabouts in the building and track building usage by specific visitors. Some include registration through a portal before the visit. This technique helps the business check the identity and security clearance to fast-track the visitor when he arrives. The visitor management process begins several days before the actual visit and isn't completed until after the visit is over and all information analyzed. For more information on how Accupoint’s solutions can help you manage your visitor management process, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us at (800) 563-6250. We always appreciate the opportunity to share information on systems that can help your business become more efficient and positioned to meet global business standards. Manufacturing today has come a long way in ensuring quality product is going out to their customers. Both manufacturers and service supply organizations are expected to maintain high quality standards. This is especially true in the petroleum and natural gas industries. By implementing our up to date compliance solutions, one can be assured of attaining and maintaining this goal. Whether you are a small company or large, global or local, we have the solution for you.
A lot of changes have been made in the petroleum and natural gas industries; new standards have been set and by using our Quality Management System you can stay ahead of the pack. With an effective Quality Management System in place, you assure your customers that everything is being done to produce the highest quality product. It is a competitive field; you need to show your customers, you can give them what they need to stay on top. You will find Accupoint's compliance solutions are easy to integrate with all of your customers’ requirements into one simple cloud based program that can be accessed from anywhere. PC, smart phone, tablet, its there! Whether in the office or on the run, everything you need is at your fingertips. Keeping up to date with any changes is important in maintaining high standards; with alerts and email notifications you can ensure costly mistakes are avoided. So, next time someone says "get your head out of the clouds" tell them you're working, in the cloud. Please contact us and request a demo. We are more than happy to demonstrate what we have, and how our compliance solutions can help your business. |
