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Business success and operational excellence rely on many things. Realistic and far-reaching company goals and the right business systems are key ingredients for this success. But at a more basic level, success is traced to one corporate asset: people.
The competency and dedication of an organization’s personnel are the biggest reasons for its success or failure, which is why the API Spec Q2 standard addresses the training and competency of personnel from the start. Training & competency is an important part of every successful organization’s mission, and the Q2 spec formalizes the development process. Documenting skill assessments and tracking training milestones ensures that a competent workforce remains focused on the quality of their actions and outcomes.
It makes sense; a well-trained employee will assess risk in a systematic and logical manner. This activity carries on through the service and process design review, and into contingency planning, where competency is critical for proper prevention, mitigation, and communication during an unplanned event.
The Q2 spec also requires tight controls on the supply chain and service quality planning functions. Trained personnel need to be competent in assessing suppliers, developing methods for qualification, controlling subcontractors, and documenting plans. The Q2 spec clearly defines requirements for quality management in these subjects for personnel to follow, as well as for preventive maintenance, change management, and other areas.
Success in these areas still comes down to one thing - people - personnel who know their functions, and understand their process. Accupoint’s SAM Q2 platform can help streamline all of the API Spec Q2 requirements, starting with training & competency. To learn more, please contact us.
The competency and dedication of an organization’s personnel are the biggest reasons for its success or failure, which is why the API Spec Q2 standard addresses the training and competency of personnel from the start. Training & competency is an important part of every successful organization’s mission, and the Q2 spec formalizes the development process. Documenting skill assessments and tracking training milestones ensures that a competent workforce remains focused on the quality of their actions and outcomes.
It makes sense; a well-trained employee will assess risk in a systematic and logical manner. This activity carries on through the service and process design review, and into contingency planning, where competency is critical for proper prevention, mitigation, and communication during an unplanned event.
The Q2 spec also requires tight controls on the supply chain and service quality planning functions. Trained personnel need to be competent in assessing suppliers, developing methods for qualification, controlling subcontractors, and documenting plans. The Q2 spec clearly defines requirements for quality management in these subjects for personnel to follow, as well as for preventive maintenance, change management, and other areas.
Success in these areas still comes down to one thing - people - personnel who know their functions, and understand their process. Accupoint’s SAM Q2 platform can help streamline all of the API Spec Q2 requirements, starting with training & competency. To learn more, please contact us.
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As a professional within the oil and gas industries, your ultimate goal is to provide safe, reliable, and high-quality products and services to your customers. As you strive to consistently achieve this goal, you already know you need to control risk throughout your processes. You are a competitive leader within your industry, so you also know the value of quality standards and compliance. So what procedure does the API Spec Q2 standard mandate in order to achieve compliance?
According to the standard, “the organization shall maintain a documented procedure to control risk throughout the execution of service.” There’s four main components that your procedure should include, so as you develop your procedure, you’ll want to:
1. Identify potential or real risks associated with your company’s services
2. Recognize and use risk management tools and techniques
3. Choose, communicate, and implement preventive control measures to reduce and/or avoid risk exposure
4. Have a plan to alert your customer of any remaining risk (potential or real) that could impact your service to them
Lastly, you’ll want to ensure you keep records of your assessment and any associated actions taken as a result of your process. Risk assessment is an active means of facing and dealing with quality-related challenges and doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s been said that great success requires great risks, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing safety, quality or service. For more information on how Accupoint’s solutions can help you develop your risk assessment and management procedures, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us at (800) 563-6250.
According to the standard, “the organization shall maintain a documented procedure to control risk throughout the execution of service.” There’s four main components that your procedure should include, so as you develop your procedure, you’ll want to:
1. Identify potential or real risks associated with your company’s services
2. Recognize and use risk management tools and techniques
3. Choose, communicate, and implement preventive control measures to reduce and/or avoid risk exposure
4. Have a plan to alert your customer of any remaining risk (potential or real) that could impact your service to them
Lastly, you’ll want to ensure you keep records of your assessment and any associated actions taken as a result of your process. Risk assessment is an active means of facing and dealing with quality-related challenges and doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s been said that great success requires great risks, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing safety, quality or service. For more information on how Accupoint’s solutions can help you develop your risk assessment and management procedures, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us at (800) 563-6250.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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Compliance is a major issue facing many businesses. This is especially true for organizations in the oil & natural gas industry. In today’s competitive environment, a Quality Management System (QMS) is an absolute prerequisite for manufacturing and service supply organizations. If your business is facing the increasing pressure for API compliance, or you are trying to maintain and grow your business in the current downturn, you need to integrate a cloud based QMS solution to compete with current regulatory and customer demands.
Quality is Competitive
Although many businesses look for quality management programs to merely meet compliance, the ideal solution for your business will make you more competitive, as well as compliant. Well-managed information is essential to compete in any industry, and quality management software's primary goal is to manage your information so that it is understandable and accessible by key players, wherever they may be.
From real-time reports to accurate understanding of KPIs, a quality management system takes the guesswork out of decision-making. Accurate and up-to-date information enables swift action on the part of your employees and management while limiting variation and surprises. With proper analytics and information management, your business can increase quality, cut costs and build a competitive edge.
Integrate: Platforms, Users, and Locations
In the global economy, businesses are finding new ways to integrate people, technologies, and locations. With multiple locations or employees working in the field, there are multiple touch-points which your software needs to cover. Whether you have global manufacturing facilities or local repair technicians, both require that you manage jobs locally, and integrate with the entire organization via cloud based technologies.
Competition is Demanding
Your software solutions must not only integrate across your organization, and enable you to compete within your industry, but also produce a quality management system which facilitates environmental, health and safety, and other regulatory compliance.
Quality management has long been a bastion of the well-run business, but with the increasing customer and regulatory demands and to increase your competitive edge, your business needs to have a complete quality management system. Accupoint Software specializes in providing these solutions to businesses, contact us for more information about our comprehensive solutions to manage API requirements.
Quality is Competitive
Although many businesses look for quality management programs to merely meet compliance, the ideal solution for your business will make you more competitive, as well as compliant. Well-managed information is essential to compete in any industry, and quality management software's primary goal is to manage your information so that it is understandable and accessible by key players, wherever they may be.
From real-time reports to accurate understanding of KPIs, a quality management system takes the guesswork out of decision-making. Accurate and up-to-date information enables swift action on the part of your employees and management while limiting variation and surprises. With proper analytics and information management, your business can increase quality, cut costs and build a competitive edge.
Integrate: Platforms, Users, and Locations
In the global economy, businesses are finding new ways to integrate people, technologies, and locations. With multiple locations or employees working in the field, there are multiple touch-points which your software needs to cover. Whether you have global manufacturing facilities or local repair technicians, both require that you manage jobs locally, and integrate with the entire organization via cloud based technologies.
Competition is Demanding
Your software solutions must not only integrate across your organization, and enable you to compete within your industry, but also produce a quality management system which facilitates environmental, health and safety, and other regulatory compliance.
Quality management has long been a bastion of the well-run business, but with the increasing customer and regulatory demands and to increase your competitive edge, your business needs to have a complete quality management system. Accupoint Software specializes in providing these solutions to businesses, contact us for more information about our comprehensive solutions to manage API requirements.
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Accupoint's training and consulting partner, Wollam Petroleum Advisory Group (WPAG) will host a free API Q2 conference for small business.
In Q2 of 2015, WPAG, the official developers of API-U’s, API Q2 and API Q1 training programs will be hosting a one (1) day conference on the value and benefits of the API Standards. This program will be held at WPAG headquarters in Houston and will include presenters from WPAG, API and several of the major Oil Field Operators.
Reserve your spot now by contacting wollampag.com. The conference limited to the first 100 registrants.
In Q2 of 2015, WPAG, the official developers of API-U’s, API Q2 and API Q1 training programs will be hosting a one (1) day conference on the value and benefits of the API Standards. This program will be held at WPAG headquarters in Houston and will include presenters from WPAG, API and several of the major Oil Field Operators.
Reserve your spot now by contacting wollampag.com. The conference limited to the first 100 registrants.
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The new API Spec Q2 standard requires Service Supply Organizations to develop a Service Quality Plan to control the execution of the service or the use of a service related product (SRP). As part of the plan documentation, we are required to identify project deliverables, as well as customer deliverables. Distinguishing the two terms can create some confusion, so we would like to define and differentiate between the two in today’s post.
Let’s start with project deliverables. This is the list of all activities that are required to develop the project but aren’t necessarily the deliverables required by the contract. This includes activities like sketches, models, training, calculations, and so on that allow you to produce the customer deliverable. It is important to have a detailed list of project deliverables to calculate the time, cost, and/or resources required to provide the service.
On the other hand, customer deliverables are activities that must be satisfied and are used to make payment, or monitor project progress. A simple example, not related to the oil and gas industry, would be the production of an automobile. The customer wants your organization to build a car and gives you all of the required specifications including color, accessories and horsepower specifications. In order to fulfill the customer requirements, you must complete the production of the car to the specifications.
However, there are a variety of project deliverables you must complete in order to make the car. This includes planning, materials, labor, machinery and sub-components required to develop and manufacture the car. To summarize, customer deliverables are what you get paid for, and project deliverables define how you produce what you get paid for.
For more information on how Accupoint’s cloud-based quality management systems can help your organizations handle the documentation of deliverables, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us toll free at 800.563.6250!
Let’s start with project deliverables. This is the list of all activities that are required to develop the project but aren’t necessarily the deliverables required by the contract. This includes activities like sketches, models, training, calculations, and so on that allow you to produce the customer deliverable. It is important to have a detailed list of project deliverables to calculate the time, cost, and/or resources required to provide the service.
On the other hand, customer deliverables are activities that must be satisfied and are used to make payment, or monitor project progress. A simple example, not related to the oil and gas industry, would be the production of an automobile. The customer wants your organization to build a car and gives you all of the required specifications including color, accessories and horsepower specifications. In order to fulfill the customer requirements, you must complete the production of the car to the specifications.
However, there are a variety of project deliverables you must complete in order to make the car. This includes planning, materials, labor, machinery and sub-components required to develop and manufacture the car. To summarize, customer deliverables are what you get paid for, and project deliverables define how you produce what you get paid for.
For more information on how Accupoint’s cloud-based quality management systems can help your organizations handle the documentation of deliverables, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us toll free at 800.563.6250!
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A comprehensive QMS should include components for monitoring and measuring customer feedback. It should contain effective procedures for the receipt, logging, evaluation, investigation & reporting of all issues raised by the customer. The results of this analysis should then be used as a driver for designing and implementing improvements to your system.
For more information on integrating customer satisfaction into your Quality management program, contact the Accupoint team toll-free at 800-563-6250 or visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com
For more information on integrating customer satisfaction into your Quality management program, contact the Accupoint team toll-free at 800-563-6250 or visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com
Happy and satisfied customers are the lifeblood of your business. Everybody knows that, but did you know that customer satisfaction should be built into your quality management system (QMS).
When you think about it, quality performance is first and foremost about meeting the needs and expectations of the customer. Therefore, we need to expand our definition of quality management to include customer satisfaction as a means of improving performance over the long term.
The following chart helps to illustrate the concept:
When you think about it, quality performance is first and foremost about meeting the needs and expectations of the customer. Therefore, we need to expand our definition of quality management to include customer satisfaction as a means of improving performance over the long term.
The following chart helps to illustrate the concept:
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Internal audits are a key requirement of any Quality Management System. As you are aware, the internal audit is designed to measure the effectiveness of the system. With that in mind, let’s take a look at two basic components that are critical to audit success.
First, understand the motivation. Many look at internal audits as a necessary evil—a time consuming effort that drains people and resources away from daily operations. This thinking makes it difficult for the internal audit to be successful--unless your definition of success is that it's done and out of the way. We need to communicate the importance of the internal audit function to the rest of the organization. In addition, staff members should understand the benefits a successful internal audit program provides to the effectiveness of the organization.
Second, define the objective of the audit before beginning. In other words, plan the audit and execute to that plan. Determine specific processes that you are measuring and the acceptance criteria for determining success or failure. We can't make suggestions for improvement, if we don’t understand the status of the current process. When successfully executed, your internal audit is much more likely to result in streamlined operations and positive impacts to the bottom line.
Finally, keep in mind that an internal audit is a means to an end. It's like practice for a sports team. Practice isn't always the favorite part of any team’s schedule. However when the players become committed to practice as a way to evaluate and work on gaps, the end result is improved play during the next game. The same is true with an internal audit.
To learn more about how Accupoint can help your organization maximize the internal audit process, visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com or call toll-free 800.563.6250.
First, understand the motivation. Many look at internal audits as a necessary evil—a time consuming effort that drains people and resources away from daily operations. This thinking makes it difficult for the internal audit to be successful--unless your definition of success is that it's done and out of the way. We need to communicate the importance of the internal audit function to the rest of the organization. In addition, staff members should understand the benefits a successful internal audit program provides to the effectiveness of the organization.
Second, define the objective of the audit before beginning. In other words, plan the audit and execute to that plan. Determine specific processes that you are measuring and the acceptance criteria for determining success or failure. We can't make suggestions for improvement, if we don’t understand the status of the current process. When successfully executed, your internal audit is much more likely to result in streamlined operations and positive impacts to the bottom line.
Finally, keep in mind that an internal audit is a means to an end. It's like practice for a sports team. Practice isn't always the favorite part of any team’s schedule. However when the players become committed to practice as a way to evaluate and work on gaps, the end result is improved play during the next game. The same is true with an internal audit.
To learn more about how Accupoint can help your organization maximize the internal audit process, visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com or call toll-free 800.563.6250.
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A Quality Management System (QMS), when properly designed and implemented, provides great benefits to companies in the oil service industry. It enable the companies to do a better job of meeting customer demands while also improving the ability to deal with health, safety, and environmental issues. If you are given the responsibility of helping to design, evaluate, or implement a quality management system, here are some items to consider.
Be sure to include all parties in the process, not just the Quality Control Manager or Supervisors. Including members of all work groups and departments insures that various perspectives are considered in the creation of training and procedural manuals. This structure also insures that all of the final documentation is easily understood by the end users.
Avoid the downfall of creating paperwork just for the sake of having some type of documentation on file when the results are not really used or implemented. Instead, consider adding control plans, flow charts, and work procedures that are continually evaluated, revised when needed and put into practice. These documents can help to simplify the operations in a variety of locations throughout the company.
Finally, when designing your preventive maintenance program, don't just go by the manufacturers recommendations. Be sure to include the input of the operators who are actually using the equipment on a regular basis. Input from "real world" application can prove to be extremely valuable.
These are just few of the issues to consider when designing and implementing a QMS. The benefits of a well-designed QMS are numerous and include easy-to-access documentation, elimination of unnecessary documents, fewer on-the-job mishaps, more customer recognition, and of course, a benefit to the bottom line.
To learn more about how Accupoint Software can provide solutions to develop and simply your quality management system, call us toll-free at 800.563.6250 or visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @Accupoint_ and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/accupoint-software
Be sure to include all parties in the process, not just the Quality Control Manager or Supervisors. Including members of all work groups and departments insures that various perspectives are considered in the creation of training and procedural manuals. This structure also insures that all of the final documentation is easily understood by the end users.
Avoid the downfall of creating paperwork just for the sake of having some type of documentation on file when the results are not really used or implemented. Instead, consider adding control plans, flow charts, and work procedures that are continually evaluated, revised when needed and put into practice. These documents can help to simplify the operations in a variety of locations throughout the company.
Finally, when designing your preventive maintenance program, don't just go by the manufacturers recommendations. Be sure to include the input of the operators who are actually using the equipment on a regular basis. Input from "real world" application can prove to be extremely valuable.
These are just few of the issues to consider when designing and implementing a QMS. The benefits of a well-designed QMS are numerous and include easy-to-access documentation, elimination of unnecessary documents, fewer on-the-job mishaps, more customer recognition, and of course, a benefit to the bottom line.
To learn more about how Accupoint Software can provide solutions to develop and simply your quality management system, call us toll-free at 800.563.6250 or visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @Accupoint_ and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/accupoint-software
