Published on
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. Accupoint's quality management system can be advantageous for organizations that want to save time and improve productivity when managing compliance data.

Top advantages of a quality management software solution

Companies are utilizing quality management software to answer the need for a better data management and process analytics. Both management and team members alike recognize the value in being able to better manage large volumes of data in order to improve their process information flow.

Benefits of an Integrated System 

1. Accupoint’s quality management systems 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.

2. Accupoint improves data integrity. Redundancy of data, entry protocols, system updates and records maintenance can all be done conveniently from within the software solution. Pulling accurate reporting is easiest when information is consolidated and entered uniformly.

3. Detecting emerging trends across different areas of the organization is simplified with Accupoint’s quality management solution. The information is securely stored within the centralized system, which makes all of the data is available for review in real-time. Accessibility to real-time data enables smart, quick decision-making across the board.

4. While spreadsheets can hold a large amount of data, keeping information secure and reliable as data continues to grow presents its share of challenges. Scalable quality manage systems empower teams to seamlessly expand their solutions to accommodate growing customer and regulatory requirements.

5. Accupoint’s solutions offer flexibility in how data is entered. Individuals can choose to enter data traditionally or through other methods such as scanning or geo-tagging. These options facilitate collaboration and reduce error rates among those handling information. 

6. User-friendly methods to track a range of information are an additional advantage to transitioning to Accupoint’s solution family. Tracking training progress, quality standard updates, testing cycles, and auditing results can all be done conveniently through one single user interface.

Cutting costs using accurate real-time data and improved collaboration are the most common reasons for making the switch to an Accupoint quality management software solution. Better reporting, collaboration, data integrity, and analysis become possible with the right system and solution in place.
 
For more information on Accupoint Software or to schedule a platform demonstration, please  visit us at www.accupointsoftware.com.
Published on
The benefits of a corrective action program are immeasurable, and in the oil and gas industry, these programs are an integral part of any quality management system. An effective corrective action system works to identify the root cause of an issue, generates action plans to reduce  or eliminate the chance of recurrence, and provides for evaluation of solution effectiveness. 

That being said, some companies struggle with implementing an effective corrective action management program. Below are some of the key elements of a successful corrective action program.
 
1. Have the right people leading your corrective action program.
Put together a team to evaluate potential members for the program. Make sure that the people chosen understand the  issue in question.  Team members must have first-hand knowledge of the process being assessed.

2. Evaluation of Issue
The corrective action team should collect data on similar issues that have occurred in the past.    Subsequently this information needs to be analyzed and evaluated to determine applicable root causes.

3. Develop Corrective Action Plan
The corrective action plan should identify the root cause of the issue, containment actions as well as specific action taken long term to reduce or eliminate the chance for a recurrence.  Finally, ensure that the corrective and preventive action plan is properly communicated with applicable personnel within the organization.

4. Create Compliance
Once the corrective action has been implemented, utilize the evaluation results to drive  your  corrective action impact.  The impact analysis will create benchmarks and pinpoint opportunities for process improvements.

Effectively managing your corrective action program is critical to your success.  To find out how Accupoint can help improve the effectiveness of your corrective action program, please contact us today.
Published on
All certified organizations must strictly adhere to and comply with regulatory guidelines and requirements such as the ISO standards. However, too many organizations seem to take a cavalier attitude towards internal quality audits. Failure to maintain proper documentation and records of the process may ultimately lead to loss of certification and clients.
 
Internal Audits are vital to the longevity and success of a business enterprise. Today, internal quality audits take a holistic approach leveraging powerful auditing software capable of monitoring systems in real time.
 
In today’s post, Accupoint Software will illuminate some of the benefits of an effective internal quality audit process.
 
Improve efficiency
Quality internal audits help an organization identify areas that need improvement. The software evaluates the effectiveness of a management system and highlights areas in its functionality that require expansion.

Agent of Change
Internal audits compare the documentation practices in the organization with standards in the real world. If your organization is lagging behind, an internal review will compel your team to evolve into newer, more efficient practices.
 
Security
Quality internal audits highlight security risks in your organization. As more organization utilize technology in their operations, information theft is becoming an increasingly intimidating security threat.  Internal audits will identify sensitive areas of attack and help develop procedures and action items to address vulnerabilities.
 
Optimization
Internal quality audits help to identify inefficiencies and unnecessary waste.  Identifying and correcting the source will lead to lower production costs and ultimately, higher profits.
 
Monitoring
Another benefit of the internal audit process is that a company can draft monitoring and assessment procedures. This involves guidelines of how and when to conduct routine assessments on the system.
 
For more information on how Accupoint can help streamline your internal audit process, please contact us today.
Published on
Picture
Accupoint Software  is excited to announce the release of our Version 5 platform.  The V5 platform has a multitude of exciting new features and functionality, including:

  • Responsive User Interface (UI)
  • Streamlined Menu Navigation (Desktop & Mobile)
  • Expanded Module Functionality
  • Improved Mobile Device Performance
  • Expanded Reporting Options
  • Access to Interactive Safety Training Video Library
  • Access to Interactive SOP creation capabilities
  • Improved Desktop Menu Layout
  • Optimized for all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, IE & Safari)
  • Enhanced instance security protocols
  • Streamlined Database structure
  • HTML Report Functionality
    • Generate and save reports to HTML, MS Word or PDF
    • Customized Logo Display on Reports
  • Refinements to modules, including:
    • Vendor Certifications
    • Associate Management
    • Curriculum Management
    • Incident Management
    • Service Quality Plan
    • Asset Management

If you have any questions or require additional information about the Version 5 release, please feel free to contact us.
Published on
An internal quality audit is folded into a company’s corrective and preventative practices. The audit takes a snap shot of the organization’s compliance procedures, and then analyzes that snapshot to identify potential problems. In the oil and gas industry, internal audits are an integral part of the quality management system. 

To that end we have outlined 5 key steps to ensure that your internal audit process is effective:

  1. Scheduling. Audit dates, the person leading the audit and the processes or machinery to be audited on those dates. Any and all pertinent documentation should be included in these audits. Everyone involved needs to be clear on when the audit will occur, and what is being audited. This gives them time to prep all their documentation and resources correctly.
  2. Plan. What is the plan for this audit? The scope and depth of the audit must be made available to all involved in the audit. Included in this plan should be the chronology of the actual audit. Again, preparing employees, staff and c-level for the audit process is as important as the audit itself.
  3. Audit manager communication. The person that leads the audit has to communicate any changes that may occur in a timely fashion. This means that a schedule change has to take into consideration the department being audited and how much time they will need to respond to the change. Keeping the schedule on track is of the utmost importance, other departments and divisions are relying on their schedule too.
  4. Generating accurate reports. Management, stakeholders and c-level staff are usually the first to receive the reports generated by the audit. Problems (noncompliance) are analyzed and discussed at this stage, along with solutions to bring the department back into compliance. All essential personnel need to get this information at the same time.
  5. Action taken. The compliance manager will respond to noncompliance issues on an agreed date. The response must include an investigation into the problem, along with suggested remedies and a date for those remedies to be completed. The lead auditor should sign off on these proposals before work can begin.

Oil and gas concerns are usually multi-state and multi-location enterprises with hundreds, if not thousands of employees. The compliance audits for the oil and gas industries are exhaustive and complex. Effectively managing the audit function will ensure compliance to customer requirements, as well as related regulations and standards.   For more information on how Accupoint Software can help improve your internal audit process, please contact us.
Published on
Whether prepping for an audit, updating your company processes with new best practice information, or simply checking up on employee training, gage calibration (or lack thereof) should be taken seriously. Lack of compliance, regardless of which standards is being applied, can bankrupt a company. Gage calibration best practices really consist of 2 main parts, which should be checked periodically:

  • Calibration certificates-Bureaucratic red tape gets a bad rap, but keeping important files and paperwork in order can save a lot of time and hassle. A monthly check of calibration certificates can alert you to bring in any gage from the field that needs calibrated ahead of its expiration date. 

  • Employee Training. When employees do not know how to properly operate equipment, problems arise. Misuse of gages can cause them to no longer be in calibration. It can lead to incorrect readings, damage due to not taking the environment into consideration when applicable, or even cause accidents to happen. In the event of an accident, employees should feel comfortable reporting inaccurate, damaged, or otherwise malfunctioning gages to the proper authority.

Of course, keeping on top of gage calibration can be tedious, and easily lost among other, more pressing issues. Having one system set in place that can handle all compliance management efforts streamlines the process and makes it easier for the whole company, as otherwise compliance efforts get split among different individuals and departments. This inevitably leads to something getting lost in translation, or through the cracks. For the best compliance management solutions that optimize your business practices while improving customer satisfaction, contact us today.

Published on
The foundation of a profitable petroleum company is sound training management. This is best achieved through a customized training management program and continuing education for managers. Effective training management programs should cover quality assurance, workplace safety, risk assessment, and the importance of ongoing education.
 
Key Areas of Focus to Cover for Training Management 
 
Designers of training management programs for companies in the petroleum industry realize that trainers are often solely responsible for ensuring that all company employees are effectively trained in the following areas: 
  • Compliance education
  • Workplace safety training
  • Petroleum sales techniques
  • Product characteristics
  • Quality assurance
  • Risk assessment and management
  • Finance and insurance solutions
  • Customer service skills
  • The need for continuing education
 
Accordingly, training management programs should be comprehensive in design to help managers achieve excellence in these areas. Managers, in turn, can use newly acquired information and skills to provide training to their staff. The end result is more competent employees and a higher level of customer satisfaction.
 
Critical Platform Design Components
 
Not all training management participants possess the same degree of experience and learning speed. Additionally, compliance training material can be dry, making it difficult to stimulate the interest of employees. Accordingly, an effective training management program should be flexible and should engage trainees. Effective platforms are typically marked by the following features:
  • Easy to access. People can participate in training at any time by accessing online program materials.
  • Flexible. Participants are able to receive training online using their device of choice.
  • Affordable. A training management program should be cost-effective and yield a strong ROI.
  • Engaging. Programs should incorporate a variety of media, such as photos, videos and interactive features.
  • Easy to monitor. Program operators can track training participation and monitor progress and completion.
  • Simple to update. The petroleum industry is changing every day and training management programs should be kept current.
 
The Importance of Ongoing Education for Training Managers 
 
The fields of medicine and law are notorious for emphasizing the importance of continuing education and training. Other industries, including the petroleum industry, have not kept pace in this area. This provides a significant opportunity for improvement, especially since training managers are often responsible for training senior sales staff and entry-level personnel. Participation in ongoing training will help your company gain an edge in the petroleum industry by arming your managers with the latest knowledge and tools to maximize profits. 
 
 
Choosing the Best Training Management Solution 
 
Selecting a training management solution that meets or exceeds all of the qualities outlined above can be challenging. Since 2007, Accupoint Software has been a global provider of management solutions that help companies streamline their training management and improve their efficiency.
 
Please contact us to find out how we can help you increase your company's profitability by enhancing your training management. We are delighted to provide you with a free demonstration of our innovative training management solutions and will answer any questions that you may have about our tools for success. We look forward to hearing from you!

Published on
The API Spec Q1 standard requires that organizations “maintain a documented procedure for the establishment of preventive maintenance for equipment used in product realization."  An effective PM program will reduce operating costs, improve product quality, and increase productivity for the company. Our goal is to minimize interruptions that  adversely impact productivity. With that in mind, we thought we would take this opportunity to discuss a number of best practices around the preventive maintenance process.
 
1. Preventive Maintenance factors:

Understand that preventive maintenance schedules are based on a variety of inputs, including:
  • Usage history
  • Risk analysis
  • Manufacturer’s recommendations
  • Industry recommended practices
  • Regulatory requirements
  • Internal experience
  • Notable changes in system performance

2. Develop an actual plan

Most plans can be formed with a triggering mechanism. This means that certain events are slated to occur at a specific interval. The schedule may be developed with a condition-based or company-based protocol. The preventive maintenance schedule should always be assigned to a particular trigger.

3. Form the plan with savings in mind.
 
The plan should be developed with a specific set of savings objectives. Metrics like the maximum manufacturing time available for each machine may be used to create the schedule. There may be some downtime required where minimal lost production opportunity time may be factored into the planning process. There may even be a schedule developed around the concept affecting the quality of products manufactured.

4. Make the system available to others.
 
Once the framework has been constructed, the information should be created in some sort of a computerized maintenance system. The system will be formalized and assigned to key personnel responsible for monitoring the maintenance to be performed. The Accupoint system allows tasks to be automated and scheduled in a manner where work orders are generated on a timetable.

5. Set routine maintenance.
 
Once routine maintenance schedules are established for one system, move on to another critical system.  Again, set up maintenance schedules, documenting current conditions for future reference. An effective PM program can extend the asset life and ensures that it can be replaced as a scheduled event, rather than in an emergency situation.

6. Match the cost to the PM protocol developed.
 
It may be more cost-effective to perform a set of repairs simultaneously to a machine. It may also be much more cost-effective to take a reactive approach to maintenance. This approach may be better if this type of repair or maintenance duty doesn’t occur nearly as often.

In summary, a combination of inspections, repairs, and testing should be a part of any comprehensive preventive maintenance process. In addition,  any credible program should be long-term in nature.
 
To find out how Accupoint can help manage your preventive maintenance management program, call us toll free at 800-563-6250 or visit us at www.accupointsoftware.com.
Published on
When it comes to quality management standards, complying with the latest revisions is key. A big change is underfoot in the standards world, with the release of the new ISO 9001 standard. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) reviews all standards every five years to ensure they are up-to-date and comparable with the modern market, and since the latest ISO 9001 was released in 2008, a revision has been long-awaited.

However, there is no need to fret about a complete overhaul of your system; the 2015 update is just that - an update. The ISO reports that the main change with the new standard is a restructuring

"to make it easier to use in conjunction with other management system standards, with increased importance given to risk."

If your business is registered to the 2008 version of ISO 9001, you have a three year span to update your quality management system to the 2015 version. The new standard was just released in September of this year, meaning that you have until September of 2018 to fully integrate it into your quality management protocols. However, as with anything safety and quality related, it is better to update to this revised standard sooner rather than later.

More information on the new ISO 9001 standard can be found on the ISO's website, where you can watch a quick video outlining the main changes within the new standard.

If you have any questions on ISO 9001:2015 and how Accupoint can help you meet the new requirements, please contact us at 800.563.6250 or visit us at www.accupointsoftware.com.

Published on
For any business, the more efficient your business processes are, the lower your business costs will be. Identifying the appropriate corrective actions not only eliminates poor practices, it also ensures that your business is in compliance with applicable API standards.

There are many reasons why corrective actions become necessary. Those reasons can include process issues, customer complaints, or improper training among other things. Effective corrective actions should be informed by data that is gathered throughout the productions cycle. The most effective way to gather this data is through the utilization of software. Through automation, it will be easier to see process dependencies that may not be apparent if each stage and its supporting processes were looked at individually. This approach eliminates the likelihood that a corrective action in the production process has a negative impact on processes that follow it, like packaging and shipping.

Choosing comprehensive quality management software that includes data collection for corrective actions will help ensure that your micro decisions are made with considerations for the macro business environment. The software should also allow you to quickly gather information to assess the impact of corrective actions to make ongoing changes rapidly if needed. And, the software should have functionality to generate real-time reports to support recommended corrective actions to win company buy-in.

Accupoint Software empowers companies to make optimal decisions to improve productivity and drive more efficient operational procedures. For more information on how Accupoint can help you manage your corrective and preventative action programs, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us at 800.563.6250.

Categories