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Accupoint Software would like to thank everyone for their gifts during our annual Fall Food Drive for the benefit of the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley. This year was our most successful to date, and we could only have accomplished this with your help and generous spirit.
The Accupoint team believes that no one should go hungry and is dedicated to building a community that makes food accessible to all people. Our efforts this autumn have, in some small way, helped to make a difference to hungry families during this holiday season.
Thank you for your support!
The Accupoint team believes that no one should go hungry and is dedicated to building a community that makes food accessible to all people. Our efforts this autumn have, in some small way, helped to make a difference to hungry families during this holiday season.
Thank you for your support!
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A chain is only strong as its weakest link. When it comes to controlling your supply chain, the better you are at understanding the entire chain and identifying weak links, the better your company will be in the long run.
In today’ post, we would like to present a couple of tips to help make managing your supply chain more effective.
Tip 1: Understand the big picture. Gather performance data on each vendor in the chain and update it constantly. If your data only includes some vendors or incomplete performance data, the picture of your supply chain is as incomplete as a jigsaw puzzle missing half the pieces. Without concrete data, you may have an idea of potential snags but ultimately you are guessing. As a result, you're not able to make the best decisions on how to resolve issues related to your operations.
Tip 2: Use integrated technology to manage your supply chain. Technology enables more efficient and effective data collection and analysis, giving you increased response time to head off potential problems. In addition, by using integrated technology you can improve communications with relevant stakeholders resulting in minimized disruptions to production.
The efficient use of supply chain controls enables your company to reduce costs and satisfy customer requirements. How well do you know your supply chain? Accupoint can help your organization to get a handle on comprehensive supply chain management. To find out how, visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com or call toll-free 800.563.6520.
In today’ post, we would like to present a couple of tips to help make managing your supply chain more effective.
Tip 1: Understand the big picture. Gather performance data on each vendor in the chain and update it constantly. If your data only includes some vendors or incomplete performance data, the picture of your supply chain is as incomplete as a jigsaw puzzle missing half the pieces. Without concrete data, you may have an idea of potential snags but ultimately you are guessing. As a result, you're not able to make the best decisions on how to resolve issues related to your operations.
Tip 2: Use integrated technology to manage your supply chain. Technology enables more efficient and effective data collection and analysis, giving you increased response time to head off potential problems. In addition, by using integrated technology you can improve communications with relevant stakeholders resulting in minimized disruptions to production.
The efficient use of supply chain controls enables your company to reduce costs and satisfy customer requirements. How well do you know your supply chain? Accupoint can help your organization to get a handle on comprehensive supply chain management. To find out how, visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com or call toll-free 800.563.6520.
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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)--you've probably heard the term and have an idea of what they are, but do you have a fail-proof method to measure key operational metrics? Based on who you are and what you want to accomplish, KPI's are your key to success--providing measurable goals that are used to gauge the success or failure of your operations. But without a means to easily measure and analyze your KPIs, you could actually be making decisions that are not helping you in the long run.
Choosing the right KPIs relies upon a good understanding of what is important to the organization. To that end, let’s take a look at the attributes of a good KPI. A KPI should be
1. Available and Measurable
2. Impact the Bottom Line
3. Relevant to Business Objectives
4. Useful to Improvement Efforts
5. Timely
The bottom line--you have to have clearly defined goals in place and KPIs to determine the success of those goals. But you also need a means to accurately measure your KPIs in order to instantly determine if steps are needed to change practices or personnel in order to achieve your goals.
That's the power of Accupoint Software. No matter what your key performance indicators are, you can quickly and easily see your company's current status using any web-enabled device.
Visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com or call toll-free 800.563.6520 and begin to get a clear picture of your overall quality management system--including your KPIs--today!
Choosing the right KPIs relies upon a good understanding of what is important to the organization. To that end, let’s take a look at the attributes of a good KPI. A KPI should be
1. Available and Measurable
2. Impact the Bottom Line
3. Relevant to Business Objectives
4. Useful to Improvement Efforts
5. Timely
The bottom line--you have to have clearly defined goals in place and KPIs to determine the success of those goals. But you also need a means to accurately measure your KPIs in order to instantly determine if steps are needed to change practices or personnel in order to achieve your goals.
That's the power of Accupoint Software. No matter what your key performance indicators are, you can quickly and easily see your company's current status using any web-enabled device.
Visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com or call toll-free 800.563.6520 and begin to get a clear picture of your overall quality management system--including your KPIs--today!
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Technological innovation in hardware and software applications continues to make a major difference in how we live our lives and conduct our work.
This is especially true in the Oil and Gas industry. Just a decade ago, questions and answers had to go through phone calls, faxes or face to face meetings. Information was compiled and stored on paper documents in a limited number of locations. But today, questions can be answered instantly through e-mails and texts and information can be stored in one place yet easily accessed by an entire workforce via electronic devices.
Unfortunately, access to new technology alone does not guarantee improved results. We've all heard stories of someone we know with a phone that doesn't understand how to do the simplest tasks. Or of the company that purchased new software but never utilized it because the employees were uncertain of how to use it.
Here are two helpful reminders when considering new technology. First, educating and training the workforce is just as important as the technology itself. Products touted to save your staff time and energy cannot work if the staff doesn't fully understand how to use them. Be sure to factor training and support into any purchase decision. Give users the ability to ask questions and build a firm foundation of success.
Second, continue to incorporate mobile technology into your processes. Mobile adoption will continue to grow and will help drive improvements to organizational efficiency. Mobile computing can provide a variety of benefits to the Oil & Gas industry including: data capture in the field, ease of collaboration from multiple locations, and better decision making. Many organizations understand these benefits, but are not fully implementing it into their operations.
As with any new technology, there are issues to be addressed including: safety, data security and authorized areas for use. New technology has the potential to empower employees and increase productivity. Ultimately, you have to be willing to allocate the resources to get the technology into their hands and then make sure they really know how to use it properly.
To find out more about Accupoint’s mobile compliance technology, visit us at accupointsoftware.com or call us toll-free at 800.563.6250.
This is especially true in the Oil and Gas industry. Just a decade ago, questions and answers had to go through phone calls, faxes or face to face meetings. Information was compiled and stored on paper documents in a limited number of locations. But today, questions can be answered instantly through e-mails and texts and information can be stored in one place yet easily accessed by an entire workforce via electronic devices.
Unfortunately, access to new technology alone does not guarantee improved results. We've all heard stories of someone we know with a phone that doesn't understand how to do the simplest tasks. Or of the company that purchased new software but never utilized it because the employees were uncertain of how to use it.
Here are two helpful reminders when considering new technology. First, educating and training the workforce is just as important as the technology itself. Products touted to save your staff time and energy cannot work if the staff doesn't fully understand how to use them. Be sure to factor training and support into any purchase decision. Give users the ability to ask questions and build a firm foundation of success.
Second, continue to incorporate mobile technology into your processes. Mobile adoption will continue to grow and will help drive improvements to organizational efficiency. Mobile computing can provide a variety of benefits to the Oil & Gas industry including: data capture in the field, ease of collaboration from multiple locations, and better decision making. Many organizations understand these benefits, but are not fully implementing it into their operations.
As with any new technology, there are issues to be addressed including: safety, data security and authorized areas for use. New technology has the potential to empower employees and increase productivity. Ultimately, you have to be willing to allocate the resources to get the technology into their hands and then make sure they really know how to use it properly.
To find out more about Accupoint’s mobile compliance technology, visit us at accupointsoftware.com or call us toll-free at 800.563.6250.
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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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Many companies do a great job communicating with shareholders and customers but fail when communicating with their own employees. When done properly, good internal communication can help employees understand a company's purpose and goals as well as the proper methods and practices.
But to effectively communicate with employees, you first must learn how to listen to them. Give employees the opportunity to respond to your company's communications--to comment, ask questions, and to make suggestions. A willingness to listen and integrate employee feedback builds trust. In time, employees are more likely to come on board and buy into company policies and directives.
Another great asset in building strong communication is the use of multiple methods. Everyone receives and processes information differently. Depending upon the individual, some methods will work better than others. A combination of newsletters, bulletin boards, e-mails, online blogs, social media sites, and texts all come together to form a much more effective communication process. A visual approach to communication has also proven to be highly effective.
When combined with the obvious, but sometimes missing components of honesty and consistency, the results of a great communication process begins to work it's way through the company. Employees are more likely to integrate the message into their daily practices, share feedback, and become a more motivated team member. The end result is a better workplace environment, employees that are a great source of public relations as they share positive experiences with those outside the company, and eventually, a better end product for your customers.
To learn more about how Accupoint's solutions can help improve your internal communications process, visit us at accupointsoftware.com or call toll-free 800.563.6250.
But to effectively communicate with employees, you first must learn how to listen to them. Give employees the opportunity to respond to your company's communications--to comment, ask questions, and to make suggestions. A willingness to listen and integrate employee feedback builds trust. In time, employees are more likely to come on board and buy into company policies and directives.
Another great asset in building strong communication is the use of multiple methods. Everyone receives and processes information differently. Depending upon the individual, some methods will work better than others. A combination of newsletters, bulletin boards, e-mails, online blogs, social media sites, and texts all come together to form a much more effective communication process. A visual approach to communication has also proven to be highly effective.
When combined with the obvious, but sometimes missing components of honesty and consistency, the results of a great communication process begins to work it's way through the company. Employees are more likely to integrate the message into their daily practices, share feedback, and become a more motivated team member. The end result is a better workplace environment, employees that are a great source of public relations as they share positive experiences with those outside the company, and eventually, a better end product for your customers.
To learn more about how Accupoint's solutions can help improve your internal communications process, visit us at accupointsoftware.com or call toll-free 800.563.6250.
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Although injuries are actually lower in the oil and gas industry on average compared to most other industries, there is still much work to be done regarding the focus on safety principles and practice. The recent 3rd Annual Offshore Safety Conference in Houston highlighted practices that all industries, not just those in oil and gas, should implement in an effort to improve the safety culture of their company.
Safety should not be "added on" to an existing company's philosophy or practices. It needs to be at the core of a company's thinking from the very beginning. From the personnel to the processes, the focus should be on safety as a primary component. If management places an emphasis on safety but the production team is actually much more focused on getting things accomplished, the result is an imbalanced approach that can make the company more likely to experience safety issues.
The best time to begin thinking, planning and preparing for the safety practices of that will be put into place during a specific event is before that event actually happens and not after it has already taken place. Being proactive is a much better philosophy than being reactive.
Although it may seem hard to grasp in the highly competitive oil and gas industry, companies need to be more willing to share what they have learned both before and after events regarding safety issues. As a result, all companies will see continued improvement in the area of safety practices. The end result will be a safer work place environment for everyone.
For more information on how Accupoint can help improve your safety management program, please call 800.563.6250 or visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com.
Safety should not be "added on" to an existing company's philosophy or practices. It needs to be at the core of a company's thinking from the very beginning. From the personnel to the processes, the focus should be on safety as a primary component. If management places an emphasis on safety but the production team is actually much more focused on getting things accomplished, the result is an imbalanced approach that can make the company more likely to experience safety issues.
The best time to begin thinking, planning and preparing for the safety practices of that will be put into place during a specific event is before that event actually happens and not after it has already taken place. Being proactive is a much better philosophy than being reactive.
Although it may seem hard to grasp in the highly competitive oil and gas industry, companies need to be more willing to share what they have learned both before and after events regarding safety issues. As a result, all companies will see continued improvement in the area of safety practices. The end result will be a safer work place environment for everyone.
For more information on how Accupoint can help improve your safety management program, please call 800.563.6250 or visit us on the web at www.accupointsoftware.com.
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Accupoint’s training and consulting partner, Wollam Petroleum Advisory Group, has just added a new public Q2 course scheduled for November 17, 2014 in Houston, Texas.
The objective of this training is to provide participants with the understanding, knowledge, and skills needed to successful deploy, implement and sustain the API Q2 controls listed within the specification. The course utilizes the latest teaching methodologies, practices, and techniques as well as practical application to ensure you leave with the required knowledge and practical application skills to return immediate value to your organization.
If you know of anyone who may benefit from this training, internally or externally please forward this blog post. Additionally, Wollam will make a special donation to Jamie’s Hope (a nonprofit organization) on behalf of any registered participant.
For more information, please visit www.wollampag.com or www.api.org.
The objective of this training is to provide participants with the understanding, knowledge, and skills needed to successful deploy, implement and sustain the API Q2 controls listed within the specification. The course utilizes the latest teaching methodologies, practices, and techniques as well as practical application to ensure you leave with the required knowledge and practical application skills to return immediate value to your organization.
If you know of anyone who may benefit from this training, internally or externally please forward this blog post. Additionally, Wollam will make a special donation to Jamie’s Hope (a nonprofit organization) on behalf of any registered participant.
For more information, please visit www.wollampag.com or www.api.org.
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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
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In the ever-evolving world of the oil and gas industry, meeting regulatory standards is no small feat. One such standard that continues to gain attention is API Spec Q2, a key quality management system for service providers. Designed to improve safety, operational efficiency, and reliability, API Spec Q2 is a critical compliance requirement for organizations operating in high-risk, high-stakes environments.
But as with many regulatory frameworks, the process of meeting these standards can be burdensome—especially when it comes to the data acquisition and analysis required to maintain compliance. That’s where Accupoint Software comes in.
In the latest issue of Pipeline magazine, Accupoint CEO Jeffrey Cianciola explains the company's mission to make API Spec Q2 compliance more accessible and streamlined through its web-based solutions. In the article titled "Bringing API Spec Q2 to the Masses," Cianciola outlines how Accupoint’s software toolkit is designed to save organizations valuable time and resources, particularly when it comes to managing the complex data associated with API Spec Q2.
To gain a deeper understanding of how Accupoint is revolutionizing the way oil and gas companies approach API Spec Q2 compliance, read the full article in Pipeline Magazine.or visit our website at accupointsoftware.com.
But as with many regulatory frameworks, the process of meeting these standards can be burdensome—especially when it comes to the data acquisition and analysis required to maintain compliance. That’s where Accupoint Software comes in.
In the latest issue of Pipeline magazine, Accupoint CEO Jeffrey Cianciola explains the company's mission to make API Spec Q2 compliance more accessible and streamlined through its web-based solutions. In the article titled "Bringing API Spec Q2 to the Masses," Cianciola outlines how Accupoint’s software toolkit is designed to save organizations valuable time and resources, particularly when it comes to managing the complex data associated with API Spec Q2.
To gain a deeper understanding of how Accupoint is revolutionizing the way oil and gas companies approach API Spec Q2 compliance, read the full article in Pipeline Magazine.or visit our website at accupointsoftware.com.
