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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.
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One of the requirements of the new API Q2 standard deals with supplier quality management. Organizations, both large and small, have been spending time, talent and resources to address the supply chain control provisions outlined in the new standard.
To help focus efforts, we have outlined a number of best practices related to supply chain control:
1. Identify a list of metrics and KPI’s that are important to monitor at your organization
Key performance indicators and defined metrics are important to monitor because most companies are dependent on suppliers and the global supplier network makes it difficult to manage and track supplier performance. As a result, failure to manage and monitor supplier performance can lead to major supply chain disruptions, delivery problems, poor quality, and other issues that damage a company’s credibility, as well as the bottom line.
2. Measure and track costs of supplier quality
Tracking the costs associated with supplier quality helps to determine business productivity and measure the impacts associated with doing business with a supplier. By tracking costs, companies reduce risk associated with doing business with certain suppliers, maintain a competitive business advantage, and track ROI.
3. Maintain a corrective action plan
Maintaining a corrective action or preventative action plan is very important in dealing with any potential problems or future incidents. The results of the corrective action process should be to implement a corrective action to remove identified problems, improve product quality and improve the overall effectiveness of the quality management system.
4. Create a supplier risk scorecard
Companies can configure a scorecard to meet specific needs. Set thresholds for acceptable, moderate, and severe risk levels. With multiple categories to choose from, companies can measure and view overall supplier risk.
5. Maintain a collaborative environment and enforce supply chain audits
With so many different and new suppliers in the oil and gas industry, the risk associated with doing business has increased and it is more important than ever to reduce that risk in the supply chain by increasing the number, frequency, and duration of audits performed. By maintaining awareness and collaboration creates effective relationships to minimize and track risk.
Accupoint’s family of compliance solutions help track all of the best practices suggested above. Supplier information and data can be entered and analyzed from any web enabled device, via the cloud. To find out how Accupoint Software can help your organization implement effective supply chain controls, give us a call at 800.563.6250 or visit us at www.accupointsoftware.com
To help focus efforts, we have outlined a number of best practices related to supply chain control:
1. Identify a list of metrics and KPI’s that are important to monitor at your organization
Key performance indicators and defined metrics are important to monitor because most companies are dependent on suppliers and the global supplier network makes it difficult to manage and track supplier performance. As a result, failure to manage and monitor supplier performance can lead to major supply chain disruptions, delivery problems, poor quality, and other issues that damage a company’s credibility, as well as the bottom line.
2. Measure and track costs of supplier quality
Tracking the costs associated with supplier quality helps to determine business productivity and measure the impacts associated with doing business with a supplier. By tracking costs, companies reduce risk associated with doing business with certain suppliers, maintain a competitive business advantage, and track ROI.
3. Maintain a corrective action plan
Maintaining a corrective action or preventative action plan is very important in dealing with any potential problems or future incidents. The results of the corrective action process should be to implement a corrective action to remove identified problems, improve product quality and improve the overall effectiveness of the quality management system.
4. Create a supplier risk scorecard
Companies can configure a scorecard to meet specific needs. Set thresholds for acceptable, moderate, and severe risk levels. With multiple categories to choose from, companies can measure and view overall supplier risk.
5. Maintain a collaborative environment and enforce supply chain audits
With so many different and new suppliers in the oil and gas industry, the risk associated with doing business has increased and it is more important than ever to reduce that risk in the supply chain by increasing the number, frequency, and duration of audits performed. By maintaining awareness and collaboration creates effective relationships to minimize and track risk.
Accupoint’s family of compliance solutions help track all of the best practices suggested above. Supplier information and data can be entered and analyzed from any web enabled device, via the cloud. To find out how Accupoint Software can help your organization implement effective supply chain controls, give us a call at 800.563.6250 or visit us at www.accupointsoftware.com
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Youngstown, OH—August 25, 2014. Accupoint Software, LLC a global provider of compliance management software solutions, is pleased to announce our association with the Wollam Petroleum Advisory Group (WPAG), LLC. WPAG is a world recognized consulting firm that supports the oil and gas industry by working with operators, service providers, regulators and the American Petroleum Institute on the development of industry standards, training, and certification.
The change in focus on quality systems requires companies to rethink their approach to compliance. The distribution agreement between Accupoint Software, LLC and WPAG, LLC will utilize the specialties of both companies to assist manufacturers and service providers in meeting the ever-changing market demands as well as build progressive compliance management programs.
“Accupoint Software is extremely pleased to be working with such a progressive and successful organization, said Jeff Cianciola, CEO of Accupoint Software, LLC. Oil & Gas product and service providers are under increasing pressure from customers to comply with new compliance standards and regulations. We believe that this agreement creates a synergistic effect for our customers by combining leading edge technology with best practice consulting.”
"The combination of Accupoint and WPAG, LLC creates an exciting opportunity for the Industry," said Bryan Wollam, CEO, WPAG, LLC. "In addition to creating world-class products and services, this is a compelling strategic partnership which ensures the mitigation of risk and process optimization for both company’s clients. This agreement will yield many synergies and benefits to the industry today and in the years ahead. Jeff Cianciola and his team have created an innovative, comprehensive integrated platform, meeting the intent of API Q1 and Q2. Accupoint and WPAG, LLC will work together to deliver the most innovative IT solutions and services, which guarantees a superior customer experience within the highly competitive and dynamic marketplace in which we operate."
The agreement benefits client companies by delivering an innovative structure of consulting, training and solutions to provide a foundation for success.
About Wollam Petroleum Advisory Group, LLC
The Wollam Petroleum Advisory Group specializes in the development, implementation and sustainment of management systems that improve efficiencies while minimizing risks. WPAG has international experience with the development of industry standards, consulting, training, auditing, and inspection of both large and small operators, manufacturers, and service providers.
The Wollam Petroleum Advisory Group is a privately held corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, go to: http://www.wollampag.com
About Accupoint Software, LLC
Accupoint Software LLC is a global provider of innovative compliance management systems. Our solutions empower companies of all sizes to make optimal decisions that improve profitability and positively impact operations. Our integrated platforms streamline business processes, increase customer satisfaction and help organizations to navigate today’s complex regulatory requirements.
Accupoint Software LLC is a privately held corporation headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio. For more information visit: http://www.accupointsoftware.com
The change in focus on quality systems requires companies to rethink their approach to compliance. The distribution agreement between Accupoint Software, LLC and WPAG, LLC will utilize the specialties of both companies to assist manufacturers and service providers in meeting the ever-changing market demands as well as build progressive compliance management programs.
“Accupoint Software is extremely pleased to be working with such a progressive and successful organization, said Jeff Cianciola, CEO of Accupoint Software, LLC. Oil & Gas product and service providers are under increasing pressure from customers to comply with new compliance standards and regulations. We believe that this agreement creates a synergistic effect for our customers by combining leading edge technology with best practice consulting.”
"The combination of Accupoint and WPAG, LLC creates an exciting opportunity for the Industry," said Bryan Wollam, CEO, WPAG, LLC. "In addition to creating world-class products and services, this is a compelling strategic partnership which ensures the mitigation of risk and process optimization for both company’s clients. This agreement will yield many synergies and benefits to the industry today and in the years ahead. Jeff Cianciola and his team have created an innovative, comprehensive integrated platform, meeting the intent of API Q1 and Q2. Accupoint and WPAG, LLC will work together to deliver the most innovative IT solutions and services, which guarantees a superior customer experience within the highly competitive and dynamic marketplace in which we operate."
The agreement benefits client companies by delivering an innovative structure of consulting, training and solutions to provide a foundation for success.
About Wollam Petroleum Advisory Group, LLC
The Wollam Petroleum Advisory Group specializes in the development, implementation and sustainment of management systems that improve efficiencies while minimizing risks. WPAG has international experience with the development of industry standards, consulting, training, auditing, and inspection of both large and small operators, manufacturers, and service providers.
The Wollam Petroleum Advisory Group is a privately held corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, go to: http://www.wollampag.com
About Accupoint Software, LLC
Accupoint Software LLC is a global provider of innovative compliance management systems. Our solutions empower companies of all sizes to make optimal decisions that improve profitability and positively impact operations. Our integrated platforms streamline business processes, increase customer satisfaction and help organizations to navigate today’s complex regulatory requirements.
Accupoint Software LLC is a privately held corporation headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio. For more information visit: http://www.accupointsoftware.com
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Contingency planning is simply an outline of procedures to follow in case some major event impacts your operations. Technically, the contingency plan is a document that identifies the actions the organizations will take when a specified incident happens. The plan demonstrates that the organization has thought of ways to minimize the impact to its operations and by default the customer’s.
Below are 8 steps for effective contingency planning:
By following the steps outlined above, you will be able to create effective contingencies to address your business functions. Remember, contingency plans should be developed for critical processes, tasks and/or systems.
To learn how Accupoint can help you streamline contingency planning, call us toll-free at 800.563.6250 or visit us on the web at accupointsoftware.com.
Below are 8 steps for effective contingency planning:
- Start by setting up a committee and chose a lead. The leader will provide the skills, tools and direction so that each department can develop its own plans. Contingency planning is a big task, so involve the appropriate number of people to maximize input.
- Record the business processes for each department.
- Identify issues (real and potential) that can negatively impact business operations.
- Review the issues with department managers and rank contingency priority to help focus plan development.
- Create plans to address each prioritized issue. Try to minimize the number of steps required to resume operations.
- Test your contingency plans. If a portion of the plan is flawed or conflicts with other contingency plans, modify and then reassess the plan.
- Formalize and communicate the plan with applicable personnel within the organization.
- Finally, make sure to review the plan at predetermined intervals to insure continued relevance. The review helps identify areas for improvement or modification.
By following the steps outlined above, you will be able to create effective contingencies to address your business functions. Remember, contingency plans should be developed for critical processes, tasks and/or systems.
To learn how Accupoint can help you streamline contingency planning, call us toll-free at 800.563.6250 or visit us on the web at accupointsoftware.com.
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In recent years, a number of well-known companies have experienced high profile quality defects. These defects have led to negative media attention, impacting the public perception and financial health of the organizations. In looking for the root cause of these quality defects, it is important that to remember that the results are always a combination of process as well as management failures. Ultimately, management is the driver of the corporate quality culture.
As a result of these failures, management teams are starting to realize that quality not only comes from processes and equipment, but from motivated workers as well. Companies are finally embracing the idea that quality is everyone’s responsibility. Every level of the organization, from the CEO to the new hire on the floor, has a responsibility for the success or failure of the Quality Management System.
And while progress is being made, still more work needs to be done. Talk is cheap, and management’s message that “people are the lifeblood of the organization” needs to be backed up with tangible actions. Empowering employees with more responsibility in the quality of the product or service, makes good financial sense and goes a long way towards establishing a corporate culture where quality is an essential element of the overall business strategy. It also leads to employee engagement and accountability.
People fundamentally want to be acknowledged and appreciated for their contribution to the organization. They want to take pride in a job well done and be successful. Companies that encourage this culture are sure to outperform their competition.
To learn how Accupoint’s flexible QMS solutions can help impact your organization's quality culture, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us toll-free at 800.563.6250!
As a result of these failures, management teams are starting to realize that quality not only comes from processes and equipment, but from motivated workers as well. Companies are finally embracing the idea that quality is everyone’s responsibility. Every level of the organization, from the CEO to the new hire on the floor, has a responsibility for the success or failure of the Quality Management System.
And while progress is being made, still more work needs to be done. Talk is cheap, and management’s message that “people are the lifeblood of the organization” needs to be backed up with tangible actions. Empowering employees with more responsibility in the quality of the product or service, makes good financial sense and goes a long way towards establishing a corporate culture where quality is an essential element of the overall business strategy. It also leads to employee engagement and accountability.
People fundamentally want to be acknowledged and appreciated for their contribution to the organization. They want to take pride in a job well done and be successful. Companies that encourage this culture are sure to outperform their competition.
To learn how Accupoint’s flexible QMS solutions can help impact your organization's quality culture, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us toll-free at 800.563.6250!
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The new API Spec Q2 standard demands a risk-based approach to quality management. One area we see this translated to is the Service Quality Plan requirement (5.7.2) . Service supply organizations are required to develop a quality plan to control the execution of service or the use of service related product.
Service Quality Plan should include provisions for all of the following items:
The Service Quality Plan needs to be updated and approved when a change takes place. In addition, when required by contract, the Service Quality plan and any applicable revisions may need to be communicated with your end customer.
The goal of the Service Quality Plan is to ensure that the project details are defined and communicated with all stakeholders in order to minimize risk and eliminate operational downtime.
For more information on how Accupoint’s flexible, cloud-based solutions can help your organization automate the development of service quality plan documentation, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us toll-free at (800) 563-6250.
Service Quality Plan should include provisions for all of the following items:
- Risk Identification and Management: Document steps to identify and mitigate risk, both real and potential.
- Forms and Reports: Identify all relevant documents and records of the project. Detail the relevant revision for each procedure, specification, or other document used in each activity.
- Quality Checkpoints: Document quality checkpoints of the project and identify the owner of those checkpoints.
- Project Deliverables: Identify of the required deliverables of the project.
- Contingency Planning: Identify anticipated problems and develop plan to minimize the negative effects.
- Customer Requirements: Document all customer requirements mandated by contract.
- Services & SRP: Identify all critical services and applicable service-related product.
- Project Objectives: Define project (contract) objectives.
- External Services: Identify external services and service providers.
- Equipment and Monitoring: Document service equipment and monitoring devices required for contract execution.
The Service Quality Plan needs to be updated and approved when a change takes place. In addition, when required by contract, the Service Quality plan and any applicable revisions may need to be communicated with your end customer.
The goal of the Service Quality Plan is to ensure that the project details are defined and communicated with all stakeholders in order to minimize risk and eliminate operational downtime.
For more information on how Accupoint’s flexible, cloud-based solutions can help your organization automate the development of service quality plan documentation, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us toll-free at (800) 563-6250.
