Background: This question was received from a person that recently completed an Exemplar Global RTP, API Q1 Certification Workshop.
Question: If any concerns regarding improvement are identified while conducting an internal audit, should the Auditor issue a preventive action ?
ATCS Comment: It's important to remember a Preventive Action Request (PAR) is always proactive. It's an action taken to prevent the occurrence of a nonconforming ...
Read More
API Q1
API 6D Monogram, Requirements, Timing, and Costs
An API 6D monogram can add value and provide customers with the assurance the product has met applicable industry requirements. The first steps toward obtaining a monogram license should include understanding the certification and monogram license requirements, estimating resource needs, costs, and a timeline for completing the monogram license process. This information and more are discussed in the API Q1 & API 6D Certification Workshop ...
Read More
Keeping Current
The case for continued professional growth
Written by Bill Aston, Published in ASQ QP Magazine, June 2018.
It sometimes may seem that as soon as an organization becomes familiar with a management system and its requirements, changes must be made to meet newly identified customer requirements or to comply with recently issued editions, revisions, errata or addendums to the standard or specification.
Changes in every industry, standard, ...
Read More
Market Slowdown: Can We Postpone Our API Q1 Surveillance Audit?
QUESTION:
From: Fayyez, Sept. 11, 2018
Dear Sir,
We are a certified API Q1 & ISO 9001 API QR registered organization. Our surveillance audits are scheduled to be conducted on an annual basis. We have maintained all quality management system requirements very well with all records available. But due to the present market slowdown, we might not have any production or manufacturing activities in progress during the time of the surveillance ...
Read More
Estimating the cost for API Q1 certification & API 6A Monogram License
QUESTION:
From: Eugene P., March 6, 2017 -
During the past months, we have received several inquiries asking if our company was API Q1 certified or if we had an API 6A monogram. How much does it cost to get API Q1 certified and get an API 6A monogram license? We are a small shop that has a total of 50 employees, so knowing the estimated cost upfront is important.
REPLY:
From: ATCS, Ask the Experts, March 6, 2017
Hi ...
Read More
Are Exclusions to ISO 9001:2015, Permitted?
Inquiry: Our organization provides mobile crane rental services. We recently received a request from a client to deliver a crane to their site location. This was the extent of the services provided to the client. Can we exclude ISO 9001:2015, subclause 8.3 requirements since no design and development was required?
Answer: Qasim, thanks for submitting this question. As you are ware, ISO 9001:2015, subclause ...
Read More
Leaders of Change
LEADERS OF CHANGE - Leadership begins at the top. Although ISO 9001:2015, subclause 5.3 requires C-level or top management to assign relevant persons to ensure quality management system (QMS) requirements are communicated and understood, the responsibility to provide the leadership needed to champion the effectiveness of the QMS remains with top management. The responsibilities to provide direction and to ensure the effectiveness of the QMS stay ...
Read More
API 6A Monogram Restricts Remanufactured Equipment
Inquiry: My question is regarding application of the API monogram. Our company is an API 6A licensee. We manufacture valves and other related equipment at our facilities here in the USA and overseas. During a recent re-certification audit, the Auditor told us that we could not monogram valves if they had been disassembled and reassembled. These are new valves, so why is this even a concern, especially since the valves were ...
Read More
Risk Based Thinking
Using the process approach and RBT are hot topics for organizations implementing ISO 9001 for the first time and others transitioning to its revised requirements. There’s nothing new about RBT. In fact, ISO 19011:2011—Guidelines for auditing management systems highlighted the need for organizations to identify risk as associated with QMSs, environmental management systems, and occupational health and safety management. ISO 19011:2011 also ...
Read More