
API Q1 vs ISO 9000 and How They Set High Bars of Excellence for a Client’s Standards of Quality
July 31, 2015It is to be expected that various businesses and companies need to meet certain standards of quality in order to operate and provide products and services to the public. Without these precise guidelines in place, any number of problems can arise. Over time, business practices and other factors change, and as a result, the standards of quality that have to be met need to be altered. API Spec Q1 and ISO 9000 were developed to outline the standards that must be met in order for a business that deals in natural gas and oil to operate.
What is API Spec Q1?
API stands for American Petroleum Institute, and it creates the specifications for the natural gas and oil industry within the United States. It is very important for businesses to meet API standards because failure to comply could result in additional costs and a poor public image. API qualifications are specifically developed for natural gas and oil businesses, and there is a large focus on risk management and risk assessment. The newest version of these guidelines was issued in 2013, and it includes over 85 new clauses and five extra sections. One of the newest qualifications that companies must abide by is that contingency plans must be included in your formal quality management proposal in order for the company to gain proper certification.What is ISO 9000?
While API Spec Q1 guidelines are specifically designed for the oil industry, ISO 9000 guidelines are developed as broad standards for the general manufacturing industry in its entirety. Most industries need to meet ISO 9000 specifications in order to meet the demands of their own personal quality management systems. Failure to meet ISO 9000 guidelines generally result in higher operating costs and can make managing a business much more difficult. Some of the principles that are emphasized in this system include standards for customer service, process approach, systematic approach to management, continuing improvement for the company’s performance as a whole, leadership capabilities and a mutually beneficial relationship between the supplier and the company.Main Differences Between API Spec Q1 and ISO 9000
Ultimately, the end results for both quality management systems are the same. They both exist in order to provide a higher quality of service to the general public and to ensure that businesses carry out the safest and most efficient policies possible. However, there are some key differences between the two systems that should be noted.- Maintenance performed for preventative purposes
- Contingency planning
- Control within the supply chain
- Formal approach to the training of employees and personnel competency
- Emphasis of risk management and risk assessment throughout the company
- Management of change
- Validating designs before production