Investing in becoming a cut above the rest – Pt. 1

By A. Bacchus – OilNOW

So, you have your business, and it is registered on the Supplier Registration Portal to be considered for contract opportunities in the oil and gas industry. What’s next? What is it about your company that makes it competitive and more attractive than the scores of other entities that offer the same services? Many businesses have been legally established and are vying for contracts in the sector. In fact, Junior Vice President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anije Lambert had gone on record as saying, “…A lot of businesses, because it’s such an emerging industry, a lot of businesses are either in the process of creating new services or new companies as well that can provide, or they can be a part of the oil and gas industry.”

For companies that want to be a cut above the rest, they are investing in becoming certified by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). Businesses within the oil and gas supply chain are becoming IS0 9001 certified—the ISO certification that caters to quality management—as this is a standard that is highly-regarded in the global oil and gas industry.

According to the Organisation, ISO 9001 sets out the criteria for a quality management system. It can be used by any organisation, large or small, regardless of its field of activity. There are over one million companies and organisations in over 170 countries certified to ISO 9001. The standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement. Businesses cause ISO 9001 to ensure that customers get consistent, good-quality products and services, which in turn brings many business benefits.

The Centre for Local Business Development has been at the helm of efforts to get local businesses ISO 9001 certified to improve their competitiveness. In fact, the Centre has an ISO 9001 mentorship programme.

Global Compliance Service – the only Accredited ISO Certification Body with a resident office in Guyana, has said it is working with over 300 local companies that are in various stages of their ISO Certification.

Guyana Oil and Gas Support Services was one of the first companies locally to be contracted for works directly related to construction of fixtures for a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO). Director of that company and former President of the GCCI has spoken to the importance of the ISO certification.

“It is very beneficial; it allows us to standardise our processes therefore ensuring quality products and services are delivered routinely to our clients. It also allows us to meet our clients’ rigorous standards for the quality they require in the work they need done,” he had shared.