2. 2
Concept
QA / QC
Very Simple Concept
Complex procedurally:
• Define
• Measure
• Analyze
• Improve
• Control
These processes are in place for discovering defects,
deficiencies, deviations, to the project requirements as
established in the contract documents both before and
during the execution of the deliverable.
Procedures, standards, codes, and specifications
determined in the contract documents along with
mandated regulation provide how elements of work and
completed work will be evaluated for overall
conformance.
3. 3
Difference?
QA / QC - What is the difference?
Quality Assurance is process oriented
• Administrative and procedural activities / oversight implemented in a quality
system
• Audits, samples, reviews Quality Control is being implemented by the responsible
designated group in the interest of ConocoPhillips.
• Verifies things are going right, not wrong.
• Quality system as defined in CPMS, CPMS AK, and regulations
Quality Control is product oriented
• Procedures, standards, codes, and specifications determined in the contract
documents provide how elements of work and completed work will be evaluated
for overall conformance.
• Performs 100% testing, inspection, documenting oversight from the contracting
(responsible party) quality system.
4. 4
Who is QA here? (Not QC)
Why is there QA?
• Sometimes regulatory
and required by law
• Is required for ISO
certified or compliant
companies
• Makes business sense
• Liability goes to the
agency providing
QC functions. QA
monitors
compliance in the
interest of the
owner.
• Gives the owner a
means to facilitate
reconciliation
legally and
monetarily to non
conformances.
5. 5
Why the Confusion?
When things are not per
process:
• QA does not approve
process breaks.
• We facilitate bringing the
stakeholders together so
the authority having
jurisdiction can have
proper approvals or
rejections documented
and in place
The QC is responsible for 100% testing, inspection,
documenting oversight per the contract requirements
When the QA appears to have their “ QC jersey” on they are auditing
and sampling the validity of the QC program for accuracy and
thoroughness and that the proper tool (process) is being used
The QA is validating process and not providing 100% inspection
typically. (there are exceptions)
This is the QA team you know with Projects on the slope
SQS/QA Coordinators work with the QA up north and
coordinate vendor surveillance and various audits
globally.
Vendor Surveillance may require QA to put the “ QC jersey” on if it is
not coordinated with a third party
6. 6
Who do we interface with?
Corporate and Project
Assurance
Government / Regulatory
CPO
O&M (Charter)
Procurement
Construction
Adding FCO oversight
Engineering
Most of you are familiar with our involvement
with Construction because that is where we are
most visible with quality oversight of large
contractor groups
What most of you probably don’t know is the
other processes we monitor
Readiness
Engineering processes including
Drawing development processes
Estimating processes
Project Assurance readiness and deliverables
Procurement
Material Requisition process and procedures
DOT and Environmental requirements
Vendor / Manufacturer audits and evaluations
CPAI Quality group conducted multiple audits this
year in these areas
7. Ultimately Safety and Quality are hand in glove. The number one ConocoPhillips
goal is 1) Protection of people 2) Protection of Assets
Safety regulates the acts of completing work (i.e. Ash Handbook)
Quality ensures the safety integrity of engineered items or processes to protect people and
property.
The whole purpose of an engineered product ensures two things: That it will work as
designed and that it is safe for people , property, and the environment
Alterations / deviation to design, installation, or process must have procedural check and
balance. i.e. Quality Assurance
Safety has near misses, first aides, recordable, and lost time measurable(s)
QA has QA notes, Audits, Non Conformances levels 1,2,3,4 (many other tools)
It is not only about doing the job safely, it’s about the legacy of safety for the end product to be
utilized and maintained by the end user
Both are equally important
Both are about SAFETY
7
Throughout industry- Health, Safety, and Quality
are bundled together.
Why?
Relationship to Health and Safety
We will be discussing
What is the QA/QC concept
What is the difference
Why is there confusion at times as to whom QA/QC is
What we do your not aware of - and who we interface with
Our historical relationship to Safety
Who our team is
Questions
To restate,
Simple Concept:
Do what we state we are doing and are able to prove it.
Complex to implement and perform and measure:
The requirements to define, measure, analyze, improve, control and monitor can be quite complex.
i.e. the concept of getting oil through the pipe from point a to b is simple. But we all know there are multiple checks and balances that can fail and result in catastrophic events.
In other words, companies that do business with us or for us are required to have a quality system that not only defines how they will complete quality control but how they will meet the quality requirements of ConocoPhillips.
Conoco QA reps insure check and balance that it is traceable and transparent through audits, sampling, and checks as required through the CPMS requirements. If it is not documented it didn't happen; i.e. Quality control vs Quality assurance: if a thousand terminations were to be inspected by quality control; the quality assurance rep may check 10% or 100 of them to see if it correlates to the documentation provided. Later, If during FCO a wire is found to be shorted it reveals a weakness in the Quality Control function. It is not that QA didn’t find it…………It was that there is an exposed process break with the Quality Control, Because of the Quality Assurance / Quality Control relationship it is now traceable and with accountability.
The gentleman behind the group of referees is the QA. The gentleman in the booth overlooking the field is the QA.
The referees are the QC; they are monitoring play by play on the field. The QA is observing the process and then validating if the process is working through audits and reviews.
No wonder it can be confusing when some one sees a QA with a referee shirt on.
Examples for process break- Email vs RFI or deviation
Third party example would be new client
In Lieu of our recent organizational structure change: Our involvement covers many process areas in addition to construction activities.
QA process checks are a continuous improvement activity.
Two areas that will be adding to our auditing trail this year will be FCO and PCS.
We use many tools- all derived from CPMS / CPMS AK. All the way from initial audit checklists and engineering deviations to TCCC activities during turnover.
CPMS-AK defines the Quality requirements on how we monitor all the other processes these other various groups are following.
Another example would be an audit completed on estimating; the approved engineering estimating procedure is the go-by for which audit checklist is developed. This along with any specific Conoco protocols that are called out in the contract.
When it comes down to it; one can not really separate Quality and Safety
Safety up front – Quality effects safety on back
The background of most QA professionals are multifarious or diverse. The backgrounds are technical, field, and educational in nature; typically a combination of all three. i.e. Field experience, certifications and licenses, various college education and/or degrees
