What is A.R.W.I.P.™?
Applied Real World Integrity & Performance ™
Simply put; a methodology to ensure that the “product matches the paperwork”.
Why consider A.R.W.I.P.™?
Acceptable vendor performance is key to the success of any business venture. Better Vendor Management requires up-to-date strategies to mitigate risk
within modern (Global) supply chain realities.
Better Vendor Management is not just limited to the commercial aspects. It also requires the element of Quality to be reliably present at all times.
Without the element of Quality, any perceived value is very much at risk. The impact of this risk is unpredictable (both in timing and magnitude), and
difficult, if not impossible to mitigate. The more hazardous the industry, the higher the potential cost of failure.
End Users of pressure equipment can be susceptible to high magnitude risk. The pipeline industry in particular has been subject to a greatly increased
attention since 2010. As a result, Pipeline Regulators have been increasingly scrutinized (by Government and the public alike) to make all reasonable
efforts to mitigate the risk of failure in pipeline systems.
Those same Regulators expect those under their jurisdiction to not only be fully complying with the legislation, mandated codes, and standards, but to
also take the necessary steps to ensure that the element of Quality is being supported to mitigate risk. Starting in 2009 with PHMSA (USA), concerns
were being publicly brought to the attention of affected pipeline operators. The NEB (Canada) followed suit with its own public concerns some years
after (c2016) regarding the failure of wrought fittings used in pipeline systems. In all cases, the failures were attributed to failings in the
Quality Management Systems (QMS) of manufacturers to deliver compliant product.
One of the unexpected findings was in the conflict between the Quality documentation and the properties of the actual part. The metal did not
match the paperwork. To further exacerbate the matter, several Top-Tier manufactures with decades of reputable history were involved. A fundamental lack
of confidence in well established QMS was the result.
Certain long-held assumptions regarding the effectiveness of QMS appeared to no longer be reliable. This was a significant change in the reality of
End User Supply Chains. After some investigation and joint Regulator-Operator consultations, the NEB issued orders and Quality Workshop summary packages
to outline the root cause and possible mitigative measures to prevent recurrence.
A core element of the A.R.W.I.P.™ program is to dig much deeper than may be considered “normal”, in order to better establish that a Vendor QMS is
providing “effective” control over all of its operations in order to deliver compliant product. A key aspect in this review includes the relationship
between the Manufacturer headquarters and all relevant satellite operations, including ones located in the Low Cost Countries.
A.R.W.I.P.™ is designed to show potential areas of concern so that corrective action can be taken proactively. The program is not intended to be punitive
unless inaction on the part of the Manufacturer demands such corrective measures. In that case, A.R.W.I.P.™ provides the data to the End User so that they
may confidently act in their own interests.
A.R.W.I.P.™ is designed to work with various strengths of Vendor qualification processes and staff. Whether well developed, to all but non-existent,
Widescope can support the effort as necessary to meet Regulatory expectations.
Please contact us to arrange for a more detailed presentation of the Widescope A.R.W.I.P.™ program.
Helping Clients within their means.