What is API Q1?

API Q1, a widely-used quality management standard, offers benefits beyond the oil and gas industry, helping businesses improve efficiency across various sectors.
6 min read
6 min read

Introduction

API Q1 is a quality management standard created by the American Petroleum Institute to serve companies, suppliers, and clients of the oil and natural gas / energy industry. The American Petroleum Institute is a large and historically significant trade organization which represents nearly 600 member companies and which helps shape advocacy, policy, and regulatory positions relating to the industry. It is also responsible for developing industry wide standards for safety and quality best practices. The API Q1 standard, which is the Institute’s preeminent systems guide for quality management, is one such standard, and is arguably its most important publication.

Like many quality management systems, the API Q1 standard has undergone periodic revisions to match changing conditions and to better exemplify ideal and efficient business practices. The current iteration of the standard is the 10th Edition, which was published in 2023.[1] Whenever a new version of the standard is published, businesses which were previously certified under the prior iteration of the standard must recertify by a set date, prompting new work requirements and deadlines for quality managers.

The API Q1 10th Edition made a number of substantial changes to the standard, compared with the prior 9th Edition. Most notable of these was an expansion of the scope of the standard to include companies that provide services to support the oil and gas industry, even if they are not directly a part of it. These support roles can include engineering design, distribution, and logistics, and are intended to cover suppliers and subcontractors utilized by traditional oil and gas companies. This change was made in large part to ensure that the same rigorous safety and quality standards cover all participants in a project. Other changes include an extension of the number of years a company’s records must be retained, an improved supplier evaluation process which covers both initial assignment and regular reevaluations, a new requirement to document the management system in quality manuals, alignment with the latest ISO 9001 standard (a global system used in many industries), and assorted improvements to other quality best practices.[2]

Who Uses API Q1?

Because API Q1 has been developed by the American Petroleum Institute, it should come as no surprise that the standard is primarily intended for companies providing products and services to the oil and gas industry. This includes manufacturers who design and create the equipment used by drilling operations and refineries. However, as noted above, the 10th Edition of API Q1 has expanded the standard to service providers, such as those involved in transportation of oil and gas products. Even companies that develop software for oil and gas industry uses are now covered. These service provider companies had previously been covered by the 9th Edition of API Q2, a related QMS standard; now, they are folded into the 10th Edition of API Q1, simplifying the standard’s applicability across all relevant companies. This change, and the enhanced coverage it includes, represents a significant rise in the number of companies which can and should now be certified. As such, the need for API Q1 training, whether in person or via online solutions, has dramatically increased since last year.

Who Regulates and Controls the API Q1 Standard?

The American Petroleum Institute creates, regulates, and controls the API Q1 standard, and is also responsible for periodically updating it. Changes to the standard are prompted by the industry group’s membership, and the alterations which have occurred over time (such as to the new API Q1 10th Edition) have been driven by this internal practice of suggestion and debate. For example, the current expansion to cover service providers (in addition to manufacturers) was in large part due to feedback from member users who wish to improve the overall quality of a project, including the responsibilities met by external contractors.

Who Issues API Q1 Certification?

Certification is issued exclusively by the American Petroleum Institute. As noted above, organizations which were previously certified with an older version of the API Q1 standard (such as the 9th Edition) will now have to recertify with the 10th Edition in order to remain current.

Why Was the API Q1 Standard Created?

The American Petroleum Institute established the API Q1 standard in the 1980s in order to address specific quality and safety needs particular to the oil and gas industry. At that time, the dominant international quality management system standard issued by the International Organization for Standards (ISO), ISO 9001, did not specifically include guidance for the oil and gas industry; this situation remains the same today. Furthermore, while the ISO has in the past cooperated with American oil and gas equipment manufacturing companies, such as firms that produce pressure valves, international trademark and intellectual property disputes have prevented a single global standard from emerging in this industry. As a result, the American Petroleum Institute stepped in to fulfill this need for standardization, while also ensuring intellectual property protection for manufacturers.[3] 

Furthermore, while the ISO 9001 standard is a system of guidance for the creation of a company’s quality management system, the API Q1 standard is a more strict and binding set of rules, due to the fact that it is regulated by a specific industry trade organization. Many companies view the ISO 9001 standard as a suggestion for best practices, and of those that follow the standard, some view the eventual outcome of ISO certification as optional or voluntary (since tangible benefits can be gained even without achieving certification). For API Q1, on the other hand, certification is in many cases a requirement if a company expects to serve the oil and gas industry. Most major firms in the industry already have certification, and will not contract to a company which does not. This has led companies in the sector to prioritize API Q1 certification, even if they already have ISO 9001 certification. In some cases, it may be beneficial for a company to have both, as achieving certification increases confidence among suppliers and clients, and can potentially drive additional business opportunities, as well as improved quality, efficiency, and safety.

How Can I Learn or Be Trained on the API Q1 Standard?

Learning a quality management system standard is essential both for implementing it, and for maintaining it in your company once established. Fortunately, API Q1 training is readily available to all who are interested, thanks to an extensive set of resources provided by the American Petroleum Institute via the API Learning website, which provides a full catalogue of references and courses.[4] For those interested in API Q1 training online, a self-paced and pre-recorded online course (available for $650) explains all the key differences between the new 10th Edition and prior editions, and also provides an individual certification of participation to all students.[5] Periodically, free seminars which provide insights and explanations of major API standards are recorded and archived for reference use, although presently there are none covering the 10th Edition of API Q1. For students preferring a live class, API Q1 online training, as well as select in-person training, is regularly provided by API-U certified instructors, with a rotating list of training sessions in various languages updated regularly.[6] Obtaining your training directly from an API Learning resource or API-U session is ideal, since the content has been vetted and approved by the American Petroleum Institute and is therefore up to date and accurate.

Should an API provided course not be available, numerous external consultants also provide training worldwide. Needless to say, it is important to evaluate these consultancy services before contracting them to be sure their information and data are current.

Finally, there is the option to use software, in conjunction with consultants and / or your own research, to learn the standard. The solution we offer, QMS2GO, is ideal for this, as it is trained on the current API Q1 10th Edition data. If you are interested in learning more about this economical and self-directed way of familiarizing yourself with the standard, we encourage you to reach out to us.

Regardless of how you conduct your API Q1 training, you should prioritize equipping yourself with the best means to realize the benefits and achieve certification for your company as the new edition goes into effect. Utilizing additive software like QMS2GO can help accomplish this.

References and Citations:

[1] American Petroleum Institute – API Releases 10th Edition of API Spec Q1 (9/18/23) – https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/news/2023/09/18/api-releases-10th-edition-of-api-spec-q1

[2] World Oil – API Specification Q1 – The Significance of the New Edition (2/1/24) – https://www.worldoil.com/news/2024/2/1/api-specification-q1-the-significance-of-the-new-10th-edition/

[3] Valve World Americas – Key Differences Between API and ISO Standards (5/6/22) – https://valve-world-americas.com/key-differences-between-api-and-iso-standards/

[4] API Learning – API Learning Main Page – https://apilearning.org/#/public-dashboard

[5] API Learning – API Spec Q1 – 10th Edition Transition Training – https://apilearning.org/#/online-courses/2d77ccef-ca80-452c-afba-5519d2b085c4

[6] API-U – API-U Course Catalogue: API Spec Q1 Training – https://www.api.org/products-and-services/training/calendar#q=transition&sort=%40ftitle3892%20ascending

AUTHORS

Onega Ulanova

Onega Ulanova is the co-founder and CEO of QMS2Go, bringing her expertise as a Lead Auditor and Black Belt Six Sigma Specialist. Her entrepreneurial ventures span consulting and prototyping in manufacturing and inventing. With a strong background in quality management, including experience with the American Petroleum Institute, she ensures high standards across all her endeavors.

Nicholas R. Zabaly

Nicholas R. Zabaly is the Editor-in-Chief of QMS2GO’s research and knowledge-base operations. An experienced researcher and technical writer, he has worked closely with the company since its foundation and serves as its lead article writer.

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