Visions - Summer 2007 - 12

Tubular Unique Machine Obtains Dual Certifications for Quality Joins Elite Group of Machine Shops S COA subsidiary Unique Machine LLC, the largest machine shop operator in Alaska, has become the first Alaskan company to be both API Spec Q1 and ISO 9001:2000 quality management certified for the manufacture of oilfield equipment and the proprietary threading of casing and tubing. Both certificates were obtained by Unique Machine following extensive reviews by a committee of the American Petroleum Institute Quality Registrar (APIQR), the certifying body. Unique Machine was founded in 1973, specializing in oilfield manufacturing and threading support. The company now serves the manufacturing needs of the Alaskan oilfield, construction, mining, and fishing industries. Unique Machine also provides oilfield services such as welding and field services. They are a licensed repair facility for Halliburton and Bonney Forge equipment. Specific to the oil and gas industry, Unique Machine holds proprietary technology licenses for threading services from most of the major technology companies that are based in Japan, France, Indonesia, England, and the United States. Accreditations Enable Higher Level of Service A computerized numeric control lathe operated by Richard McMillan These certifications are a reflection of our commitment to quality and continuous improvement in customer service. “Obtaining the ISO and API quality accreditations is a testament to the people within our organization,” said Pat Hanley, general manager of Unique Machine. “These certifications are a reflection of our commitment to quality and continuous improvement in customer service. It’s also differentiating us from our competitors. When the new oil companies come to Alaska, like Shell for example, they’re going to look for a vendor base with accreditation. Due to the certifications, we can also now go after companies like Boeing, which prior to certification wouldn’t have been possible.” Obtaining these certifications has been a lengthy process for Unique Machine, which had to perform all the necessary work to meet the standards of both quality programs. Unique Machine has also implemented a quality system designed to measure improvement. “Having a quality management system based upon our certifications gives us a way to plan and implement new capabilities in a controlled manner without sacrificing quality,” said Hanley. 12 visions Summer 2007 “These accreditations mirror the way we do business,” he added. “Companies doing business with accredited suppliers can be assured of a high level of quality, performance, and relationship.” Unique Machine joins an elite group of shops to be certified at this level. Out of 109 companies in the United States listed in the API composite index, only 29 have all three quality management system certifications. But Unique Machine will not stop there. The company is working towards obtaining its API certifications for “Specification for Casing and Tubing” and “Specification for Rotary Drill Stem Products.” Unique Machine Important Member of Local Business Community Unique Machine has been doing business in Alaska for 34 years. Acquired by SCOA in November 2004, Unique Machine has since become even more efficient in its operations. “We put ourselves on the clock when we became SCOA,” declared Hanley. “We said ‘by this date, we want to have this done.’ We were able to plan and use external resources to assist us. It’s also been a different climate since

Visions - Summer 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Visions - Summer 2007