Inspection Company to Attain Latest ISO Certification
16th October 2009
PII Pipeline Solutions Gains Early ISO 9001 Certification; Only Operator Globally to Attain ISO/TS 29001
Building on its tradition of leadership in safety and quality
compliance within the global pipeline industry, GE Oil & Gas, PII Pipeline Solutions announces that it
has successfully attained third-party certification to the latest internationally recognized quality
management system standard, ISO 9001: 2008.
Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), a leading third-party certification body, recently
completed a series of assessments at PII Pipeline Solutions’ main facilities in the United States,
United Kingdom and Germany against ISO 9001: 2008, which effectively replaced ISO 9001: 2000 in
November 2008. All existing certificates issued against ISO 9001: 2000 will become obsolete at the
end of 2010. GE has therefore proactively secured certification well in advance of the expiration
deadline.
In 1991, PII Pipeline Solutions became the first pipeline inspection company globally to attain quality
management system certification, and ISO 9001 is now the preferred standard used by over 500,000
companies around the world.
“Achieving ISO 9001: 2008 certification reflects our ongoing commitment to quality, safety and
operational excellence at both our own and customer facilities globally,” said John Bucci, General
Manager for GE Oil & Gas, PII Pipeline Solutions. Furthermore, many international pipeline operators
now expect in-line inspection vendors to have ISO 9001 certification as an absolute minimum, Bucci
noted.
To this end, and for the first time, GE Oil & Gas – PII Pipeline Solutions’ Houston facility also was
successfully assessed against two additional certification standards, in parallel to ISO 9001
certification, namely: ISO/TS 29001: Petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries — sectorspecific
quality management systems — requirements for product and service supply organizations;
and EN 13980: 2002: Potentially explosive atmospheres – application of quality systems.
Being the first in-line inspection business to attain ISO/TS 29001: 2007 certification will further
underpin GE’s commitment to be a world-leading pipeline integrity business. Based on ISO 9001, the
ISO/TS 29001: 2007 standard sets out additional oil and gas industry specific requirements and is
the international identical equivalent of API standard API Spec Q1. Both standards are
complementary to API standard 1163, which defines requirements for the qualification of in-line
inspection systems and personnel to ensure the safety and integrity of pipelines that transport gas
and hazardous liquids.
Similarly, EN 13980 is also based on ISO 9001, and is linked to European legislation — Directive
94/9/EC for the design and operation of equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
(ATEX Directive). This important legislation created a framework for ensuring that products (pipeline
inspection tools) are designed, manufactured and operated in accordance with specific essential
health and safety requirements with the overall aim of explosion prevention. The ATEX Directive has
since rapidly become an internationally recognized requirement of many pipeline operators
worldwide.
GE Oil & Gas was the first pipeline integrity services provider to deploy ATEX compliant inspection
tools – EC-type examination certification through an independent notified body. The company was
also the first to earn ATEX quality management system certification against EN 13980 in 2006.
The recent addition of EN 13980 certification for the Houston facility emphasizes the commitment to
deliver a service world-wide based on the highest level of safety to prevent harmful incidents during
a pipeline inspection. The design, manufacture and operation of inspection tools are ATEX
compliant.
These certifications are the latest earned by GE Oil & Gas, PII Pipeline Solutions as part of its overall
quality, environmental health and safety commitment.
About GE Oil & Gas
GE Oil & Gas (www.ge.com/oilandgas) is a world leader in advanced technology equipment and services for all
segments of the oil and gas industry, from drilling and production, LNG, pipelines and storage to industrial
power generation, refining and petrochemicals. We also provide pipeline integrity solutions, including
inspection and data management. As part of our ‘Innovation Now’ customer focus and commitment, GE Oil &
Gas leverages technological innovation from other GE businesses, such as aviation and healthcare, to
continuously improve oil and gas industry performance and productivity. GE Oil & Gas employs more than
12,000 people worldwide and operates in over 100 countries.
About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world
needs. From energy, water, transportation and heal to access to money and information, GE serves customers
in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the
company’s Web site at http:///www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.
For more information, contact:
Nigel O’Connor Laure Brooks
Global Media Relations PII Pipeline Solutions Marketing Communications
GE Oil & Gas GE Oil & Gas
+44 207 302 6941 +44 191 247 3359
nigel.o’connor@ge.com laure.brooks@ge.com
Tom Murnane or Ken Darling
Masto Public Relations
+1 518 786 6488
tom.murnane@mastopr.com
kenneth.darling@ge.com