Nigerian Firm Gets Shell’s Supplier Assessment Approval

Peter Uzoho

Nigeria Machine Tools Limited (NMTL), an integrated industrial engineering and manufacturing company has obtained Shell Supplier Technical Assessment Record (STAR) for Stud Bolts and Flanges.

As a result, the company in a statement yesterday, said the products were now listed in Shell's Technically Accepted Manufacturers and Products (TAMAP) database.

The company said its stud bolts and flanges were subjected to acceptance testing; overseen by a facility audit and company evaluation, at its design and manufacturing facility in Oshogbo, Osun State.

Commenting on the TAMAP approval, General Manager, Business Development and Corporate Affairs, NMTL, Obehi Ojeaga, said: "Nigeria Machine Tools strives to provide our end-users with reliable, quality products that addresses all their needs. As the first indigenous company in Nigeria to receive Shell TAMAP approval for stud bolts and flanges, we are proud to have received our esteemed customer certification giving us the ability to provide this product to the industry on a wider scale."

According to the statement from the company, "Shell carries out an extensive multi-annual vendor management testing procedure known as TAMAP, where vendors must undergo detailed product quality reviews. TAMAP assesses the capability of manufacturers and ensures that manufactures prove the full functional performance of their industrial products."

To further authenticate the standard of the procedure, NMTL explained that a personnel from Shell actively engaged in the entire process where they challenged each phase of the supply chain process and received a certificate of acceptance when the products had passed the TAMAP,

NMT's stud bolts and flanges, according to the statement, are all in full compliance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Standards and Customers’ specifications.

"They are available in different ranges including fully threaded studs, single and double ended studs; weld neck, threaded, slip on, socket, blind and lap joint flanges, with facing design options of; raised face, flat face, ring type joint and pressure class options of; 150lbs, 300lbs, 600lbs, 900lbs, 1500lbs, 2500lbs amongst others", the statement noted TAMAP listed products were confirmed to be in compliance with Shell's quality standards and specific MESC codes to which all products used in Shell operations and projects worldwide must comply.

This, the statement explained, means a Shell buyer in Angola, a pipe distributor in Ghana and a Shell EPC service provider in Nigeria, who are all bound to recognise and work in alignment to these codes and specifications, are authorised to use NMT stud bolts and flanges.

"This is to ensure that the custom quality demands set-forth by Shell on its fastener and flange manufacturers trickle into the supply chain.

"To attain this height in the marketplace, NMT has followed a path defined by high standards of professionalism, commitment to continuous improvement, premium attention to HSE and a strong determination to succeed. In addition to the TAMAP approval, NMT has also received the ISO 9001:2015 certification. NMT has remained ISO certified since 2014, maintaining a robust program that evolves through a system of continuous improvement anchored around a well implemented change management process, to ensure steady customer satisfaction.

"As part of its quality assurance process, NMT utilizes a Third-Party Independent Testing system for its products by IAS-accredited third-party laboratories to ensure compliance of supplied materials to ordered specifications as well as In-House Material Inspection cutting across visual, dimensional, positive material identification and some mechanical tests, all done independent of the third-party test. NMT's in-house production operation is also guided strictly by well-defined processes and procedures developed in accordance with world class manufacturing and HSE standards", the statement said.

It said NMT was also qualified as an approved manufacturer and registered with over 20 leading oil and gas and engineering companies including: Chevron; Nigeria LNG Limited; ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies; Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC); Saipem; Baker Hughes; Deltatek Offshore; TechnipFMC; Agip, Daewoo E&C among others.

"The company have supplied and supported over 20 projects in Nigeria, thereby supporting the country's drive towards industrialization and self-reliance in the manufacture of engineering goods, and conservation of foreign exchange through in- country manufacturing in the oil and gas sector.

"NMT remains a fully indigenous company committed to the provision of locally manufactured, high-quality products and services to our valued clientele across a wide variety of industries, both within and outside Nigeria," the statement further explained.