By: Bud Weightman
President, Qualified Specialists, LLC
On January 29, 2026, my colleague Jason Price and I were honored to receive an API Resolution of Appreciation recognizing our work and dedication to Task Group 20M, which resulted in the publication of:
API Standard 20M
Qualification of Suppliers of Machining Services for Use in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries, 2nd Edition.
Jason serves as Director of Manufacturing for Fastenal and is Co-chair of API Subcommittee 20 (SC20) – Supply Chain Management for Critical Materials and Processes used in oil and natural gas exploration and production. I serve as the Task Group Chair for API Standard 20M, which operates under SC20.
SC20 encompasses approximately fifteen specifications and standards, including:
- Five API Product Specifications under the API Monogram Program
- Eight API Standards for Supplier Qualification
- Two API Standards addressing Additive Manufacturing
The Resolution of Appreciation was presented by SC20 Chair Neal Ferguson, Director of Global Accounts – Energy for Element. SC20 is one of several subcommittees within API’s Upstream segment focused on exploration and production activities.
Participation in API standardization committees and standards development activities has been both professionally rewarding and strategically meaningful. Serving in this capacity provides the opportunity to contribute directly to industry-driven solutions that enhance quality, reliability, and supply chain integrity across the petroleum and natural gas sector.
Standards development requires collaboration across operators, manufacturers, service providers, and third-party organizations. The resulting documents represent consensus-based guidance intended to improve safety, consistency, and supplier qualification practices throughout the industry.
I value the opportunity to contribute to this work and to help address evolving industry needs through structured, consensus-based standards development. Additional information regarding the benefits of committee participation and the role of API standards may be found on API’s Upstream website.
