Apache Industrial Services: Performance with purpose

A company doing it right.

Apache Industrial Services has quietly built a reputation of doing what it promises, when it promises, exactly how it promises. The company's story has been one of determined success, job by job. And as its man-hours have grown, the company's safety record continues to be among the finest in the industry.

With all its accomplishments, the best is still ahead for the company with an obsession for doing it right — inside and outside the organization.

At the heart of Apache's success lies its unwavering commitment to its craftsmen. From its inception, Apache has set itself apart through the quality of the craftsmen it hires. Skilled craftsmen define the company and drive performance, safety and culture. In many ways, the commitment to invest and reinvest in its people is the hallmark of Apache. As Chief Executive Officer Mike Knigin opens virtually every presentation he makes, "The assets of Apache walk in and out the door every day. They are not attached to the shop floor. It is for our craftsmen that we are committed to doing it right; it is what keeps us all engaged, safe and performing at the highest levels in the industry."

Add to personnel the company's investment in world-class training facilities, culture and a commitment to safety, and it becomes apparent how Apache Industrial Services delivers on its promises — to its own people and its customers.

Strong work ethic from the top down

At Apache Industrial Services, work ethic is not just a concept; it's a reality. Regardless of where the company operates, Apache is and always will be a service business. Said Knigin, "Success is 100-percent about our people, our craftsmen. It is common for the company's leaders to be on a jobsite working and interfacing with customers to ensure that every employee is engaged in a customer's solutions. Leaders are committed to being on-site whenever necessary, even nights and weekends."

Leadership at Apache means establishing a work environment where craftsmen are comfortable learning, growing and refining their trade. Knigin continued, "It is our strong belief that if we create a place where craftsmen want to be, if we are the employer of choice in the marketplace, the rest will take care of itself. To do this, people need to be able to make a difference, to feel and be part of something. They cannot be marginalized or made to feel like a number."

Apache Industrial Services employs men and women of character who are interested in making a positive impact. The company looks for people who are committed to the Apache Way of working and interacting. Apache craftsmen are individually empowered to take ownership of their actions and to be leaders in whatever task they are asked to complete.

"In order to solve problems for our customers, we have to see the world through the eyes of our craftsmen, in the trenches, in the field, in the line of fire," said Knigin. "We are all about empowering our people -- our craftsmen -- to take ownership, to be owners of their actions and to be leaders in the execution of the task at hand. That's what we refer to as 'performance with a sense of purpose.'" All of these are reasons why Apache invested in the construction of the largest, most advanced, totally dedicated Craft Training Center in the U.S.

The investment in the Apache training center is a vital part of the company's mission to be the leader in qualification, training and retention of its people. In addition to traditional classroom-style learning, written evaluations and training, Apache is able to perform pre-job field performance assessments and training at the facility for all crafts, including scaffolding and insulation. This means Apache workers have the technical skills, safety background and practice they need before they ever step out onto a jobsite. Apache knows the craftsman on the job is the right craftsman for the job. There is no ambiguity about the level of expertise and skillset of any craftsman on the Apache team.

Apache administers comprehensive safety and skills training at the facility on a regularly scheduled basis. The company continues to collaborate with a number of technical organizations at the training center, including NCCER, NACE, SIA, OSHA, HASC and others. In addition to certifications, extra learning and skill refinement, the training center provides the link for an employee to become infused into the culture and to become immersed in "Apache Pride."

Big facilities for superior training

The Apache Industrial Services training complex is the first of its kind and is believed to be the largest shop facility in the hemisphere, if not the world. But size is not the story here. What is important is the commitment to doing what's right, and doing it safely.

Apache's groundbreaking Houston Operations Center is on its 125-acre campus that features:

  • 28 independent climate-controlled workspaces.
  • Blast booth, roto-blast machine and exterior blast area.
  • Two paint booths with state-of-theart air handling systems.
  • More than 60 acres of laydown and equipment storage.
  • Significant investment in material handling equipment.
  • 28 production bays that measure 150 by 80 feet each.

On this campus sits the largest shop for coating, fireproofing and thermal spray aluminum facilities on the Gulf Coast. Every year, customers send Apache more than 3,000 truckloads of equipment, including piping, structure, plate, vessels and handrails. This adds up to more than 60,000 tons of steel and millions of square feet of surface area. By applying coatings in the shop instead of in the field, Apache is able to save customers money, often in the range of 20-30 percent. Doing this work in the shop also eliminates disruptionsof other crafts and scheduling issues that would otherwise occur on the jobsite.

"This facility's wide range of amenities and accommodations allows us to deliver an uncommon level of service for our customers," said Apache Industrial Services Chief Operating Officer David Bretherton. "And with 300,000 square feet of production warehouse space and room for expansion, customers can be confident that Apache will always be able to deliver."

A proven track record

As the backbone of the Apache operation and ambassadors to the Apache Industrial Services brand, craftsmen are supported by a network, a host of resources and an infrastructure that allows them to get the job done right.

Service line by service line, Apache is recognized for the quality of its work. In the scaffolding division, craftsmen utilize equipment with an average service time of only two years. The sheer scale of the scaffolding inventory has allowed Apache to offer some of the best material availability in the industry.

As the largest intumescent epoxy applicator in the western hemisphere, Apache is also recognized as one of the largest passive fire protection applicators in the U.S.

Whether the job entails refractory work or insulation, metallizing or safety management, Apache has the expertise and track record. And the company has a demonstrated commitment to doing it the right way: the Apache Way.

Safety in numbers

A good safety record is an indicator of many things: pride in performance, great execution and quality craftsmanship. And there is no stronger indicator of an exceptional company culture than a superior safety record.

Safety has always been, and will always be, core to how Apache does business. The company is proud of its safety performance while logging over 10 million man-hours in 2017. In fact, for eight years in a row, Apache has achieved record levels of improved safety benchmarks, even as the company's headcount has increased.

"All companies want their people to stay safe on a jobsite, and most are good at talking about the importance of safety," said Apache Industrial Services Chief Safety Officer Tysen Lutz. "But when you dig a little deeper, you find that the safety message may not reach to the individual level: the worker in the field who is putting up scaffolding, painting a structure or swinging a hammer. Apache makes it a point to connect our safety message and culture to each and every employee, regardless of their role or part in a project."

Knigin added, "Safety is more than a performance indicator; it's a cultural indicator. If our safety performance is strong, it means our message and commitment to our people is connecting directly with our craftsmen. It means we are operating with Apache Pride."

Apache employees are empowered to work safely on every task, every time. Leadership has the expectation every Apache craftsman takes pride in his or her work. In fact, employees are trained that safety is the "signature" they leave on each job. Every employee must own his or her work and be prepared to defend the quality of his efforts.

Craftsmen are required to "make it personal" with regard to safe work practices, and each participates in creating a Personal Safety Plan that is carried with the employee at all times. The Personal Safety Plan serves as a constant reminder that safety must remain top of mind. It is intended to motivate employees to look out for the safety of their fellow employees as well as their own. It also serves as a reminder that safety matters to customers, to co-workers and, most of all, to the families who rely on Apache employees to come home safely each and every night.

With a focus on safety, Apache is recognized as an "A" rated contractor with ISNetworld, Browz, PICS and other related industry organizations. The company's peers consistently recognize this commitment to safety, and its customers have come to rely on the Apache Way of delivering safe and quality work.

A culture of performance

Part of building a culture of performance entails protecting what works. It also entails preserving the integrity of what has come before while adding new ways of thinking and doing. Apache will continue to build on its growing reputation in the areas it serves but will do so strategically and with purpose.

Through its work and record of safety, Apache continues to make a statement. But it is the actions of Apache's craftsmen that speak the loudest and most clearly define and differentiate a company doing it right.

For more information on Apache Industrial Services, call Mike Knigin or Jeff Havens at (713) 450-9307, or visit www.apacheip.com.

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