What the Approved Manufacturers List (AML) Means for Buyers

Many operators and engineering contractors keep an Approved Manufacturers List (AML), sometimes called a vendor list. It names the manufacturers whose products they will accept on their projects. If your material comes from a maker who is not on the list, it can be rejected at inspection, even if it meets the specification on paper.

Why operators use an AML

• Consistency. The manufacturer has already been assessed against the operator's quality requirements.

• Traceability. Material can be traced back to a known source with documentation.

• Lower risk. Fewer failures in service and fewer disputes at the receiving dock.

What goes wrong without it

The usual story: a buyer finds a lower price, orders to the spec, and then learns that the project's AML does not include that manufacturer. The result is a rejected delivery, re-ordering, and a schedule that has already slipped. The saving disappears.

How to work with an AML

1. Ask for the current list first. Get the AML for your client or project before you send out enquiries. Lists get updated.

2. Say so in your RFQ. State which AML applies and whether alternates need approval.

3. Ask for documents. Request material test certificates and conformity documents with the delivery, and confirm what inspection is required.

4. Use a supplier who buys from manufacturers. A supplier with direct OEM relationships can usually confirm AML status before quoting, and source to it.

Our approach

Procurement and logistics are a major part of our business. We have built long-standing relationships with Original Equipment Manufacturers and international supply chain companies, and we make sure our manufacturers are on the AML of most international and indigenous oil companies.

Tell us which AML applies when you request a quote, and we will source to it.