On Time. First Time. For a Lifetime.
Introduction
A Message from Laura Greenway, Procurement Manager – Beldam Crossley
In subsea and offshore engineering, procurement decisions are made under intense pressure. Lead times are compressed, installation windows are fixed, and requirements can evolve quickly as projects move from design to execution. Every component procured plays a critical role in assets that may operate unseen — and inaccessible — for decades.
Throughout my career in procurement, one thing has become very clear: even experienced, diligent procurement teams can be let down by suppliers who look right on paper but fall short in practice. Specifications may be met, quotations may be competitive, and lead times may appear achievable — until the reality of offshore delivery exposes gaps that were difficult to see at the outset.
At Beldam Crossley, we work closely with procurement professionals across the offshore and subsea supply chain. We understand the balancing act required to manage cost, quality, schedule and risk — often while relying on supplier information that may not tell the full story. This is not a criticism of procurement; it is the reality of complex global supply chains.
This article and accompanying free guide are intended to support procurement professionals, not second-guess them. They provide a practical, experience-led framework to help identify reliable suppliers, recognise early warning signs, and reduce the risk of being misled by optimistic promises or incomplete capability claims.
Every item procured offshore performs like the performance of a lifetime.
It must land on time. It must perform first time. And it must continue performing for years to come.
Selecting the Right Supplier for Subsea & Offshore Engineering
A Procurement Checklist for Equipment That Must Perform First Time, Every Time
In subsea and offshore engineering, procurement decisions carry a unique weight. Components are deployed into some of the harshest operating environments on earth — high pressure, corrosive media, extreme temperatures and limited access for maintenance or replacement.
Once installed, failure is rarely an option.
At Beldam Crossley, we have supported offshore and subsea programmes for decades, manufacturing precision PTFE-based components, seals and bearings where performance, quality and delivery certainty are non-negotiable. Through this experience, one truth consistently emerges:
Most offshore issues don’t stem from poor intent — they stem from suppliers overestimating capability, underestimating complexity, or failing to control delivery risk.
Why Supplier Selection Is So Challenging Offshore
Unlike many industries, offshore and subsea projects operate with:
- tightly managed critical paths
- limited and immovable installation windows
- extremely high cost of delay
- safety-critical operating environments
Procurement teams are often required to make decisions early, with incomplete information, while managing internal pressure on cost and schedule. A late delivery, missing certificate or under-engineered component doesn’t just cause inconvenience — it can halt an installation campaign, delay first oil or gas, or introduce long-term integrity risk.
The role of procurement, therefore, is not simply to source parts — but to protect the project from avoidable risk.
The 7 Things Procurement Must Get Right
Proven Offshore & Subsea Experience
Suppliers must demonstrate evidence, not just confidence. Many suppliers genuinely believe they can deliver — but offshore conditions quickly expose inexperience.
Look for:
- repeat offshore or subsea supply
- references from operators, EPCs or Tier 1 contractors
- experience at comparable depths, pressures and duty cycles
Capability without proof is not malicious — but it is still a risk.
Robust Quality & Certification Frameworks
Offshore quality is not created at final inspection. It is built into processes, systems and culture.
Minimum expectations should include:
- certified quality management systems
- full material traceability
- controlled inspection and test plans
If consistency cannot be demonstrated, reliability offshore cannot be assumed.
Engineering & Material Expertise
Procurement professionals should not be expected to spot every technical risk alone.
Strong suppliers will:
- challenge specifications constructively
- advise on material selection for wear, corrosion and chemical exposure
- understand offshore failure modes, not just drawings
Early technical input often prevents late-stage issues.
Delivery Certainty — Not Optimistic Lead Times
One of the most common ways procurement teams are let down is through over-promised lead times.
Assess:
- historic on-time delivery performance
- manufacturing capacity and in-house control
- transparency when schedules are at risk
A realistic commitment delivered is far more valuable than an optimistic promise missed.
Documentation That Supports Offshore Clearance
Even high-quality components can be rejected offshore due to documentation gaps.
Suppliers must be able to deliver:
- complete manufacturing record books
- certificates of conformity and material certification
- documentation aligned to project requirements
Documentation is not administrative — it is operational.
Supply Chain Control & Resilience
Global disruption has made supplier transparency more important than ever.
Procurement teams should understand:
- what is manufactured in-house
- where external dependencies exist
- how disruption risks are managed
Control equals predictability.
Long-Term Accountability
Offshore procurement does not end at delivery.
The right suppliers:
- support installation and commissioning
- respond quickly to technical queries
- remain accountable long after delivery
This is where partnerships, not transactions, make the difference.
Common Red Flags Procurement Professionals Should Watch For
Final Thought from Beldam Crossley
Offshore and subsea procurement is not about lowest cost — it is about lowest exposure to risk.
Procurement professionals operate in a challenging environment, often making high-impact decisions with imperfect information. The right frameworks, questions and red-flag awareness can significantly reduce the chance of being misled or let down.
When suppliers are selected based on evidence, engineering depth, quality systems and delivery discipline, projects run smoother, installations proceed on schedule, and equipment performs quietly in the background for years to come.
That is the standard we hold ourselves to — and the standard procurement professionals
Request the Free Guide
Reduce risk. Improve delivery certainty. Protect your offshore project. If you’re responsible for procuring equipment for subsea or offshore engineering projects, our free guide provides a practical, experience-led checklist to help you:- qualify suppliers with confidence
- avoid late deliveries and documentation delays
- ensure equipment performs first time — and for the long term
Download the Free Guide
“The Offshore & Subsea Procurement Supplier Checklist”
Whether you’re tendering a single critical component or managing a complex offshore programme, this checklist helps you make informed supplier decisions that stand up offshore. Request your free copy today and ensure every item lands on time, every time.Offshore & Subsea Procurement Supplier Checklist
By Beldam Crossley
This checklist is designed to support procurement professionals, recognising how easy it is to be misled by confident suppliers, optimistic timelines, or incomplete information — particularly under offshore project pressure.
Use it to qualify suppliers before award, identify early warning signs, and reduce delivery and performance risk.
✔ 1. Experience & Track Record
Confirm the supplier can demonstrate:
☐ Proven offshore or subsea project references
☐ Experience at similar pressure, temperature and duty cycles
☐ Repeat supply into safety-critical environments
☐ Named customer references willing to be contacted
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
- References limited to adjacent industries, not offshore/subsea
- Statements such as “we haven’t done this exact application, but it’s similar”
- Reluctance to share customer names or project details
- Experience concentrated in prototypes rather than live projects
✔ 2. Quality & Compliance
Confirm the supplier can evidence:
☐ Certified quality management systems
☐ Full material traceability from raw material to finished part
☐ Defined inspection and test plans
☐ Clear control of non-conformance and corrective action
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
- Quality described verbally rather than documented
- Certificates provided “on request” rather than as standard
- Gaps or inconsistencies in traceability
- Quality seen as inspection-only, not process-driven
✔ 3. Engineering & Technical Capability
Confirm the supplier offers:
☐ In-house engineering support
☐ Material selection expertise relevant to offshore conditions
☐ Willingness to review and challenge specifications constructively
☐ Understanding of offshore failure modes
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
- “Build-to-print only” with no engineering engagement
- No questions asked about duty cycle, environment or application
- Material recommendations driven by availability rather than performance
- Defensive responses to technical clarification
✔ 4. Manufacturing Control & Capacity
Confirm the supplier has:
☐ Clear visibility of what is manufactured in-house
☐ Controlled use of subcontractors
☐ Capacity aligned to project schedule
☐ Documented production planning
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
- Unclear or changing answers on who actually manufactures the part
- Heavy reliance on subcontractors with limited oversight
- No explanation of how competing workloads are managed
- Capacity assurances without supporting data
✔ 5. Delivery Performance & Lead Times
Confirm the supplier can demonstrate:
☐ Historic on-time delivery performance
☐ Realistic, achievable lead times
☐ Clear escalation process if delivery risk arises
☐ Transparency around schedule constraints
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
- Lead times significantly shorter than all competitors
- Language such as “should be fine” or “we’ll make it work”
- No historical data to support delivery claims
- Late acknowledgement of schedule risk
✔ 6. Documentation & Offshore Readiness
Confirm the supplier can provide:
☐ Manufacturing Record Books (MRBs)
☐ Certificates of Conformity
☐ Material certificates and test reports
☐ Documentation aligned to project and client requirements
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
- Documentation treated as an afterthought
- Unclear ownership of documentation preparation
- Incomplete packs on previous projects
- Reliance on procurement to define documentation needs
✔ 7. Supply Chain Resilience & Risk Management
Confirm the supplier has:
☐ Identified supply chain risks
☐ Mitigation plans for material or capacity disruption
☐ Alternative materials or routes pre-qualified
☐ Transparency around single-source dependencies
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
- “We’ve never had an issue” used in place of a risk plan
- Heavy dependence on single suppliers with no contingency
- No visibility of raw material lead times
- Reactive rather than proactive risk management
✔ 8. Lifecycle Support & Accountability
Confirm the supplier will provide:
☐ Installation and commissioning support if required
☐ Responsive technical assistance post-delivery
☐ Accountability beyond delivery and invoicing
☐ Long-term performance ownership
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
- Limited engagement after order placement
- Support offered only on a “best endeavours” basis
- No defined point of contact post-delivery
- Responsibility ends once goods are shipped
Final Guidance for Procurement Teams
None of these red flags automatically disqualify a supplier.
However, multiple red flags in one area should trigger deeper scrutiny, additional questioning, or risk mitigation.
Offshore and subsea procurement is complex, pressured and high-stakes.
This checklist is intended to support informed decision-making, reduce reliance on assumptions, and help procurement professionals protect projects before risks reach site.
Because offshore, on time isn’t a bonus — it’s the baseline.
