ISO Standards & Business Improvement: EMS, OH&S, Quality, LEAN

ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System

ISO 14001:2015 is an environmental management system (EMS) standard that outlines requirements for an organization's EMS. It helps organizations to manage their environmental responsibilities in a systematic and proactive way. The standard specifies the requirements for an organization's EMS and provides a framework for establishing and maintaining an EMS.

Key Elements of ISO 14001:2015

Scope of the EMS

The scope helps achieve the intended outcomes of the EMS, considering a “life cycle perspective.” It defines the boundaries of the EMS and specifies any exclusions.

Normative References

This section lists additional requirements that need to be considered to maintain a consistent numbering scheme across all other management systems. It details the standards and other documents referenced within ISO 14001:2015.

Terms and Definitions

This section provides clear definitions of terms and concepts used throughout the ISO 14001:2015 standard.

Context of the Organization

• Identifies interested parties relevant to the EMS (e.g., customers, communities, suppliers, regulatory bodies).
• Determines their needs and expectations.
• Establishes, maintains, and improves the EMS according to standards.
• Identifies internal and external issues relevant to its EMS.

Leadership and Commitment

This section requires the organization to demonstrate strong leadership and commitment to the EMS by establishing clear policies, objectives, and targets.

Planning for Environmental Management

This section focuses on how organizations plan to address environmental risks and opportunities, requiring a robust plan for the implementation, maintenance, and continual improvement of the EMS.

Support for the EMS

• Ensures the execution of plans and processes to enable organizations to meet EMS requirements.
• Determines the necessary competence of personnel and ensures they receive appropriate training.
• Ensures that all personnel are aware of EMS policies and how their work may impact environmental performance.

Operation and Control

This section requires the organization to identify and control its environmental aspects and to comply with all applicable legal and other requirements.

ISO 45001:2019 Occupational Health & Safety Management

ISO 45001:2019 is an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system standard. Its structure and many requirements are similar to those found in other ISO management system standards like ISO 14001.

Core Components of ISO 45001:2019

Scope of the OH&S System

• Provides a safe and healthy workplace.
• Prevents work-related injuries and ill health.
• Monitors OH&S performance.
• Eliminates hazards and minimizes OH&S risks.
• Achieves OH&S objectives.

Normative References

This standard explicitly states that there are no normative references.

Terms and Definitions

This section provides definitions of terms and concepts with explanations to prevent confusion and ensure clarity of information.

Context of the Organization

• Understanding of the organizational context.
• Determines the needs and and expectations of workers and other interested parties.
• Establishes the scope of the occupational health and safety management system.

Leadership and Worker Participation

• Takes responsibility and accountability for the prevention of injuries at work and the provision of a safe and healthy environment.
• Drives continual improvement.
• Ensures the OH&S system is integrated into business processes.
• Promotes communication internally and externally.
• Protects workers when reporting incidents, hazards, and risks.
• Provides support for safety committees.
• Sets clear roles and responsibilities.

Support for OH&S

• Ensuring adequate resources.
• Developing the competence of workers.
• Promoting awareness.
• Facilitating effective communication.
• Maintaining documented information.

Operation and Emergency Preparedness

This section covers operational planning and control of safety and health protocols, including emergency preparedness in case of hazardous or dangerous situations.

Performance Evaluation

• Monitoring, analysis, and evaluation of organizational performance based on the OH&S system.
• Conducting internal audits to assess performance and make competent evaluations.
• Management review of information gathered through performance evaluation and analysis.

Improvement Actions

• Addressing nonconformities and implementing corrective actions to fix identified issues.
• Driving continual improvement towards the complete removal of problems regarding health and safety.

Quality Tools & LEAN Methodology for Business Excellence

Seven Essential Quality Tools

These seven fundamental quality tools can address a significant portion of management problems:

• Check Sheet: A structured form for collecting and analyzing data, reflecting the frequency of occurrence of specific events.
• Histogram: A graphical representation of the frequency distribution of numerical data, used for data analysis.
• Pareto Analysis: A technique for setting priorities, identifying the vital few causes that contribute to the predominant part of quality loss.
• Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa or Cause-and-Effect Diagram): Used for problem identification, facilitating the identification and analysis of possible causes for a specific problem.
• Scatter Diagram: A tool for data analysis, illustrating the relationship between two different variables.
• Flowchart: An illustrated representation of a process, showing the sequence of steps and decision points.
• Control Chart: A statistical process control tool for data analysis, used to identify process variations and determine when corrective actions are needed.

LEAN Business Strategy

LEAN is a business strategy focused on satisfying customer needs by offering only necessary goods and services. Its core principle is minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency. It is often described as 90% culture and 10% tools, representing a long-term approach that matures an organization.

Advantages of LEAN Implementation

• Secure work environment
• Lower operational losses
• Stable work processes
• Reliable equipment
• High-quality production

Core LEAN Rules

• Produce only what is needed, when it is needed.
• Prevent the repetition of errors if they are detected.
• All employees must actively contribute to improving product and process quality.

Motivation for Adopting LEAN

• Improve customer service.
• Enhance company performance against competitors.
• Reduce operational costs.
• Prepare for future business development and expansion.

LEAN Reduces Impact of Internal Factors

• Shortcomings in strategically important processes for the company.
• Employee overload and decreased motivation.
• Expansion of the company's operations, leading to planned increases in volume.

LEAN Addresses External Factors

• Meeting product and service standards.
• Satisfying customer expectations for both essential quality and speed of receipt.
• Responding to competitors who provide products or services faster and with better quality.