Who is ISO?
ISO is a non-governmental organization (International Organization of Standards) ablished in 1947. The mission of ISO is to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services, and to develop cooperation in the field of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity. FYI ... ISO is not an acronym but, a Greek word meaning equal.
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What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is a set of basic business principles written in a standard for quality management systems that is accepted around the world. Currently more than 100 countries have adopted ISO 9001 as a national standard. The standard is intended for the quality management system assessments and registrations to ISO 9001. The standards apply uniformly to organizations of any size or description.
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Why are the Standards so Important?
Standards help ensure that everyone no matter where in the world they are communicating, they are speaking the same business language. Many companies require their suppliers to become registered to ISO 9001 and because of this, registered companies find that their market opportunities have increased. In addition, a company's compliance with ISO 9001 insures that it has a sound quality management system, and that's good business. Registered companies have had dramatic reductions in customer complaints, significant reductions in operating costs and increased demand for their products and services. Many industrial companies require registration by their own suppliers.
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How do I purchase copies of ISO standards?
You can contact CNCA（Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China）www.cnca.gov.cn or you can contact the International Organization of Standards web site at www.iso.org .
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What are the requirements of ISO 9001:2000?
The ISO 9001:2000 standard is divided up into 5 different processes:
4. Quality Management System
Documentation requirements
Quality manual
Control of documents
Control of records
5. Management Responsibility
Management commitment
Customer focus
Quality policy
Planning
Responsibility, authority and communication
Management review
6. Resource Management
Provision of resources
Human resources
Infrastructure
Work environment
7. Product Realization
Planning of product realization
Customer related processes
Design and development
Purchasing
Production and service provision
Control of monitoring and measuring devices
8. Measurement, Analysis and Improvement
Customer satisfaction
Internal audits
Monitoring and measurement of processes
Monitoring and measurement of product(s)
Control of nonconforming product
Analysis of data
Improvement
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What is ISO 14001?
The ISO 14001 standard is primarily concerned with "environmental management". This means what the organization does to minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities, and to achieve continual improvement of its environmental performance.
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Where can I find out more information about ISO 14001?
You can find out much more information about any ISO standard by going to the International Organization of Standards web site at: www.iso.org .
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What are the requirements of ISO 14001?
As with ISO 9001, the key to a successful ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) is having documented policies and procedures that are implemented and managed in such a way that achievement of environmental goals is appropriate with the features and size of activities is being conducted at your facility. In addition, the EMS must include appropriate monitoring and review to ensure effective functioning of the EMS and to identify and implement corrective measures in a timely manner.
ISO14001 standards include the need for facilities to document and make available to the public an Environmental Policy. In addition, procedures must be abolished for ongoing review of the environmental aspects & impacts of products, activities, & services. Based on these environmental aspects & impacts, environmental goals and objectives must be abolished that are consistent with the environmental policy. Documented programs must be set in place to implement these activities.
To ensure that the EMS is operating effectively and efficiently internal Audits of the EMS must be conducted routinely to ensure that non-conformances to the system are identified and addressed. In addition, the management review process must ensure top management involvement in the assessment of the EMS, and as necessary, addressing the need for changes.
The EMS policy(s) document(s) is the central document that describes the interaction of the core elements of the system, and provides a third-party auditor with the key information necessary to understand the environmental management systems in-place at the company. Consistent with the principles of ISO14001, the Environmental Policy and Environmental aspects/impacts analysis, including legal & other requirements, shape the program by influencing the selection of specific measurable environmental goals, objectives, & targets. Specific programs and/or projects must then be developed to achieve these environmental goals, objectives, & targets. The checking & corrective action elements of the system help ensure continual improvement by addressing root causes on non-conformances. The ongoing management review of the EMS and its elements helps to ensure continuing suitability, adequacy, & effectiveness of the program.
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Who needs to become certified to ISO 14001?
For many companies, conformance to ISO 14001 may become a contractual requirement of customers in both the U.S. and the European Community (EC). Some companies setting goals to ablish environmental management systems that conform to ISO 14001 guidelines in order to remain competitive in the global marketplace. For those companies who have already obtained ISO 9001 registration, the ISO 14001 registration is a logical next step because it is very similar to ISO 9001. In addition to the company marketing benefits of obtaining ISO 14001 registration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may provide regulatory incentives under its Common Sense Initiative (CSI) program to benefit companies certified to ISO 14001.
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What are benefits of becoming ISO 14001 certified?
Some of the benefits of implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) in accordance with the ISO 14001 standards, include: discovering areas for reduction in energy usage and other resource expenditure, reducing environmental liability and risk, helping to maintain reliable compliance with legislative & regulatory requirements, benefiting form regulatory incentives that reward companies showing environmental leadership through certified compliance with an internationally recognized EMS standard, averting pollution and reducing waste, responding to pressure from customers and shareholders, improving community goodwill, profiting in the market for "green" products, respond to insurance company pressure for proof of good management before pollution-incident coverage is issued, and demonstrating commitment to high-quality. |
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