Integrating Quality and Environmental Management Systems
You may be considering implementing Quality (Q) and Environmental (E) Systems together from scratch; or you have one of the systems in place, and are considering adding on the other system. How can you do this?
First, read the previous post about the definition of an integrated system. For the purposes of this post, we’re going to assume we are looking at a fully integrated system. Fully integrated systems will have one set of documentation (policy, manual, procedures, etc); one set of records (encompassing all the quality and environmental requirements); one management system review, one integrated audit plan and schedule, etc.
So, what’s our strategy for implementing a Q and E integrated system?
1) Understand the requirements for both standards
2) Understand the common elements, that are the most easily integrated (because the working is virtually identical)
- Policy
- System Documentation (Manual)
- Document Control
- Records Control
- Management Review
- Internal Audit
- Corrective Action
- Preventive Action
3) Develop a strategy of how you are going to address areas that do not have a complementary component in the other standard (for example – environmental aspects and impacts in ISO 14001; customer focus and satisfaction in ISO 9001)
4) Develop a punch list of action items to be addressed, with the goal of implementing the system (Plan The Work)
5) Place responsibilities (names) and targets for completion (dates) next to the action items.
6) Implement the plan (Work The Plan), including internal audits to ensure that the implementation is effective and comprehensive.
If an organization chooses to do a partial implementation; you implement step 2, and then skip step 3 before continuing on with the balance of the list. Partial integration is seen most often in organizations where they have separate existing Q and E functions who do not report to the same management; and where these functions are somewhat entrenched.
One method is not necessarily better than another (partial vs. full integration); it is more often which method is a better fit to the organization’s needs and goals.
Many customers are now requiring that organizations maintain multiple certifications; integrating these requirements into one system eliminates redundancy, the opportunity for error (it says abc in the quality system while the environmental system says def…); and helps employee to understand that it’s not a ‘quality’ requirement or an ‘environmental’ requirement; it’s a ‘process’ requirement or a ‘system’ requirement (in other words, these requirements are cohesive and linked).
Questions on integrating quality and environmental systems? Contact us at info@mcdcg.com or 512-280-7175 to chat!
