This article reviews management review in the latest ISO 14001 standard revision, including the management review requirement update and system recommendations for ISO 14001:2004 compliance. The updated ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) standard includes a clarification to the management review process and aligns management review through the identification of inputs and outputs with ISO 9001:2000.

In addition, the management review section now provides clarification in the descriptions of the specific subjects and information that’s to be collected and reviewed by top management. Management review represents a company’s environmental management system review to ensure system suitability, adequacy and effectiveness.

The International Organization for Standardization released the 2004 version of ISO 14001 on Nov. 15, 2004. Companies currently registered to the ISO 14001:1996 standard will need to upgrade their systems and have them re-certified to the 2004 standard by May 15, 2006. Beyond this date, the International Accreditation Forum will only recognize certificates for 2004 version. The ISO and IAF have jointly developed a transition policy document with technical details of the transition requirement, which was published by IAF on Dec. 20, 2004.

ISO 14001:2004 management review update
ISO 14001:2004, section 4.6 “Management Review,” represents a top management review that’s conducted at defined intervals, as determined by each organization. The specification is requiring management review to include the following inputs:

• The results from performed internal audits
• The results from compliance audits or assessments (The evaluation of compliance is a new addition to the 2004 standard.)
• The information from environmental inquiries, thus the communications from outside (external interested) parties and employees, to include complaints
• The environmental metrics or measurement of performance of your company or site
• The status of meeting “objectives and targets” programs, including the plan vs. actual circumstances
• The status of actions from corrective and preventive activities
• Open actions and activities status from previous management reviews
• Environmental changes in:
• Legal and other requirements that apply to your company/site
• Your organization’s site, services, products and activities
• The output from environmental aspects of newly developed or planned evaluation(s)
• Technology and science advancements
• Accident and injury investigation, including emergency incidents and experiences from previous history (lessons learned)
• Continuous improvement activities, including improvement recommendations and status

Outputs from the review include:

• Management review and decisions about the EMS appropriateness (suitability), sufficiency (adequacy) and success (effectiveness)
• Changes to resources that include: financial, human and physical
• Decisions and Actions associated with:
• Environmental policy
• Objectives
• Targets
• Any element of the EMS as deemed from management review

Record of the management review
The record is to include:

• Agenda items
• Who attended
• Meeting materials (presentation and/or handouts)
• Management conclusion (decisions)
• Any follow-up actions

Compliance recommendations for ISO 14001:2004’s management review requirement
Following are some recommended environmental management system updates to comply with ISO 14001:2004, including performing a gap analysis, top management training and closing the gap analysis through top management involvement.

1. Perform a gap analysis
Review the following materials and processes and identifying the missing items for compliance to ISO 14001:2004:

• Review EMS manual.
• Review the management review specification.
• Review “management review” minutes.

2. Top management training
Develop a top management review training program on ISO 14001:2004. The training should be direct and specific, setting the expectations for top management in meeting the needs the requirement.

3. Closing gap analysis
Provide a summary, ISO 14001:2004 “management review needs” and proposed closure of gaps to top management. Consider including this as part of top management training.

On your mark, get set...
The race has begun. The deadline to comply with the new revision is around the corner and “management review” represents one lap around the track or one requirement within the standard. Work through closing the gaps for the remaining elements and continue to drive toward the checkered flag of an ISO 14001:2004-compliant system.