Other manufacturing industries, such as food, electronics, and petrochemicals, have seen steady growth in ISO 14001 certification. Some service industries with growth include retail, air transportation, engineering, and governmental agencies. Pushing ISO 14001 down to suppliers isn’t strictly limited to the automotive industry; for instance, it’s anticipated that a number of retail giants will require certification of their suppliers. Requiring suppliers to provide ISO 14001 certificates can be more cost-effective than administering and implementing proprietary audit schemes.
The increase of global numbers is also driven by corporate requirements for ISO 14001 certification. European and Asian companies are noted for requiring this. It’s seen not only as the right thing to do, but can also provide a competitive advantage in terms of lower costs and increased efficiency. The corporate requirement is a significant reason for certification in areas and markets where growth isn’t otherwise realized. It’s anticipated that this phenomenon will spur growth from competition, as certification becomes a deciding factor in choices made by customers.
The far-reaching benefits of EMS implementation have been proven in several studies worldwide. The following are abstracts from several studies that look at the organizational value of an EMS as well as suggestions for how best to implement an EMS in conjunction with other types of quality management systems.
A wide range of benefits--in addition to benefits to the environment--resulting from the implementation of an EMS were identified in material published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of the Federal Environmental Executive:
• Fewer environmental incidents, and reduction of impact and response time when incidents occur
• More efficient use of resources
• Better awareness of the effect on the environment, allowing the workforce to make more informed decisions
• Increased suggestions and initiatives
• Additional opportunities to recognize and award performance
• Increased opportunities for delegation of responsibility
• Improved employee morale
• Improved customer service
• Enhanced compliance to, or better understanding of, root causes of noncompliance
• Better communication and relationships with all stakeholders
(“EMS Implementation Steps and System Benefits,” Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, 2003, www.ofee.gov/ems/training/August_8_Implementation_Training_Session.ppt )
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