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News Release from: TUV Rheinland UK | Subject: Certification audits
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 19 April 2005
Time to update ISO 14000 certification
TUV has the capability to assess an organisation against quality and environmental system management requirements and can also update previous certification to realise the advantages.
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is an assembly of elements that determine the appropriate manner for an organisation to manage its environmental impacts ISO 14001 is one of the International standards belonging to the ISO 14000 series, specifically aiming at the completion and effectiveness of EMS
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 26 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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ISO 14001 provides a framework for the development of an environmental management system and the supporting audit programme.
Intended for any kind of organisation, ISO 14001 can be achieved by either company or non-profit organisation willing to implement or improve an Environmental Management System.
Companies involved in a process to achieve an environmental certification should not focus on the registration alone to the detriment of the main objective, which is to increase their business effectiveness and profits.
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The EMS, properly established, should bring cost savings and other benefits connected to the systematic approach.
After 15th May 2005, ISO 14001:1996 will no longer be auditable.
By May 2006, all certification will be to the updated standard ISO 14001:2004, which was released for publication on the 15th of November 2004.
The following improvements were introduced: * The new scope includes customers and other interest parties to use the standard for assessments of organisations.
* The environmental policy must be communicated to all persons working for or on behalf of the organisation such as contractors working on premises.
* The legal requirements must be taken into account in establishing the Environmental Management objectives, targets and programmes.
* Records of training shall be kept for evidence.
* Documentation must be much more detailed regarding the procedure on corrective and preventive actions; likewise the programme for management review and records of it must be detailed and accurate.
* Regarding the evaluation of compliance with legal and other requirements, two points of importance are: * The records of periodic evaluation must be kept * The compliance to other requirements such as those of specific customers must also be evaluated.
EMS certification involves several benefits for organisations.
* Customers, stakeholders, and society in general are more and more likely to expect or require a supplier to have EMS certification.
* Cost savings are achieved by strategies for efficiency and reducing variation and waste.
* After establishing an EMS, evidence control of the business and processes can be demonstrated.
* Companies image is improved by having an EMS.
Indeed, organisations with an Environmental ISO standard benefit from the aspects of confidence that are associated to quality image and the legitimacy built up by this International organisation during the past decades.
Are you also interested or do you have ISO 9000, Quality Management Systems? A great advantage of TUV Rheinland Group is to provide with integrated audits.
Indeed, why do you need to undertake two separate audit processes when you have the opportunity to put in place only one of them and reduce your investments and efforts? * Simpler documentation is undertaken, * Systems are supporting one another - for example, only one training system and integrated system manuals.
As a body, TUV has the capability to assess your organisation against both quality and environmental system management requirements.
We can also transfer or update your previous certification in order to consolidate and realise the advantages.
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