190 likes | 205 Views
Understand the crucial role of senior management in implementing and sustaining an Environmental Management System (EMS) through continual improvement. Learn specific expectations, considerations, and processes for successful management review of EMS, including key elements like environmental policy, compliance, and corrective actions.
E N D
Role of Senior Management EPA Regions 9 & 10 and The Federal Network for Sustainability 2005
Plan Do Check Act Continual Improvement Environmental Policy Management Review Checking & Corrective Action Planning Implementation & Control
The Role of Management • The EMS model is built on the premise that senior management is consistently participating or otherwise involved. • There are key points where senior management has a defined role (e.g., Policy, management review). • Ongoing support is critical.
Specific Expectations of Management • Be visible and positive about the message. • Show your support through organizational policy, as well as “walk the talk” by your words and actions. • Discuss the benefits of using the EMS tool; Most importantly, verbalize how it supports the mission. • Be up front and honest about the effort needed for successful implementation. • Provide resources (financial, staff, external).
Specific Expectations (cont.) • Provide moral support, encourage your team, and create a leadership environment that ensures success. The staff should feel that you are in it with them and committed to success. • Encourage dialogue among the various offices, units and/or facilities. Try to break down the silos! • Share performance results with the workforce. • Communicate outside the agency to share experiences and to learn from others.
Management Review of EMS EPA Regions 9 & 10 and The Federal Network for Sustainability 2005
Management Review • Separate element in ISO 14001 (4.6), • Distinct from checklists or EMS audit, • Essential part of continual improvement.
Top Management Should Review • Continuing suitability of the EMS and policy, • EMS audit results and compliance evaluations, • Environmental objectives, targets and performance, • Status of corrective and preventive actions, • Communications with interested parties, • Follow-up from previous management reviews, • Changing circumstances, • Recommendations for improvement.
Top Management Considerations Issues resulting from changes in: • Products, services, or activities, • Technological advances, • Legislation, • Expectations of stakeholders, • Financial circumstances.
Items to look for • Schedule for management reviews • Attendees at meetings • Minutes of management review meetings • Support for continual improvement.
EMS 101 for Senior ManagementBrief Overview of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) EPA Regions 9 & 10 and The Federal Network for Sustainability 2005
What is an Environmental Management System? • It is the tool used by an organization to manage the: • Organization structure, • Planning activities, • Responsibilities, • Practices, procedures, processes, • Resources. • It is for developing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing, and correcting/improving the approach to addressing environmental issues. • It is the structured approach that incorporates environmental considerations into day-to-day operations throughout the organization, and is designed to promote continual improvement.
Process vs. Performance • An EMS defines a process- “HOW” to do something, in this case, manage environmental issues. • It alone does not guarantee performance status- or “WHAT” needs to be done. For example, being in compliance is a measure of performance. • The EMS is a process used to achieve performance goals.
General Principles • An EMS uses the Plan-Do-Check-Act Management Model, • An EMS serves the organization and its mission, not the reverse, • EMS is a process, not an event, • An EMS is the people & their actions, not the words & aspirations, • Improvement rests on changing attitudes & behaviors “Want to, not have to”, • Start at the top, and the bottom and implement throughout.
Keep in mind… • The EMS and related measurement tools are just that- tools. Alone, they will not guarantee success. Do not fixate on the tool. • The organization must use the tools, not just have them. • A useful EMS is “alive”; constantly measuring performance, making adjustments, and looking for continual improvement opportunities.
How to Prepare for Management Review • Have a clear understanding of Policy, • Know how and why objectives and targets were identified, • Review audit findings, • Assess overall effectiveness of EMS, focusing on continual improvement.
ISO 14001 Elements Management Review Environmental Policy Continuous Improvement • Planning • Environmental Aspects • Compliance • Objectives and Targets • Environmental Mgmt. Programs • Checking/ • Corrective Actions • Measurement and Monitoring • EMS Nonconformance and Corrective Actions • Records • EMS Audits • Implementation • Roles and Responsibilities • Training and Communication • EMS Document Control • Emergency Preparedness and Response
A Viable EMS • To succeed an EMS should be: • In harmony with mission focus; • Cost effective; • Flexible; • Transparent; • Useful to the “practitioner”; • Focused on continual improvement.
Continual Improvement Cycle Etc. Plan Implement Implement Plan Review Implement Check Check Review Plan