Results of the 2010-11 ISO User Survey are reported in the current issue (December, 2011) of ISO Focus+. The survey was coordinated by TC 176, subcommittee SC2 and had 11,722 respondents from around the world. The full survey can be downloaded from the ISO website. Some of the findings that caught my attention follow.
Factors influencing certification. The three largest drivers that influence the decision to pursue certification are: customer satisfaction (4,222); market need (3,689); and, mandated customer requirements (3,290). These findings are consistent with what I have been seeing with my clients, in particular customer mandated requirements for integrated EHS management systems.
Important benefits of applying ISO 9001 in an organization. Customer satisfaction was the top response (5,886) as would be expected with 9001. Of interest is that many of the top responses also point to value with business process improvements, including: standard business process (5,821); increased management commitment (4,125); and more effective management reviews (3,975).
Integration. Question 11.4 asked “Were you able to integrate [your] ISO 9001 based Quality Management System with other Management System Standards or Models in your organization?” ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 were the top responses with 3,204 and 2,132 respectively. 1,903 respondents indicated that integration was not attempted. No respondents indicated ISO 31000 on risk management or 26000 on social responsibility – this could be due to the fact that strictly speaking neither of these are management system standards.
Incorporation of other concepts into ISO 9001. Respondents indicated a number of concepts and topics that they felt were important to incorporate into an ISO 9001 MS: resource management (75%); voice of the customer (74%); measures, including performance, satisfaction (72%); integration of risk management (73%); systematic problem solving and learning (73%); knowledge management (72%); strategic planning (68%); and, innovation (65%). In my client engagements, I have both observed these concepts and topics addressed in integrated EHSMSs, and have assisted with their integration. In the EHS arena, voice of the customer is often translated, or addressed as voice of the employees. These findings also confirm that many organizations use management systems as a performance measurement tool.
Consider how these questions may apply to your existing ISO 14001 and/or OHSAS 18001 MS. Have look at ways that an integrated 14001/18001 EHSMS can serve as a platform for risk management integration? Knowledge management? Organizational learning?
© Redinger EHS, Inc. (2010)