Different Drivers and Motivators for ISO 14001

Automobile makers were one of the main drivers behind the QS series of quality standards. By requiring their suppliers and sub-contractors to develop certified quality management systems (QMS), major automotive manufacturers in North America were able to improve the quality of their end products with minimal additional cost. Businesses providing parts to the auto manufacturers had to have a certified QMS in place to retain their contracts. The financial disincentive for not putting a QMS into effect was great.

So far, some government entities and major auto manufacturers are advocating the ISO 14001 environmental management system standard. Ford Motor Company underwent a complete EMS registration of all its facilities worldwide by the end of 1998. Ford also wrote to all its suppliers, requiring them to register to the EMS standard. Honda of America registered its four Ohio plants in 1999 and asked its major suppliers to attain registration during 2000. Later last year, Toyota Manufacturing North America announced that all seven of its U.S. and Canadian-based auto manufacturing plants are registered to ISO 14001.

Outside of the automotive and rubber industries, major corporations such as Xerox and IBM are requiring their suppliers to register to the ISO 14001 standard. Some foreign governments have been equal partners in the push toward EMS registration. For example, nearly 200 companies have obtained ISO 14001 registration in South Korea. Government policy there encourages companies to become registered. In Germany, where the Green political party arose due to environmental concerns, there is strong pressure to register to the EMS standard. In the U.S., many states are considering legislation that would allow environmental regulators to —streamline“ statutory requirements, rather than have businesses continue to comply with onerous requirements of existing law. To qualify, businesses typically would have to be registered to ISO 14001 or have active projects underway that would result in superior overall environ-mental performance.

Download PDF Version: ISO 14000: Making the Transition from Thinking Quality ... to Building an Environmental Management System

What is ISO 14000? What are the components of the ISO 14000 standard? Different drivers and motivators for ISO 14000 Similarities and differences of ISO 14000 and ISO 9000 Changes to ISO 14000? Massive environmental performance changes may be just around the corner ISO 14000 drives a different commitment to communication First report on ISO 14001 pilot project

What are the benefits of ISO 14001? What is the difference between ISO 14000 and ISO 14001? Why choose SQA for your ISO 14001 certification? What is the process for ISO 14001 certification? What comes after ISO 14001 certification?

Making the transition from thinking Quality to Building an environmental management system ISO 14001: Where Are We? Where Are We Going? SQA's general certification process