Similarities and Differences

Print
Download Full PDF

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

of ISO 14000 and ISO 9000

Structurally, the ISO 14000 and ISO 9000 standards have much in common. Both require written plans, although ISO 14001 calls for environmental planning that includes legal and other requirements, objective and targets, and environmental management programs.

In the area of implementation and operation, the ISO 9001 standard includes requirements for organization, training, quality systems procedures, and document and data control. The biggest addition to the ISO 14001 standard is for emergency preparedness and response. Both standards are similar in their requirements for checking and corrective action, management review, and internal auditing.

Management‘s responsibilities are more extensive under ISO 14001. The standard includes the drafting of an environmental policy, consideration of environmental aspects in all management activities, setting environmental objectives and targets, establishment of an external communication procedure (described later), and development of a management review process for environment-related matters. Requirements for the development of a management system under ISO 14001 are very similar to the ISO 9001 standard, although the differences between the two was the main topic of conversation when the world‘s representatives met in Seoul, Korea earlier this year.

If your business is already registered to ISO 9001, you probably have 75 to 80 percent of the management structure in place to conform to the ISO 14001 standard. What remains to be accomplished is the planning and implementation of environmental objectives and targets. However, the environmental personnel in your business may not know about quality management systems and may need to master the appropriate policies and procedures.

Choose SQA for your ISO 14001 Registrar

The decision to pursue ISO 14001 certification involves a substantial commitment of time and resources. Smithers Quality Assessments recognizes that this is a very personal decision requiring a solution tailored to your needs. To arrange for a SQA representative to review your certification needs, contact us at 330-762-4231 today.