Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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ISO 14000 Environmental Management Systems

Some time ago I posted questions on ISO 9000 implementation.

Our company is now well on the way to implementation (90% of the way to the 08first actual Registration Audit).

I am now curious about ISO 14000 (Environmental Management Systems). Any new input from anyone on either ISO 9000 or ISO 14000?

Thanks in advance to any responders and to our gracious hosts who have one of the best (and easiest to use) finishing industry web pages!

Bill Vins
microwave & cable assemblies - Mesa (what a place-a), Arizona
1997

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Unfortunately I can't personally help you on the ISO 14000 question; I'm just not involved with it. But I do thank you for your kind assessment of our efforts, and we'll keep on trying.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Bill,

I do not have any information on ISO 14000 directly, however, I do have a friend in Sweden that is involved with training companies (in Sweden) for ISO 9000. Roger is well aware of ISO 14000 and may provide some good information.

I hope this helps.

Matthew Horton
- St. Paul, Minnesota
1997

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ISO is turning into QS in these parts (New Jersey, USA). There is interest in many areas as lots of the upper tier suppliers are getting certified.

  
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania
1997

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1997

Hi Bill,

Congrats on working for ISO !

Our company recently received ISO 9002 Certification. It has been one of our best assets. We originally began after some of our customers frequently asked when we were thinking of getting certified. We plate mostly for electronics, automotive, etc. Large corp.s in this field have been certified for years. It is quite impressive when I get on the phone with a customer and they begin asking about our quality system, audits, etc As soon as I say we are certified, the conversation ends. They don't even give it another thought. It an insurance plan that we will be doing the same thing each time. Although it may involve major headaches and piles of paperwork, in the long run it pays off.

As far as ISO 14000, this is an environmental system. We just had someone down in Orlando for the AESF EPA Conf who said that they wouldn't be surprised if the EPA will eventually require all platers to have it.

I have loads of info on both so if you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

Hope I helped :)
Bobbi

Bobbi Sica
NEW BRUNSWICK PLATING

New Brunswick, New Jersey

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Bill, Generator Div. has been ISO 9002 certified for 3 years, with two recertifications. We have hit a wall, this they say is a natural event with ISO. We now have to focus on the system, and find ways of changing the our culture in some of our upper management. Having up to 30 internal auditors, we find ourselves having to be the catalyst to move forward. This next recert will be trying for our division.

We have other divisions in the first stages a little behind and near the 90 % you indicate.

As for 14000 we have just completed training our corp. safety and environmental group and they are auditing areas with our division auditors. They are probably a year away from an attempt at certification.

Thanks and good luck!

Tim

Tim R [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Kohler Company, Generator Div.
1997

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1997

ISO 14000 has more difficulties in implementing it in a organisation, compared to ISO 9000.

The funny thing of ISO 14000 is that it leads you through procedures on environmental issues in a similar way as ISO 9000 does on quality matters.

However the thought that "Starting with quality and the result will follow" is now quite deeply rooted in some parts of the industry.

The same thing can't be said about environmental issues.

Here, the government still has a task in forcing companies to comply.

An ISO 14000 will make good behaviour towards the whole environment an integrated part of your business.

I'm convinced that this will become an obligation in our industry.

The question mark is of course if it will lead to a competitive advantage. In any case if you succeed in implementing ISO 14000, it gives you a marketing advantage by being able to say that you're conscious towards our environment and in the final end it will even lead to lower total costs, as a lot of habits appears to be changeable if you keep asking yourself "why do we do it this way, and isn't there another way"

Also here the very important thing is that upper management has to be convinced that implementing ISO 14000 really pays back!

Success.

Harry van der Zanden
- Budapest, Hungary