Quality Management: The Process
Quality management is the outcome of the use of several different practices as well as the processes involving improvement of a company. Customer demand satisfaction is related to the ability to improve the quality of services and goods that a company produces, and not solely based on the management of people, introducing a wider perspective to this process.
Completing the process of quality management on an organization that has no experience is a big undertaking and requires a significant amount of patience and time in order for the process to be completed. This process exists of at least 10 steps, and it can take up to 10 years for the results of these implementations to become fully in effect. This is a long time to see results and employees need to be motivated to achieve their goals while the process is underway.
Ensuring a Smooth ISO 14001 Integration
A strategic implementation plan should be produced, which outlines the resources required to develop the Environmental Management System, and this would almost definitely involve a gap analysis, and should also indicate how the system will be supported in terms of human, financial and technical resources. At this stage it is worth exploding one myth at least, specifically, that companies should not be discouraged only because they believe that they would be disadvantaged, perhaps due to the hazardous nature of their particular business. A company does not have to solve all its environmental problems in order to gain certification to ISO 14001. Recognition of its major problems, and the introduction of management controls to reduce the significance of any environmental impacts, is what an accreditation body is looking for initially, followed by a progressive plan of more improvements to reasonable and practicable levels.
Importance of Managing Occupational Health and Safety
The importance of managing occupational health and safety is recognized by all parties involved – employers, staff, clients, suppliers, insurers, shareholders, the community, contractors, and regulatory agencies. One way that organizations can control such risks and improve performance is by adhering to OHSAS 18001.
The specification takes a structured approach to safety management. Firms are encouraged to be pro-active and preventive by the identification of hazards and the evaluation and control of work-related risks. It can be used by any size organisation, regardless of the nature of their activities or location.
