Considering Getting Certified to a Management System? Check this Out!
A management system is the approach used by organization to manage the interrelated parts of their businesses with the aim of achieving their goals. These goals or objectives may include such things as product or service quality, operational efficiency, environmental performance, health and safety in the workplace and others. ISO management system standards (MSS) enable organizations monitor, manage and improve their operations and performance.
They do this by specifying repeatable steps that organizations consciously implement to achieve their goals and/or objectives, creating work culture that reflexively engages in a continuous cycle of self-assessment, correction and improvement of operations and processes through regular creation of employee awareness, management leadership and commitment.
Management system standards (MSS) stem from mutual consensus among international experts in global management, leadership strategies, and efficient and effective processes and practices. MSS standards can be implemented by any organization, regardless of size and operational activities.
The following are some popular standards implemented by tens of thousands of organizations around the world:
ISO 9001 provides the framework for organizations to improve the quality of their products and services and consistently meet their customers’ expectations; addressing various aspects of quality management. The standard sets out the criteria for a quality management system can be used by any organization regardless of its field of activity and size.
As a matter of fact, over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries have been certified to ISO 9001. The standard which is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement, when implemented ensures that good-quality products and services are consistently delivered to customers.
ISO 45001 is go-to standard for organizations that are really serious about improving safety of employee, reduction of workplace risks and creation of a better, safer working conditions. International Labour Organization estimated that more than 7 600 people die from work-related accidents or diseases every new day.
This standard was developed by ISO committee the aim of potentially saving almost three million lives each year. Having similar structure with other ISO management systems, the approach will be familiar to users of standards such as ISO 14001 or ISO 9001.
This standard in the ISO family, developed by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 207 and its various sub committees, provides a framework for any type of organizations (regardless of its activity or sector) requiring practical tools to manage their environmental responsibilities. ISO 14001 sets out the criteria for an environmental management system, mapping out a framework that an organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system.
The standard provides an assurance to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being monitored, measured and continuously improved. It is focused on specific approaches including audits, communications, labelling, life cycle analysis, and environmental challenges such as climate change. Over 300,000 certifications to ISO 14001 in 171 countries around the world are on record.
Unsafe food poses very serious danger to human health. ISO 22000 by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) empowers organizations to identify and control food safety hazards, in collaboration with other ISO management standards, such as ISO 9001. Applicable to all types of food and food-related companies, ISO 22000 creates an impact of reassurance that people can trust food/feed and related materials migrated within the global food supply chain.
Energy Management Systems (EnMS) is developed for organizations committed to addressing their impact, conserving resources and improving the bottom line through efficient energy management. The standard provides a practical way to improve energy use, to support any organization regardless of size and activities.
ISO 50001 provides a framework of requirements which enable organizations to:
- Develop and implement a policy for more efficient use of energy.
- Fix targets and objectives in order to be able to meet the policy.
- Utilize data to gain better understanding and make decisions about energy use.
- Monitor and measure the results.
- Review how well the policy works, and
- Continually improve energy management.
FSSC 22000 is a Food Safety Management Certification Scheme, managed by Foundation FSSC 22000, governed by an independent Board of Stakeholders consisting of representatives from several sectors in the food industry and required for controlling food safety risks.
The Food Safety Certification requirements provide a rigorous system to manage food safety risks and provide safe products for use by companies in the food industry. FSSC 22000 is a GFSI recognized food safety certification enabling high customer confidence in the food safety program, convincing them that there is a rigorous food safety system in place.
Benefits of Implementing the Management Systems
- Elimination of food contaminations.
- Improved company’s reputation.
- Improves marketing and public image.
- Acts as a fundamental requirement for government tenders.
- Improves regulatory performance.
- Lower risk of non-compliance fines thereby saving cost for the company.
- Employee motivation.
- Waste reduction (both raw materials and cost).
- Attracts more stakeholders (customers, investors, shareholders).
- Increased profits from lower costs.
About the Author
Adebayo is a thought leader in continuous process improvement and manufacturing excellence. He is a Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt (CSSMBB) Professional and Management Systems Lead Auditor (ISO 9001, 45001, ISO 22000/FSSC 22000 etc.) with strong experience leading various continuous improvement initiative in top manufacturing organizations.
You can reach him here.
