Understand the Procedure and the Process of the ISO 14001 Environment Management System

Although the major criteria for environmental management documents have been reduced by ISO 14001:2015, Processes, Procedures, and Work Instructions are still frequently used to satisfy the remaining documentation requirements and to correctly implement the environmental management system (EMS). Unfortunately, the terms are frequently misunderstood in the context of EMS planning and documentation. The Environmental Management System (EMS) must be documented as proof that it complies with ISO 14001 requirements. Although there are explicit guidelines for the types of documents you must submit, the standard does not specify how you must conduct your business or record the evidence you provide. But firstly, understand what is the process and procedure of ISO 14001 EMS and why it is required.

Procedure

A procedure is a standardized approach for outlining how to carry out a process, such as controlling your suppliers. It usually includes things like:

• Why the procedure is required
• What requirements are to be accomplished and how will be executed
• Who performs what action?
• The sources of the inputs and the destinations of the outputs
• Any locational requirements
• The requirements they must meet
• Tools, information or other resources required
• Terminology, definitions, explanations, etc.

While the ISO 14001:2015 standard frequently mentions requirements and supporting processes, the necessity for developing specific procedures has been abolished and replaced with the term "Documented information." However, this does not diminish the need or effectiveness of properly outlining procedures. Procedures are employed when there is a certain operation that must be carried out consistently.

For instance, procedures are frequently the core documents for the EMS that aid in running the system with better conformity, consistency, and predictability, along with the ISO 14001 environmental manual and necessary forms. These procedures will outline how you run and manage your company while adhering to the criteria of ISO 14001 under changing circumstances such as staff changes, supplier replacements, changed client requirements/expectations, etc.  A well-established ISO 14001 procedures document, for instance, can be utilized as a model when creating particular procedures. A method often outlines how a business fulfils a process need, but it excludes company-specific execution information. Work instructions are the detailed guidelines that a worker must adhere to in order to execute assigned tasks.

Process

A process can be defined as any activity, or group of activities, that makes use of resources to convert inputs into outputs. The ISO 14001 standard offers a process-oriented approach. The majority of management standards are built upon establishing effective and efficient processes that are then continuously followed and enhanced. Inputs, outputs, activities, and resources must all be clearly defined (and ideally measured) for a process to be successful. When outlining a process, the following crucial components must be present:

• Inputs/Resources:
  • Specified requirements
    • What info do you need to start work?
    • Where does that info come from?
  • Activities
    • Consistent or interacting activities that use resources needed to achieve a specific output:
  • All of the operations, actions, and sub-processes carried out to produce the desired result, for example:
    • What are the primary responsibilities of the department?
    • Can you clarify the activities here?
• Outputs:
  • Satisfying requirements (results), for example:
    • Who receives the result of your work?
    • How do you know if you’ve done your work correctly?

According to the ISO 14001 2015 standard, many different types of processes may be required to meet its standards, including:

• Operations management processes
• Resource management processes
• Planning processes
• EMS Documentation processes

One of the primary goals (and outcomes) of implementing well-designed processes is to unify the organization's operations across vertical functions that may not always prioritize customer satisfaction as an internal goal. Proper management strategies can produce a higher-order objective by exposing and recording precise end-to-end process interactions.