ADVANTAGES THAT AN EMS BRINGS TO AN ORGANISATION
A major advantage for implementing a management system is the consistency it brings within the company, regionally and globally. Expectations, whether legal or organisational, and requirements within a company are aligned, documented and communicated to all stakeholders. Management systems aim to pull potentially disparate mini-systems into a single, integrated and functional one. The deliberate linking and sequencing of processes to create a repeatable and identifiable way of managing is one of the key characteristics of a management system.
Other drivers for the implementation of an EMS includes inter alia:
- Improved environmental performance;
- Improved internal control;
- Competitiveness;
- Market access;
- New business opportunities;
- Savings;
- Reputation;
- Statutory requirements; and
- Risk and liability reduction.
The ISO 14001 Environmental Management System is neutral to certification, however can be used as an informal and internal best practice guideline, for self-declaration, second party recognition or third-party certification. The 2015 revision of the ISO 14001 management system aims to enhance consistency and alignment with the high-level structure of ISO management system standards, simplifying integrated use with other systems like ISO 50001, ISO 45001 and ISO 9001.
Lastly, it should also be noted that an ISO 14001 EMS does not only address environmental issues as can be seen in the list of drivers above, similarly and ISO 50001 Energy Management System is not restricted to matters related to Energy, ISO 45001 to health and safety and 9001 to quality. Each of these management systems provide a golden thread to manage and centralise all documented evidence with an emphasis on the purpose for which the management system is implemented as can be seen in the figure below:

Figure 1: Model and structure for a Management System
With the ever-increasing scrutiny and focussing on company specific environmental performance, it is crucial for organisations to take measurable steps for ensuring compliance with commitments and proving their accountability and transparency.
With extensive experience in the field of management systems, ENVASS has the ability to support these initiatives by fulfilling roles related to the implementation of an EMS, including but not limited to the following:
- Development;
- Implementation;
- Maintenance;
- Internal Audits;
- Legal Registers;
- GAP Audits;
- Environmental and Systems Training;
- Risk assessments (inclusive of Aspect and Impact assessments); and
- Compliance audits.
In addition to the above, ENVASS has partnered with Certification Bodies to assist with the certification of an ISO 14001 EMS, should an organisation wish to certify their EMS.
REFERENCES:
Maletic, M., Podpecan, M., Maletic, D. (2015). ISO 14001 in a corporate sustainability context: a multiple case study approach. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal. 26(6), pp. 872-890.
Tari, J.J, Molina-Azorin & Heras, I. (2012). Benefits of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards: A literature review. Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management. 5(2), pp. 297-322.
Turner, A & O’Neill, C. 2007. Confronting the inevitable: ISO 14001: Implementation and the Durban Automotive Cluster. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering. 18(2), pp 1-19
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