Frequently Asked Management System Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Quality Management System Questions:

  • What is ISO 9001:2000?
    ISO 9001:2000 is an international standard developed to provide businesses with a set of best practices for quality management. If these practices are followed, the result should be consistent product quality and a culture of continual improvement. ISO 9001:2000 is the base document for many other industry specific quality standards used in business today including: AS 9100 (Aerospace) and TS 16949 (Automotive), ISO 13485 (Medical Device), TL 9000 (Telecommunications) and ISO/IEC 17025 (Labs).
  • Why is it written as ISO 9001:2000?
    ISO 9001 was first developed in 1987 by the international Standards Organization in Geneva Switzerland. Since that time it has gone through two more revisions, first in 1994 and again in 2000. ISO 9001:2000 refers to the latest revision released in 2000.
  • Were there Quality Management System Standards prior to ISO 9001?
    The father of ISO 9001 was BS 5750 developed by the British Standards Institute. The grandfather of ISO 9001 was Mil-Q-9858 developed by the US Department of Defense shortly after WWII. The Department of Defense used Mil-Q-9858.
  • What are some of the Internal Benefits of ISO 9001, AS 9100 and TS 16949, ISO 13485, TL 9000 and ISO/IEC 17025?
    ISO 9001:2000 and related standards are based on eight principles: Customer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system thinking, continual improvement, and fact based decision making and mutually beneficial supplier relationships. Some of the key benefits of a quality management system based on these eight principles include:
    • Improved product and service quality
    • More efficient management of core business processes
    • Improved productivity and operational efficiency
    • Greater employee awareness and improved internal communications
    • Increased employee involvement and more customer focused decisions at all levels
    • Reduced waste of materials and time
  • What are some of the External Benefits of ISO 9001, AS 9100 and TS 16949, ISO 13485, TL 9000 and ISO/IEC 17025?
    • Competitive Advantage: According to a Dunn and Bradstreet Survey, 72.3% of companies with ISO 9001:2000 report a major competitive advantage in winning contracts over companies without ISO 9001:2000.
    • Qualify for Government Contracts: The Department of Defense, Food and Drug Administration, Railways, Department of Energy and the General Services Administration have approved the use of ISO 9001:2000 in contracts and bids.
    • New Customers in Specialty Industries: To become a tier 1 and 2 supplier within the Automotive, Aerospace, Telecommunications, Pharmaceutical and the Medical Device industry, companies must comply with that industry's quality system standard. Each have their own versions of ISO 9001:2000. Generally, certification to ISO 9001:2000 is the minimum requirement for entry into these industries.
    • Increased Business from Existing Customers: According to a Dunn and Bradstreet Survey, 33.4% of companies with ISO 9001:2000 report improved customer demand. They are winning more business from their existing customers and winning it from suppliers without ISO 9001:2000.

Frequently Asked Environmental Management System Questions:

  • What is ISO 14001:2004?
    ISO 14001:2004 is the 2004 revision of ISO 14001, an international environmental management system (EMS) standard. It provides a framework for managing environmental responsibilities so good environmental practices are integrated into overall business operations. ISO 14001 defines a set of best practices for managing environmental performance. If these practices are implanted and followed, the result should be reduced energy consumption, reduced waste, reduced risk of accidental pollution, less risk of regulatory violation, lower operating costs and a consistent company wide discipline of continual improvement. Companies receive certification to ISO 14001:2004 by undergoing a certification audit by a qualified organization called a Registrar. A certificate of conformance can be granted by Neynaber & Associates in lieu of certification.
  • Why is it written as ISO 14001:2004?
    ISO 14001 was first developed in 1996 by the international Standards Organization in Geneva Switzerland. Since that time it has been through one revision. ISO 14001:2004 refers to the latest revision in 2004.
  • Were there Environmental Management System Standards prior to ISO 14001?
    The father of ISO 14001 was BS 7750 developed by the British Standards Institute.
  • Why would a company seek Certification to ISO 14001:2004?
    Certification to ISO 14001:2004 can:
    • Improve procedures and record keeping practices necessary to demonstrate regulatory compliance.
    • Demonstrate a commitment to, pollution prevention, regulatory compliance and continual improvement to governmental bodies.
    • Lead to preferred government supplier status.
    • Eliminate or reduce some monitoring and reporting requirements.
    • Provide organizations with an objective periodic and confidential review of the state of their management systems.
    • Open international markets.
    • Open certain industry markets such as automotive and aerospace/defense.
    • Demonstrate the company's environmental responsibility to shareholder groups.
    • Reduce multiple on-site audits by regulatory agencies and customers.
    • Give a competitive advantage in bidding for contracts in certain industries.
    • Remove uncertainty, risk and inconsistency in business processes.
    • Improve overall performance and operational efficiency through waste reduction.
  • What are some of the Internal Benefits of ISO 14001?
    Some of the key benefits of an environmental management system based on ISO 14001 include:
    • Improvements in overall performance and operational efficiency.
    • Improved regulatory compliance by improved pollution prevention practices.
    • Reduced waste of raw material.
    • Increase in process yields.
    • Improved utilization of by-products.
    • Conversion of waste into commercially valuable forms.
    • Reduced energy consumption.
    • Increased efficiency by systematic management of environmental obligations.
    • Less downtime through more careful monitoring and maintenance.
    • Savings from safer workplace conditions.
    • Greater employee involvement and a more motivated workforce.
    • Reduction of costs associated with emissions, discharges, waste handling, transport & disposal.
    • Improvements in the product as a result of process changes. Higher quality, more consistent products.
    • Good synergy with ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001.
    • Assists in developing and transferring technology within the company.
  • What are some of the External Benefits of ISO 14001?
    • Competitive advantage for contracts in certain industries.
    • Delivers profits from marketing "green" products.
    • Improved access to capital.
    • Helps reduce liability and risk through safer products.
    • Provides a competitive marketing tool.
    • Improves international competitiveness.
    • Improved public image with outside stakeholders.
    • More favorable consideration by EPA and state regulatory bodies.
    • Improves the organization's relationship with insurance companies.
    • Satisfying investor / shareholder criteria.
    • Easier to obtain operational permits and authorizations.
    • Minimizes hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
    • Cost savings from conservation of natural resources: energy, space and water.
    • Prevents pollution.
    • Demonstrates to customers that the firm has met environmental expectations.
    • Immediately meets many national and international government purchasing requirements.

Frequently Asked Quality Management System Questions:

  • What is OHSAS 18001:1999?
    OHSAS 18001 is an international occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system standard. It provides a framework for managing OH&S responsibilities so healthy and safe practices are integrated into your overall business operations.

    OHSAS 18001 defines a set of best practices for managing OH&S performance. If these practices are followed, the result should be fewer accidents, less risk of regulatory violation, lower operating costs and a culture of continual improvement.

    Companies receive certification to OHSAS 18001 by undergoing a certification audit by a qualified organization called a Registrar. A certificate of conformance can be granted by Neynaber & Associates in lieu of certification.
  • Who wrote OHSAS 18001?
    OHSAS 18001 was first developed in 1999 by a consortium of organizations which include the National Standards Authority of Ireland, Standards Australia, South African Bureau of Standards, British Standards Institution, Bureau Veritas Quality International, Det Norske Veritas, Lloyds Register Quality Assurance, National Quality Assurance, SFS Certification, SGS Yarsley International Certification Services, Asociacispa de Normalizacion Certificacir, International Safety Management Organization Ltd, Standards and Industry Research Institute of Malaysia and International Certification Services.
  • What are the objectives of OHSAS 18001?
    The stated objectives of the standard are to minimize risk to employees and others, improve business performance and assist organizations in establishing a responsible image within the marketplace.
  • What other standards were used in the creation of OHSAS 18001?
    There have been many OH&S standards worldwide. As perhaps would be expected, a number of these documents were used in the creation of OHSAS 18001. These included:
    • BS8800:1996 Guide to occupational health and safety management systems
    • Technical Report NPR 5001: 1997 Guide to an occupational health and safety management system
    • SGS & ISMOL ISA 2000:1997 Requirements for Safety and Health Management Systems
    • BVQI SafetyCert: Occupational Safety and Health Management Standard
    • DNV Standard for Certification of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems(OHSMS):1997
    • Draft NSAI SR 320 Recommendation for an Occupational Health and Safety (OH and S) Management System
    • Draft AS/NZ 4801 Occupational health and safety management systems Specification with guidance for use
    • Draft BSI PAS 088 Occupational health and safety management systems
    • UNE 81900 series of pre-standards on the Prevention of occupational risks
    • Draft LRQA SMS 8800 Health & safety management systems assessment criteria
  • Why would a company seek conformance and/or certification to OHSAS 18001?
    Certification to OHSAS 18001 can:
    • Improve procedures and record keeping practices necessary to demonstrate regulatory compliance.
    • Demonstrate a commitment to employee health and safety to regulatory bodies.
    • Provide organizations with an objective periodic and confidential review of the state of their management systems.
    • Demonstrate the company's OHS responsibility to shareholder groups.
    • Remove uncertainty, risk and inconsistency in business processes.
    • Improve overall performance and operational efficiency with a healthy and safe workplace.
  • What are some of the benefits of conformance and/or certification to OHSAS 18001?
    There is no doubt that OHSAS 18001 enables a structured, recognized framework for the effective management of health and safety risks. Some of the key benefits of an OH&S management system based on OHSAS 18001 include:
    • Reduced exposure of employees and other parties to occupational health and safety risks associated with your company's activities.
    • Greater assurance of employee and contractor conformance with occupational health and safety policy.
    • Demonstration of conformance to third parties, and of due diligence generally.
    • Consistent and proven managed approach to present and future health and safety risks.
    • Process to ensure continual improvement of your OH&S management system.
    • Assurance of regulatory compliance through prevention practices.
    • Reduced employee and production downtime.
    • Greater employee involvement and a more motivated workforce.
    • Good synergy with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
    • Reduced liability and risk through safer processes.
    • Provides a competitive marketing tool.
    • It improves international competitiveness.
    • It improved public image with outside stakeholders.
    • It improves the organization's relationship with insurance companies.
    • It may satisfy investor / shareholder criteria.
    • It demonstrates to customers that your company is committed to meeting OH&S expectations.

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