ISO 9001 Standards Document control procedures

The ISO 9001 Standards requires that a documented procedure be established to define the controls needed.

This requirement means that the methods for performing the various activities required to control different types of documents should be defined and documented.

Although the ISO 9001 standards implies that a single procedure is required, should you choose to produce several different procedures for handling the different types of documents it is doubtful that any auditor would deem this noncompliant. Where this might be questionable is in cases where there is no logical reason for such differences and where merging the procedures and settling on a best practice would improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Documents are recorded information and the purpose of the document control process is to firstly ensure the appropriate information is available where needed and secondly to prevent the inadvertent use of invalid
information. At each stage of the process are activities to be performed that may require documented procedures in order to ensure consistency and predictability. Procedures may not be necessary for each stage in the process.

Why Is ISO 9001 Standards Important?

ISO 9001 Standard is also perceived as a label given to the family of standards and the associated certification scheme. However, certification was never a requirement of any of the standards in the ISO 9000 family this came from customers. Such notions as We are going for ISO 9001 imply ISO 9001 Standards is a goal like a university degree and like a university degree there are those who pass who are educated and those who merely pass the exam. You can purchase degrees from unaccredited universities just as you can purchase ISO 9001 Standards.
certificates from unaccredited certification bodies. The acceptance criteria is the
same, it is the means of measurement and therefore the legitimacy of the
certificates that differ.

Quality Management System Preliminary Gap Analysis

Decide on a number from 0 to 5 for each item below. The scoring criteria are given in a table at the end. 1 to 5 Make notes to explain your score for future reference.

1. Have you established, documented, implemented and now maintain a Quality Management System (QMS) to any system including ISO 9001?

2. Have you identified the processes needed for your QMS and

a. the sequence of your production and service delivery processes,

b. the criteria and methods needed to ensure the processes are effective, and3. Do you have

c. have the resources and the information you need to support the processes?

d. a Quality Manual including your Quality Policy and quality objectives, and

e. written procedures and work instructions?

4. Do your records provide evidence that your business processes are effective?6. Has your Top Management communicated the importance of meeting customer and other business requirements to all the employees?9. Are your quality objectives measurable?

5. Is your Top Management committed to the development and implementation of a new QMS (i.e. based on the 2008 version of ISO 9001)?

7. Has your Top Management made a commitment to ensure your customers’ requirements are top priority?

8. Do your quality objectives include requirements for production and delivery?

10. Have the responsibilities and authorities of managers and employees been defined and communicated to them?

11. Does your management have the drive and resources needed

a. to implement, and maintain a QMS and continually improve its effectiveness, and

b. to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements?

12. Does your organization have procedures to select competent personnel for work activities?

13. Does your organization provide training or take other action to help develop your people?

14. Does your organization provide adequate:

a. buildings, workspace and utilities,

b. process equipment, and

c. supporting services such as transport or communication?

15. When you receive a customer order do you review it for

a. requirements specified by the customer, including the delivery and post-delivery activities,

b. requirements not stated by the customer but necessary for specified use or known and intended use, and

c. statutory and regulatory requirements related to the product?

16. Do you inform your customers concerning

a. product information,

b. enquiries, contracts or order handling, including changes, and

c. channels for customer feedback and complaints?

17. Does your organization plan and control product design and development activities?

18. Does your organization maintain records of design or development review, verification and validation activities and resulting action?

19. Does your organization inspect or otherwise confirm that purchased products, materials, components and services conform to your specified purchase requirements?

20. Does your organization select suppliers depending on how important the purchased product is for production?

21. Does your organization evaluate suppliers (subcontractors or vendors) based on their ability to satisfy your requirements?

22. Do you ensure production has

a. the information that describes the characteristics of the product,

b. the necessary work instructions,

c. suitable equipment, and

d. the monitoring and measuring devices needed?

23. Does your organization regularly confirm that your production and service processes are capable of consistently meeting your requirements?

24. Are parts, components, subassemblies and products identified throughout production or service delivery?

25. Are monitoring and measurement requirements clearly shown with the status of the product?

26. Where traceability is a requirement, does production keep records of unique product identification?

27. Do you care for and protect customers’ property under your control or being used by your people?

28. Do you look after your product (including the parts or components) during both production and delivery to the customer, by providing suitable identification, packaging, storage, preservation and handling?

29. Do you have instructions needed to identify inspection or monitoring activities to be done during production or service delivery and the devices to be used?

30. Is your measuring equipment:

a. Calibrated or verified at specified intervals, or prior to use?

b. Adjusted or re-adjusted as necessary?

c. Identified to enable the calibration status to be determined?

d. Safeguarded from adjustments that would invalidate the measurement result?

e. Protected from damage and deterioration during handling, maintenance and storage?

31. Does your organization monitor customer information that shows you have satisfied customer requirements?

32. Does your organization conduct internal quality audits at planned intervals?

33. Does your organization use suitable methods to monitor and, where practical, measure the performance of your processes?

34. Does your organization inspect or measure the characteristics of finished products and record the results?

35. Does your organization identify nonconforming products and review them for disposition?

36. Does your organization collect and analyze data to assess the suitability and effectiveness of the QMS?

37. Does your organization use data to evaluate or identify where continual improvement of the QMS can be made?

38. Does your organization continually improve the effectiveness of the QMS?

39. Does your organization take corrective action to eliminate the causes of problems and to prevent their recurrence?

40. Does your organization determine and eliminate potential nonconformities in order to prevent their occurrence?

To score this table:

0 – You do not understand what is required or believe it is necessary

1 – Your organization does not perform this activity

2.- You understand this activity is a good thing to do but do not do it

3 – You do this sometimes

4 – You do this but not very well

5 – You do this quite well.

Add all the points together.

150 – 200

You are almost ready to complete your ISO 9001 QMS and apply for certification/

registration.

100 – 149

You are ready to implement the QMS. This will likely improve your business results.

0 – 99

You have a lot to do but should begin. You could consider seeking help from a

consultant or specialist.

Improve your performance management with new version of ISO 9001

A quality management system enables you to manage your business processes effectively:

it is much more than a set of rules and procedures. When properly implemented and maintained, a QMS addresses the needs of your organisation and delivers tangible business benefits.

The new version of ISO 9001 has recently been published. One of the main aims of ISO 9001:2008 is to facilitate integration with other standards. Although there are no new requirements as such, there are some key clarifications to be taken into account.

There are three main objectives to the new standard:

Detail, clarify, improve the understanding of ISO 9001:2000 (previous version)

Improve compatibility with ISO 14001:2004 Simplify the way in which ISO 9001 can be integrated with other management system standards (such as OHSAS 18001)

There are no new requirements in the new standard:

The title, scope, and structure of the standard are unchanged

The process approach is confirmed

Compatibility with the latest revision of ISO 14001:2004 is maintained and improved upon

Preservation of the quality management principles included in ISO 9000:2000

There are five main areas to note. The relevant sections of the standard are noted in brackets.

1. A reinforcement of the notion of product conformity

2. Compatibility with other standards is evolving

3. A better understanding of outsourced processes

4. An editorial clarification of some requirements – for instance;

A reinforcement of the notion of product conformity2.3.4.

An editorial clarification of some requirements – for instance;A better understanding of outsourced processesCompatibility with other standards is evolving

• (6.4) work environment, including an explanatory note on work environment giving examples,

to help meet product conformity requirements

• (8.2.1) measurement of customer satisfaction, including a note broadening the scope beyond

satisfaction surveys to include other channels such as customer feedback5.

• (Introduction) the notion of risk

• (5.5.2) appointment of a management représentative

• (6.2.2) assessing the effectiveness of achieving compétence

• (8.5.2 et 3) assessing the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions?

Some additional explanations regarding the requirements of the standard;An editorial clarification of some requirements – for instance;A better understanding of outsourced processesCompatibility with other standards is evolvingA reinforcement of the notion of product conformity

Improve your performance management with new version of ISO 9001

A quality management system enables you to manage your business processes effectively:

it is much more than a set of rules and procedures. When properly implemented and maintained, a QMS addresses the needs of your organisation and delivers tangible business benefits.

The new version of ISO 9001 has recently been published. One of the main aims of ISO 9001:2008 is to facilitate integration with other standards. Although there are no new requirements as such, there are some key clarifications to be taken into account.

There are three main objectives to the new standard:

Detail, clarify, improve the understanding of ISO 9001:2000 (previous version)

Improve compatibility with ISO 14001:2004 Simplify the way in which ISO 9001 can be integrated with other management system standards (such as OHSAS 18001)

There are no new requirements in the new standard:

The title, scope, and structure of the standard are unchanged

The process approach is confirmed

Compatibility with the latest revision of ISO 14001:2004 is maintained and improved upon

Preservation of the quality management principles included in ISO 9000:2000

There are five main areas to note. The relevant sections of the standard are noted in brackets.

1. A reinforcement of the notion of product conformity

2. Compatibility with other standards is evolving

3. A better understanding of outsourced processes

4. An editorial clarification of some requirements – for instance;

A reinforcement of the notion of product conformity2.3.4.

An editorial clarification of some requirements – for instance;A better understanding of outsourced processesCompatibility with other standards is evolving

• (6.4) work environment, including an explanatory note on work environment giving examples,

to help meet product conformity requirements

• (8.2.1) measurement of customer satisfaction, including a note broadening the scope beyond

satisfaction surveys to include other channels such as customer feedback5.

• (Introduction) the notion of risk

• (5.5.2) appointment of a management représentative

• (6.2.2) assessing the effectiveness of achieving compétence

• (8.5.2 et 3) assessing the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions?

Some additional explanations regarding the requirements of the standard;An editorial clarification of some requirements – for instance;A better understanding of outsourced processesCompatibility with other standards is evolvingA reinforcement of the notion of product conformity

Implementing ISO 9001 Standards

Implementing ISO 9001 standards

If you have your own business and now you are looking for ISO 9001 certification for quality standards for business to make your business products more reliable to the customers. To be in the market for any business, it needs quality and for quality any business needs to follow quality standards, so ISO 9001 Standards developed many quality standards as per different -different business areas.

ISO 9001 Standards is a generic quality standard and can be applied to any organization but before applying it, a process starts with pre-assessment audits and passes through on-going maintenance. The process of implementing ISO 9001 includes identifying, collecting and organizing the information required for certification.

For implementing ISO 9001 standards, any organization needs to hire a consultant because detailed knowledge of ISO standards is essential before successfully applying it. A consultant will analyze your organization structure, your products and their standards and will make a complete plan as per ISO standards for your organization.To hire a consultant is easiest way because they have complete knowledge of ISO standards and they perform various activities like provides class room training to your business employee about ISO 9000 standards

An ISO consultant performs the various activities and explains the course objectives :

• understand the purpose of ISO 9000: 2005, ISO 9001: 2008, ISO 9004: 2000, ISO 19011: 2002 etc. standards and their interrelationship

• describe the purpose of Quality Management Systems and 8 Quality Management Principles

• Interpret the ISO 9001: 2008 in the context of audit

•Plan and conduct an audit in accordance with guidelines as per ISO 19011: 2002, gather objective evidence via various methods and determine conformity to the requirements of Quality Management Systems

• Develop understanding of Roles & Responsibilities of Lead Auditors

Hiring a Consultant is a better and easiest way to implement ISO in your organization

How To Meet Quality Standards With ISO 9001 Standards

In today’s hectic business environment, it is vital that we are all on the same page, right? But how do we know if we meet those standards? Business owners and executives can avoid the uncertainty, and that’s where ISO 9001 certification comes in.

Standardizing Quality Systems

The ISO, or International Organization for Standardization, was established in 1947 to develop international standards for
everything from electronics to management systems. Having over 13,000 standards currently in place, ISO has created the auditing and certification process known as ISO 9001. This began the drive toward quality standards.

Improving Customer Satisfaction

Companies choose to implement ISO 9001 and get certified because many customers and industries require it. By keeping customers happy, they can increase sales and profitability for their business. And if an area of the company’s program appears to be too bureaucratic and non-value-adding, then it might also be an area for continuous improvement efforts.

Enhancing Company Performance

Both customers and industries alike use ISO certification as a way to evaluate and audit their suppliers and products. Through an independent verification process, customers can gain assurance of their suppliers’ products. And as a supplier becomes certified, the testing requirement is waved, which saves the company both
time and money.

Developing Best Practices

Employed as a “Best Practices” model, ISO 9001 utilizes the philosophy of the “Plan-Do-Check-Act” continuous improvement cycle to achieve requirements. This process approach centers around eight quality management principles used by management as a guide toward improving performance and identifying the main elements
needed in a good quality system:

1. Customer Focus
2. Leadership
3. Involvement of People
4. Process Approach
5. Systems Approach to Management
6. Continuous improvement
7. Factual Approach to Decision-Making
8. Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationship

Building Stable Processes

ISO 9001 policies, procedures and forms can provide employers, managers and employees with a systematic and consistent approach to implementing policies, plans, procedures and work routines. Instead of building their own policies and procedures from scratch, some companies prefer to hire professional writers that have already prepared a set of written policies and procedures to help on the way to certification.

Auditing a Company System

In the certification process, an independent registrar will perform an on-site audit of a company’s operations to verify that it complies with the ISO standard. If the business complies, then that company will be registered as ISO 9001 compliant.

Meeting Company and Customer Needs

On the way to certification, a business can meet its ISO needs by:

= Using well-defined processes and procedures to build stable processes
= Training in the audit and certification process
= Continuously improving with ISO 9001 standards

Noticing the Difference

With complete procedures manuals for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, required HR procedures, and an ISO training class, a template like an ISO 9001 Quality Manager Procedures Manual Series can help a business on its way to ISO 9001 certification.
Sometimes the effort can be very great, but companies typically notice a remarkable difference in efficiency and effectiveness after the first year.

Document Control System in Manufacturing Industry

Many traditional paper documents would be generated in a manufacturing business as in the examples listed below:

• Statutory documents such as licenses, records and reports
• Transactional documents such as purchase and sales invoices, shipping documents and cash vouchers
• Production related documents such as operations manuals, specification sheets, production and maintenance schedules, machine production reports, material handling documents, store bin cards and gate passes

• Management reports where the recipient prefer printed paper documents to computer screen views
• Business documents such as correspondence, contracts, brochures and reference materials

However, in a modern system, the majority of documents would be generated as computer documents, and remain as such. Different kinds of databases like financial accounts, inventory records and different kinds of analyses are examples. The core functions outlined in the previous section would each produce a continuing flow of voluminous documents.

In addition to providing management information, document management systems also do the following:

• Ensure that only authorized persons are able to access sensitive documents
• Minimize the danger of damage and loss of important documents

• Preserve the documents as long as needed by statute or for management purposes

Why do organizations implement ISO 9000 systems?

More often than not, organizations get ISO 9000 because certain customers force them or encourage them to. In many market sectors—electronics, pulp and paper, telecommunications, automobile manufacturing, defense—major customers have mandated ISO 9000 registration to their key suppliers. Similarly, some overseas regulatory bodies mandate ISO 9000 for the makers of qualitysensitive products (such as medical devices).

Many of these major customers impose ISO 9000 systems in place of, or in addition to, specific quality programs, requirements, specifications, and so on that have been in place for many years. The ISO 9000Standard becomes a key part of the relationship between the customer and its suppliers.

ISO 9000 is not, however, meant to replace customer-specific requirements in any market segment. Rather, ISO 9000 is meant to be a floor: a basic set of generic requirements. They are generic enough to apply to virtually all supplier/customer relationships anywhere in the world. It matters not the size of the supplier, the location of the customer, or the nationalities involved.

In some industrial segments, formalized standards have been created, adding to the generic ISO 9000requirements additional clauses that are industry specific. Examples include:

_ Automotive (QS-9000).

_ Aerospace (AS-9000).

_ Telecommunications (TL-9000).

To the extent that ISO 9000 replaces customer-specific quality programs and supporting audit/oversight activities, it can relieve both customers and suppliers of a great deal of redundancy, duplication, and waste of resources. The fundamental requirements are understood, agreed to, and (usually) confirmed by objective third-party audit. This gives customers confidence in the integrity and effectiveness of their supplier’s basic quality practices. The customer and supplier can then invest their energies and resources in agreeing to and working on the specific requirements unique to their relationship.

To some, ISO 9000 sounds like a mandatory, gun-to-your-head, my-way-or-the-highway program. For many suppliers, it is exactly that (“get ISO 9000 or get lost”). For many others, it is perceived that way:

“They’re trying to tell us how to run our businesses.”

But the goal of ISO 9000 is not to strengthen customers’ control over how their suppliers run their businesses. The goal is to give customers confidence in the ability of suppliers to meet their needs, resulting in satisfied customers, and growing and prosperous suppliers.

Admittedly, implementing ISO 9000 does not guarantee this. Like most things, what you get out of it depends on what you put into it. You can implement a compliant ISO 9000 system that is all cost and no benefit and it’s even possible to pass registration audit this way. This happens, usually, when the supplier’s approach is to try to:

_ Squeak by.

_ Do just enough to get registered.

_ Get this thing done without changing how we work.

But suppliers who implement ISO 9000 fully—to the spirit, as well as the letter—can and do achieve real benefits.

ISO 9000 Softwares

1. ISO 9000 Software – ISO 9000 Document Control Software

The concept of document control is integral to ISO 9000. Specifically ISO 9001: 2000, requires the establishment of a document control system that stores and manages documents relating to implementing, maintaining, and continually improving a quality management system. Within the context of ISO 9000, a quality system must be documented and quality records must be maintained. Document control helps ensure effective operation and facilitates better decision-making, by providing a vehicle for employees, customers, and partners to access controlled documentation from any location at anytime.

For high-tech companies that adhere to ISO 14000 environmental management standards, document control procedures are equally necessary to help them continuously improve their environmental management system.

The ISO 9000 Document Control Software is developed & designed to control the ISO 9000 Quality Manual, Operating Procedure, Forms & Documents digitally. System will track the all ISO 9000 Documents by ISO Document No. through out the system.

The ISO 9000 Document Control Software Provides:-

Tracking of Documents- Provides secure tracking of all your ISO 9000 Quality Manual, Operating Procedure & Forms & Documents in any format either in Microsoft Word, Excel, PDF or etc.
Efficiency Document Control- It’s uniquely qualified to be the focal point of a quality management system because it can handle all types of documents regardless of the software used to create them. It provides a secure and centralized document control repository that makes search and retrieval easy during inspections and audits.
Revision Control- Tracking of Document revisions, approval & Release Date. Manually Tracking down any revision on the ISO 9000 document activity is difficult . The ISO 9000 Document Control Software will help to keep track the numbers of revision have been carried out, and also maintain the various revision copies of the documents.
Multiple File Location – System will be able to keep track the directories & folder where the original location is saved.
Centralize Of Document Control – Do not worry about the various department is getting the correct edition of the documents, because all documents have been managed by a centralize software. Document reviews are conveniently scheduled and documented.
Security:System provide User Right Control module which enable System Administrator to define the access right to authorized users and activity allowed.
2. ISO 9000 Software – ISO 9000 Audit Control Software

The ISO 9000 Audit Control Softwarewere designed to handle all aspects of an internal or external audit programme, from planning audits to the follow-up of corrective actions against deficiencies found.

The Control Software increases the accountability and efficiency of your internal/external audits by developing core processes with clearly defined audit plans, step-by-step procedures, and standardized auditor roles and responsibilities. It will help to put you to the right path toward developing a well-organized ISO9001:2000 internal /external audit system.

The ISO 9000 Audit Control Software Provides:-

Audit Schedule – maintains the audit schedule, checklist preparation and all audit info.
Track Non-Conformance – System will help to track all non-conformances found during the audit, including actions & verification.
Corrective Action Report (CAR) – Update of the corrective action.
Security: System provide User Right Control module which enable System Administrator to define the access right to authorized users and activity allowed.

How ISO 9001 Improve Management Of Your Company?

Regardless of the size of a business, management plays an important role in keeping it alive. This is why a lot of businesses these days try to implement solid management frameworks to keep things running as smooth as possible. Without proper management, it would be difficult for a business to carry out projects and produce high-quality products. In many countries, businesses usually fail because of inefficient management systems.

Created by a group consisting of representatives of local standards organizations from different countries around the world, ISO 9001 can greatly improve the production output by renovating the way a business is operated. Careful documentation is implemented, providing managers with a better overall view of their businesses. It also helps in keeping the workers motivated, and it improves the efficiency of business processes by minimizing losses and expenses attributed to defective products or other liabilities.

ISO 9001 contains a series of business and management prerequisites that help a company to keep up with international standards. Upon successful implementation, an ISA registrar will issue a certification as proof that a business meets all the business specifications set by ISO 9001.

The ISO 9001 standard is applicable to any kind of business, department, or branch that wants to improve the way it operates. However, by implementing ISO 9001 in an entire company instead of a single branch, a company can get the most out of the quality management system. With the entire business system working uniformly, any business will be able to see significant improvements in overall production and income.

The good thing about ISO 9001 is that it is a highly compatible standard. This means businesses with existing standards, such as one that has ESD 20:20 certification, can further optimize their profits without having to perform too much management restructuring, potentially saving lots of time and resources. Existing standards, combined with ISO 9001, even become more effective.

Any business interested in streamlining their operations should get a copy of the ISO 9001 standard. Although not all points in the standard are required to be eligible for certification, implementing them all ensures a company will get the most out of the standard.

Visit http://www.iso9001store.com for more information.

ISO 14000 & Environment

International ISO standards facilitate trade, spread knowledge, and share technological advances and good management practices.

Published under the designation of International Standards, ISO standards represent an international consensus on the state of the art in the technology or good practice concerned.

ISO has a multi-faceted approach to meeting the needs of all stakeholders from business, industry, governmental authorities and nongovernmental organizations, as well as consumers, in the field of the environment. ISO has developed:

1. Standards that help organizations to take a proactive approach to managing environmental issues: the ISO 14000 family of environmental management standards which can be implemented in any type of organization in either public or private sectors – from companies to administrations to public utilities.

2. ISO is helping to meet the challenges of climate change with standards for greenhouse gas accounting, verification and emissions trading, and for measuring the carbon footprint of products.

3. ISO develops normative documents to facilitate the fusion of business and environmental goals by encouraging the inclusion of environmental aspects in product design.

4. ISO offers a wide-ranging portfolio of standards for sampling and test methods to deal with specific environmental challenges. It has developed some 570 International Standards for the monitoring of such aspects as the quality of air, water and the soil, as well as noise, radiation, and for controlling the transport of dangerous goods. They also serve in a number of countries as the technical basis for environmental regulations.

Organizations around the world, as well as their stakeholders, are becoming increasingly aware of the need for environmental management, socially responsible behavior, and sustainable growth and development.

Accordingly, as the proactive management of environmental aspects converges with enterprise risk management, corporate governance, and sound operational and financial practices and performance, International Standards are becoming increasingly important for organizations to work towards common and comparable environmental management practices to support the sustainability of their organizations, products, and services.

Furthermore, governments and regulatory bodies are increasingly looking to ISO standards to provide a framework to ensure alignment and consistency both nationally and internationally.

ISO International Standards and related normative documents provide consumers, regulators and organizations in both public and private sectors with environmental tools with the following characteristics:

- Technically credible as ISO standards represent the sum of knowledge of a broad pool of international expertise and stakeholders

- Fulfill stakeholder needs as the ISO standards development process is based on international input and consensus

- Facilitate the development of uniform requirements as the ISO standards development process is built on participation by its national member institutes from all regions of the world

- Promote efficiencies when the same standards are implemented across markets, sectors, and/or jurisdictions

- Support regulatory compliance when the standards are used to meet market and regulatory needs

- Enhance investor confidence because the standards can be used for conformity assessment such as by audit, inspection or certification. This enhances confidence in products, services and systems that can be demonstrated to conform to ISO standards and provides practical support for regulation.

ISO standards developed for Environmental Management covers the following areas:

• Environmental management systems

• Environmental auditing and related environmental investigations

• Environmental performance evaluation

• Environmental labelling

• Life cycle assessment

• Environmental communication

• Environmental aspects of product design and development

• Environmental aspects in product standards

• Terms and definitions

• Greenhouse gas management and related activities

• Measuring the carbon footprint of products.

The ISO 14000 family of standards reflects international consensus on good environmental and business practice that can be applied by organizations all over the world in their specific context. The ISO family of standards includes:

- ISO 14001 is the world’s most recognized framework for environmental management systems (EMS) -that helps organizations to manage better the impact of their activities on the environment and to demonstrate sound environmental management. ISO 14001 has been adopted as a national standard by more than half of the 160 national members of ISO and its use is encouraged by governments around the world.

- ISO 14004, which complements ISO 14001 by providing additional guidance and useful explanations.

- Environmental audits are important tools for assessing whether an EMS is properly implemented and maintained. The auditing standard, ISO 19011, is equally useful for EMS and quality management system audits. It provides guidance on principles of auditing, managing audit programmes, the conduct of audits and on the competence of auditors.

- ISO 14031 provides guidance on how an organization can evaluate its environmental performance. The standard also addresses the selection of suitable performance indicators, so that performance can be assessed against criteria set by management. This information can be used as a basis for internal and external reporting on environmental performance.

- The ISO 14020 series of standards addresses a range of different approaches to environmental labels and declarations, including eco-labels (seals of approval), self-declared environmental claims, and quantified environmental information about products and services.

- ISO 14001 addresses not only the environmental aspects of an organization’s processes, but also those of its products and services. Therefore ISO has developed additional tools to assist in addressing such aspects. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for identifying and evaluating the environmental aspects of products and services from the “cradle to the grave”: from the extraction of resource inputs to the eventual disposal of the product or its waste. The ISO 14040 standards give guidelines on the principles and conduct of LCA studies that provide an organization with information on how to reduce the overall environmental impact of its products and services.

- ISO 14064 part 1, 2 and 3 are international greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and verification standards which provide a set of clear and verifiable requirements to support organizations and proponents of GHG emission reduction projects.

- ISO 14065 complements ISO 14064 by specifying requirements to accredit or recognize organizational bodies that undertake GHG validation or verification using ISO 14064 or other relevant standards or specifications.

- ISO 14063 addresses environmental communication guidelines and examples, helps companies to make the important link to external stakeholders.

International ISO standards facilitate trade, spread knowledge, and share technological advances and good management practices.Published under the designation of International Standards, ISO standards represent an international consensus on the state of the art in the technology or good practice concerned.ISO has a multi-faceted approach to meeting the needs of all stakeholders from business, industry, governmental authorities and nongovernmental organizations, as well as consumers, in the field of the environment. ISO has developed:1. Standards that help organizations to take a proactive approach to managing environmental issues: the ISO 14000 family of environmental management standards which can be implemented in any type of organization in either public or private sectors – from companies to administrations to public utilities.2. ISO is helping to meet the challenges of climate change with standards for greenhouse gas accounting, verification and emissions trading, and for measuring the carbon footprint of products.3. ISO develops normative documents to facilitate the fusion of business and environmental goals by encouraging the inclusion of environmental aspects in product design.4. ISO offers a wide-ranging portfolio of standards for sampling and test methods to deal with specific environmental challenges. It has developed some 570 International Standards for the monitoring of such aspects as the quality of air, water and the soil, as well as noise, radiation, and for controlling the transport of dangerous goods. They also serve in a number of countries as the technical basis for environmental regulations.Organizations around the world, as well as their stakeholders, are becoming increasingly aware of the need for environmental management, socially responsible behavior, and sustainable growth and development.Accordingly, as the proactive management of environmental aspects converges with enterprise risk management, corporate governance, and sound operational and financial practices and performance, International Standards are becoming increasingly important for organizations to work towards common and comparable environmental management practices to support the sustainability of their organizations, products, and services.Furthermore, governments and regulatory bodies are increasingly looking to ISO standards to provide a framework to ensure alignment and consistency both nationally and internationally.ISO International Standards and related normative documents provide consumers, regulators and organizations in both public and private sectors with environmental tools with the following characteristics:- Technically credible as ISO standards represent the sum of knowledge of a broad pool of international expertise and stakeholders- Fulfill stakeholder needs as the ISO standards development process is based on international input and consensus- Facilitate the development of uniform requirements as the ISO standards development process is built on participation by its national member institutes from all regions of the world- Promote efficiencies when the same standards are implemented across markets, sectors, and/or jurisdictions- Support regulatory compliance when the standards are used to meet market and regulatory needs- Enhance investor confidence because the standards can be used for conformity assessment such as by audit, inspection or certification. This enhances confidence in products, services and systems that can be demonstrated to conform to ISO standards and provides practical support for regulation.ISO standards developed for Environmental Management covers the following areas:• Environmental management systems• Environmental auditing and related environmental investigations• Environmental performance evaluation• Environmental labelling• Life cycle assessment• Environmental communication• Environmental aspects of product design and development• Environmental aspects in product standards• Terms and definitions• Greenhouse gas management and related activities• Measuring the carbon footprint of products.The ISO 14000 family of standards reflects international consensus on good environmental and business practice that can be applied by organizations all over the world in their specific context. The ISO family of standards includes:- ISO 14001 is the world’s most recognized framework for environmental management systems (EMS) -that helps organizations to manage better the impact of their activities on the environment and to demonstrate sound environmental management. ISO 14001 has been adopted as a national standard by more than half of the 160 national members of ISO and its use is encouraged by governments around the world.- ISO 14004, which complements ISO 14001 by providing additional guidance and useful explanations.- Environmental audits are important tools for assessing whether an EMS is properly implemented and maintained. The auditing standard, ISO 19011, is equally useful for EMS and quality management system audits. It provides guidance on principles of auditing, managing audit programmes, the conduct of audits and on the competence of auditors.- ISO 14031 provides guidance on how an organization can evaluate its environmental performance. The standard also addresses the selection of suitable performance indicators, so that performance can be assessed against criteria set by management. This information can be used as a basis for internal and external reporting on environmental performance.- The ISO 14020 series of standards addresses a range of different approaches to environmental labels and declarations, including eco-labels (seals of approval), self-declared environmental claims, and quantified environmental information about products and services.- ISO 14001 addresses not only the environmental aspects of an organization’s processes, but also those of its products and services. Therefore ISO has developed additional tools to assist in addressing such aspects. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for identifying and evaluating the environmental aspects of products and services from the “cradle to the grave”: from the extraction of resource inputs to the eventual disposal of the product or its waste. The ISO 14040 standards give guidelines on the principles and conduct of LCA studies that provide an organization with information on how to reduce the overall environmental impact of its products and services.- ISO 14064 part 1, 2 and 3 are international greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and verification standards which provide a set of clear and verifiable requirements to support organizations and proponents of GHG emission reduction projects.- ISO 14065 complements ISO 14064 by specifying requirements to accredit or recognize organizational bodies that undertake GHG validation or verification using ISO 14064 or other relevant standards or specifications.- ISO 14063 addresses environmental communication guidelines and examples, helps companies to make the important link to external stakeholders.