ISO 14001:2015 Requirements

10. IMPROVEMENT

10.1 General 

Organization shall determine opportunities for improvement and implement necessary actions to achieve intended outcomes.

10.2 Nonconformity and Corrective Action

No EMS is perfect, especially in the beginning it will evolve through continual improvement

When system deficiencies are encountered you should ensure that:

•  problems are identified and investigated
•  root causes are identified
•  corrective actions are identified and implemented 
•  corrective actions are tracked and documented

The main aim of the corrective action process is to eliminate the causes of actual problems (nonconformity) so as to avoid recurrence of those problems. It is a reactive process, in that it is triggered after an undesired event (e.g. a pollution event).  

The process uses the principles of root cause analysis. A basic approach to problem solving is “cause” and “effect”, and it is the cause that needs to be eliminated. As part of the corrective action process, the effectiveness of action taken must be checked to ensure it is effective.

Non-conformities and potential non-conformities should be analysed to detect patterns or trends.

This will help to anticipate and prevent future problems.

Focus on preventing problems  It will be cheaper than a cure.

10.3 Continual Improvement

The key aim of an EMS: 

• to continually improve the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the environmental management system
• to enhance environmental performance. 

Improvement does not have to take place in all areas of the business at the same time. Focus should be relevant to risks and benefits. Improvement can be incremental (small changes) or breakthrough (new technology).

Organisational barriers for effective implementation of EMS, must be overcome

• Unimplemented operational controls
• Inability to monitor and measure
• Failure to evaluate compliance to legal and other requirements
• Failure to specify non conformities
• Poor corrective and preventive action
• Absence of records proving effectiveness of EMS
• No assessment made to check
• No review made by the top management who directs and controls the organization.