While I believe that we're all in agreement that there is alignment between Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) and ISO 14001, I was wondering if anyone had a matrix or some other means clearly outlining this connection.

I'd like to use such a tool in some upcoming internal auditor training within my company.

Thanks in advance.

A matrix? OK, you've lost me on this one. 14K is built on PDCA

P = 4.1, 4.2

D = 4.3, 4.4

C = 4.5

A = 4.6

And numerous interconnections along the way

Hi, Randy. You've got the idea of what I'm looking for, but I was hoping for something a bit more detailed. I have a similar question in the ISO 9001 forum.

Basically, I've got integrated internal auditor training taking place this month. I know how 9001 and 14001 related. But now I want to show in an easy-to-understand format the alignment between 9001, 14001 and PDCA (the foundation of my company's BMS).

My thought was that seeing this alignment would help them to understand the structure of our BMS. The auditors know the tools (they use them everyday and advocates of the culture where we don't things because of ISO...it's simply what we do).

However, for auditing purposes, this group will need to understand the requirements of the standards and I thought that it would be easier for them to learn the requirements and see the integration if they could clearly see how the standards aligned with PDCA.

[quote=RCBeyette]... But now I want to show in an easy-to-understand format the alignment between 9001, 14001 and PDCA (the foundation of my company's BMS)....quote]

RC

How about using a turtle?

It is really easy to hang all the paragraphs of ISO somewhere on a turtle leg or tail or head.

You can also show PDCA on the turtle

And SIPOC
And Ishikawa
And DMAIC

Gee, it's all the same, just with a different name for marketing/current fad purposes, is nothing really new?

I tried to make a single Powerpoint slide that did this as various dissolves and fades, but got defeated by time and Microsoft.

Your Excel spreadsheet looks good to me, adults learn best by doing, why not turn this into a 25 minute workshop and task your auditors with building the list themsleves? Beers for the best team? It may wake them up and stick better if they do it themselves.

I guess you are not Design responsible since that is grayed out. Design is a complete PDCA cycle in itself (if done right).

Your Excel spreadsheet looks good to me, adults learn best by doing, why not turn this into a 25 minute workshop and task your auditors with building the list themsleves? Beers for the best team? It may wake them up and stick better if they do it themselves.

I guess you are not Design responsible since that is grayed out. Design is a complete PDCA cycle in itself (if done right).

I like your idea of allowing the participants to develop themselves and perhaps I'll integrate that somehow into future training. However, I have 1.5 days to do this training...not much time and I need to incorporate some audit specific exercises.

Correct...we are not design responsible.

You'd be better served to show 14K and everything else as a process with defined and distinct inputs and outputs and how the clauses interconnect and link. 14004 is a good document to use as a guide in this.

You can show inputs as being initial review; its mission, vision, core values and beliefs; coordination with other organizational policies (e.g. quality, occupational health and safety); the requirements of, and communication with, interested parties about specific local or regional conditions.

Out puts could be shown as the policy being documented (4.4.5 and 4.4.4), communicated (4.4.3b), personnel made aware (4.4.2, 4.4.3a) archived when revised (4.4.5, 4.5.4).

You can do this with all the clauses. Teach by process, that's how I do it.

Here's another plagerized tid-bit from 14004 slightly modified.

Practical help — The environmental management system model

PDCA is an ongoing, iterative process that enables an organization to establish, implement and maintain its environmental policy (see 4.2) based on top management's leadership and commitment to the environmental
management system (see 4.1.2). After the organization has evaluated its current position in relation to the environment (see 4.1.4,) the steps of this ongoing process are the following:

a) Plan: establish an ongoing planning process (see 4.3) that enables the organization to
1) identify environmental aspects and associated environmental impacts (4.3.1),
2) identify and monitor applicable legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and set internal performance criteria where appropriate (see 4.3.2),
3) set environmental objectives and targets and formulate programme(s) to achieve them (see 4.3.3), and
4) develop and use performance indicators (see 4.3.3 and 4.5.1, 4.5.2).

b) Do: implement and operate the environmental management system (4.4)
1) create management structures, assign roles and responsibilities with sufficient authority (4.4.1),
2) provide adequate resources (see 4.4.1),
3) train persons working for or on behalf of the organization and ensure their awareness and competence (4.4.2),
4) establish processes for internal and external communication (see 4.4.3),
5) establish and maintain documentation (4.4.4),
6) establish and implement document control(s) (4.4.5),
7) establish and maintain operational control(s) (4.4.6), and
8) ensure emergency preparedness and response (4.4.7).

c) Check: assess environmental management system processes (4.5)
1) conduct ongoing monitoring and measurement (4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.5.5),
2) evaluate status of compliance (4.5.2),
3) identify nonconformity and take corrective and preventive actions (4.5.3),
4) manage records (4.5.4), and
5) conduct periodic internal audits (4.5.5).

d) Act: review and take action to improve the environmental management system (4.6)
1) conduct management reviews of the environmental management system at appropriate intervals (4.6.), and
2) identify areas for improvement (4.6).

This ongoing process enables the organization to continually improve its environmental management system and its overall environmental performance.

While I believe that we're all in agreement that there is alignment between Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) and ISO 14001, I was wondering if anyone had a matrix or some other means clearly outlining this connection.

I'd like to use such a tool in some upcoming internal auditor training within my company.

Thanks in advance.
Please see the attachment of my posting in the following thread:-
http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=12659
The attachment has PDCA and interaction of processes in EMS.