Preparation for EMS lead auditor training course

[Tiffany]

Hi all,

I m newly join in this Quality field. I assigned as a EMS representative in the company and will be put into the EMS lead auditor training course. I actually know nothing about EMS.What kind of preparation should do before hand? Thanks for your advise & courages!

Tiffany

[AndyN]

Tiffany, you're in good hands, here at the Cove

In preparation for any Lead Auditor training course, one of the most productive things you can do is fully famialiarize yourself with the ISO 14001 standard (and the guidance). Having taught Lead Auditor courses for 13 years, I have found that the biggest challenge for students new to this discipline, is understanding what the ISO requirements say, and where to find them in the actual document. So, my advice is to study the standard well and the guidance. In addition, if you are new to this, can you get access to someone who is already experienced as an environmental 'management representative'? If there isn't someone where you work, maybe at another company local to you, so you can use them as a mentor to describe the concepts of environmental aspects and impacts etc.

Anyone else care to help out?
Andy

[Sidney Vianna]

As a minimum, I would suggest you read ISO 14001:2004 BEFORE the course and try to find out as much as possible about your organization impacts and aspects

[Randy]

Why are you taking a Lead Auditor course? An EMS-LA course isn't one of those things that you attend from 8:30am - 4:00pm, just sit and listen, and then go out and party at night. Depending upon the provider it is work and can be a pretty good challenge to the un-initiated.

You might be better served to take an introduction/implementation and an internal auditing course.

However if you really want to do it I would ask that you look at the one my employer provides as well as the course provided by Sidney Vianna's company.
There are also a couple of other folks here in the Cove that offer or work for companies that offer accredited courses. Shop around.

[Sidney Vianna]

In Reply to Parent Post by Randy

Shop around.

Yep. Shop around. Hopefully in Malaysia, you do not run the risk of being ISO 14001 certified YOUSELF, after attending a training session.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/473187

‘Ugandan products known for quality’
Thursday, 29th December, 2005
By Ricks Kayizzi

UGANDAN products have gained a reputation of complying with stiff quality standards, giving them a competitive edge on the international markets.

Hass Wolfgang, the managing director of Stenum Association, a firm which trains people in cleaner production techniques on behalf of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, said the good reputation would lead to speedy growth of the manufacturing sector.

“Competitiveness starts from the production line. Many firms in Uganda have done that because of their desire to penetrate international markets. Fortunately, their efforts are being recognised by consumers in Europe and elsewhere,’’ Wolfgang said.

This was during the closure of a seminar where 16 officials from local manufacturing firms were trained and awarded with ISO:14001 certificates.

This will enable the companies train their workers in cleaner production techniques.

Made in Uganda

[Jim Wynne]

This was during the closure of a seminar where 16 officials from local manufacturing firms were trained and awarded with ISO:14001 certificates.

This is probably the result of technical ignorance on the part of the reporter. I suspect (hope) that certificates for completing the class were handed out, and misidentified by the writer as 14001 certificates.

[Sidney Vianna]

In Reply to Parent Post by JSW05

This is probably the result of technical ignorance on the part of the reporter. I suspect (hope) that certificates for completing the class were handed out, and misidentified by the writer as 14001 certificates.

I would hope so too, Jim. But when we know so many "predators" preying on ignorance even in the developed World where many people have more easy access to information, I can only imagine what is still going on, in terms of fraudulent and unethical conduct concerning management system training, auditing, and consulting, in places like Africa and Asia.
Had you ever heard that Ugandan products are well known for their quality?

[RCBeyette]

I'm off on OHSAS 18001 LA training next and here's what I've done, so far:

• Read the specification over and highlighted the word 'shall' every time (this allows me to quickly locate requirements in class).
• Read our existing manual (oh wait, I developed it...re-read it).
• Grabbed a copy of our policy.
• Read, re-read, and re-re-read the definitions so that I'm speaking the same language as the trainer.
• Make sure I know the start time of the class...and directions on how to get there.

Similar stuff could be done for the ISO 14001 preparation.