ISO 14001 Implementation Schedule - I doing a proposal and I'm stuck!

[Randy]

Does anybody have a good implementation shecdule? I doing a proposal and I'm stuck in the area between the Gap and Registration Audits. I've got down awareness training for all and the internal auditor training times, but it's the other stuff I'm stuck on. How do you predetermine how much time will be necessary for all the other stuff like procedures, doc control and all that?

I'm looking at a no more than 12 month and preferably 6-9 month implementation.

In the past I've normally worked off of the schedule the client drew up and modified it as we went along. This time I need to do one in advance.

I appreciate it guys

[Marc]

Drawing up a project plan (schedule) is always a big guess. There's one for ISO in the Premium directory, but it's a guess. I usually look at the company first and try to determine how much they're willing and able to put into the effort. Or whether they want you to do all the systems documents and such. In addition is the size (employees) and whether they're a complex organization or a small shop.

I typically look at 6 to 9 months but when they already have a lot of existing systems it may be 3 to 4 months. One of the biggest problems I have run into is a company starting out with all the good intentions and then finding that people do not have the time to put into the project that was predicted.

Here's one I'm working on for an ISO implementation. 14001 should be quicker and simpler, but I've never done a 14001 alone - they've all been 9001 - 14001 combos.

Good luck!

[Randy]

Hey Marc thanks, it gives me more than I had

Randy,

I might have something if you have MS Project?

[Randy]

What I have is a 14K implementation for registration. The company is already 9K94, AS9000 and QS9 registered. Most of what I have done before is to go in after an organization has already done some of their own work and bring the loose ends together. This one is from the get-go. We will use as much as we can from the pre-existing QS. Where I am lost is how do I determine "X" hours for this and "X" hours for that after I've done the Gap and provided the system necessary training ? Do I just say "X" hours per week or month until registration or what? This part is a little new to me.

[Marc]

If you want to you can go as deep as you want. That is to say you can break it down to number of procedures and do estimates on that level. But it will all be a guess. I typically predict a 25% Murphy factor - things won't go as planned. If things do go as planned, so much the better.

I've rarely gone to that level immediately. Usually I start with something like what I attached and then focus down as the project gets under way as i get to know the company and to understand how they work (including how much they will participate).

As for trying to figure actual hours.... Yours or theirs?

[Randy]

The billable type. Onsite to start with. Some type of ballpark or swag.

[Marc]

I just make a list of what I have to do and estimate. But I estimate high. The last thing I want is a surprise to the client or to eat 'overtime'.

I approach everything like a project. I start out with something like I attached and then as more becomes known I fill in the details.

Remember that 'implementation' map you attached to a post in another thread? Go through it and estimate your time on each step that is applicable to your project. Then sum it all up and add 25% for Murphy.

Every implementation I've been through has been different enough that I can't really give precise times for any given step.