Environmental Objective, Target, and Performance Indicator - Differences?

[saint77]

Are you trained on ISO 14001 ?

yes, i am trained on the 3 standards (9001, 14001, 18001), auditor and consultant. But I will never be 100% sure how the thing should be. I've seen to many systems to be SURE ^-) I should always adapt to what a company has, what it wants, and the requirement of a standard, which is sometimes really tough.

Why? Should I qualify to ask stupid questions or participate in the forum? ^-)

 

[somashekar]

yes, i am trained on the 3 standards (9001, 14001, 18001), auditor and consultant. But I will never be 100% sure how the thing should be. I've seen to many systems to be SURE ^-) I should always adapt to what a company has, what it wants, and the requirement of a standard, which is sometimes really tough.

Why? Should I qualify to ask stupid questions or participate in the forum? ^-)

Hi Dear Saint ...
No question is stupid, it is only stupid not to ask a question. Perhaps some experts are dwelling into your question to respond. keep in track

 

[Steve Prevette]

so the basic question is

Can anyone give an expert opinion on the difference/relation between

objective/target/indicator (and for program and plan if used synonamosly to those ^-)

I'll take a stab at this, since this is very similar to US Government programs in Environmental and Pollution Prevention.

1. Objective - I'd relate this to the aim. Reduce CO2 emissions. Become more "Green". Increase recycling of materials. Reduce disposal of spent chemicals.

2. Target. Unfortunately, many ISO standards, Baldrige, GPRA, etc. immediately assume that targets must be numerical targets ie reduce CO2 emissions to x pounds per day, increase recycling rates by 20%. Dr. Deming stated very emphatically in his 14 points the dangers of numerical targets such as these ESPECIALLY if you don't have a means to meat the target. Even if you have the means such targets are still dangerous, according to Deming and his followers. What to do instead? Use SPC on the performance indicator, and the target becomes "achieve a statistically significant reduction in pounds of CO2 released per day".

3. Performance Indicator. The actual measurement being made. Pounds of sulfur dioxide released into the atmosphere daily. The percent of used chemicals that are recycled rather than disposed of.

 

[saint77]

I'll take a stab at this, since this is very similar to US Government programs in Environmental and Pollution Prevention.

1. Objective - I'd relate this to the aim. Reduce CO2 emissions. Become more "Green". Increase recycling of materials. Reduce disposal of spent chemicals.

2. Target. Unfortunately, many ISO standards, Baldrige, GPRA, etc. immediately assume that targets must be numerical targets ie reduce CO2 emissions to x pounds per day, increase recycling rates by 20%. Dr. Deming stated very emphatically in his 14 points the dangers of numerical targets such as these ESPECIALLY if you don't have a means to meat the target. Even if you have the means such targets are still dangerous, according to Deming and his followers. What to do instead? Use SPC on the performance indicator, and the target becomes "achieve a statistically significant reduction in pounds of CO2 released per day".

3. Performance Indicator. The actual measurement being made. Pounds of sulfur dioxide released into the atmosphere daily. The percent of used chemicals that are recycled rather than disposed of.

Hi, Steve
Thank you for this information.
I will think it over as for now I can't fell the difference... ((

 

[canmatrix]

Hi Marc,

Can you provide a brief example to illustrate your points?

Thanks in advance.

I think you're over complicating this. Part of it may have to do with a language issue.

Programme: All of the following:

The identified environmental aspect you want to track and act upon. There may be multiple programs (and typically there are more than one). You have chosen: "Reduce daily air emission by 10%".

What you have failed to do so far is to identify what specific emission you want to track. There are many. Your manufacturing processes will determine which are applicable to you.

Objective: What you want your program to achieve. Also referred to as a "goal". Defined in the Program. You have defined your Objective as: "Reduce daily air emission".

Performance Indicator: A specific numerical measurable you want to track (not to mention a method to do so).

Target: A measurable value you want to achieve. Your Target is defined in your Program and your Objective. You have chosen: "Reduce daily air emission by 10%" so you have to determine what your current emission level is and subtract 10% from it. That is your numerical target.

 

[Marc]

Are you asking for more specific environmental aspects?

 

[kgott]

How to say/explain in simple words the difference bw ENV. objective, plan, programme, target, perform.indicator.

As per standard we have to have those but actually we might end up with having only one. compare: Reduce daily air emission by 10%. (which could be all of the above: objective, plan, program, target and perform. indicator). Then why having so many names?

Check:
My (objective, plan, program, target and perform. indicator) is to reduce daily air emission by 10%!

((or what is the (co)-relation among objective, target and perform. indicator))

I think some these terms can be used interchangeably. I could be wrong, but nowhere do I see the term KPI defined in ISO 14001.

I would caution against using numberised targets as more often than not the stated target is simply plucked out of thin air instead of being based the calculated capability of the process to deliver a given result.