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In This Issue
Transition to ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 9001:2015
Changes to the standards
What the changes mean for you
Annex SL
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ley hill solutions improves the way your organisation performs by developing solutions that are right for you.

We use internationally recognised standards and frameworks, such as  ISO9001 and the EFQM Excellence Model
  
Please contact us if we can be of any help.

Transition to the 2015 versions of ISO 14001 and ISO 9001

The time scale for transition ends in September 2018, from when certification to the old versions of these standards (ISO 9001:2008 and ISO14001:2004) will no longer be valid and all audits will be to the new standards.

If,you are still working to the older versions and have not yet
started planning for the transition, then you could be at risk of unnecessary cost and adverse impact on your operational activities when forced to make changes at short notice.

You need to be working back now from the planned audit date for your certification or next re-certification. If you don't already have a copy of the new standard, you can obtain one from ISO.


If you would like any help, training, support or advice during your transition, please do not hesitate to contact us. Even if you are unsure, what help, if any, you might need, do get in touch with us - we will be happy to talk it over with you and will only ever suggest you use our support if we honestly believe you need it.  










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Newsletter - July 2017   
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Don't be caught on the hop. Transition to the new ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 2015 standards is well under way and if you haven't yet started preparing for this you are running the risk of not being ready when certification against the older versions ceases completely in September 2018. Some of our clients have already successfully completed the transition and been certified against the new 2015 versions, though it is true we have seen this more in the case of ISO 9001 than ISO 14001. If you are using either of these standards in the older versions I do urge you not to leave it too late to start making the changes, some of which might be more fundamental than you expect and may even require a change in your top management thinking and culture that can't be achieved overnight - the new emphasis on Leadership and strategic thinking requires a much more active role from top management than in the past. See our articles below and below left on what the key changes are, preparing for transition and how we can help.
Changes to the standards

For both standards the structure, terminology and definitions have been changed to ensure consistency in line with Annex SL ( for more detail see our article about Annex SL below).

There have also been specific changes to each standard, with new or changed requirements in the following areas

ISO 9001
  • Strategic Quality Management
  • Leadership
  • Risks and opportunities
  • Process approach
  • Organisational knowledge
  • Documentation
ISO 14001
  • Strategic Environmental Management
  • Leadership
  • Protecting the environment
  • Environmental performance
  • Lifecycle thinking
  • Communication
  • Documentation
What the changes mean for you  
 
Firstly, be reassured that, whilst the structure and some content of the requirements have changed (see key changes above), the commercial and organisational benefits of using these standards have, if anything, been enhanced, This is due to the new emphasis on alignment with strategy.

Secondly, the changes are less to do with changing the principles and customer focused benefits on which the requirements were originally based (the Plan, Do, Check, Act principle is, for example, still firmly embedded) and more to do with making all of the management system standards consistent in structure and easier to implement and audit in tandem, as well as being an integral part of
achieving the organisation's strategic goals and a tool for improving performance.

Additionally, if you are already using more than one management system standard e.g. ISO 9001,together with  ISO 14001 or ISO 22301 (the societal security or business continuity management system standard), you will be able to reap the benefits of the new consistent Annex SL structure (see below).

However, an important change is that organisations are now required to demonstrate a strategic approach, incorporating complete life cycle thinking in the case of 14001, risk based thinking in the case of 9001 and much more emphasis on Leadership for both standards. It is a requirement of the new standards that the senior management team are personally involved in the certification audit. This will not be a new approach for those organisations already using the standards to support and enhance delivery of their overall strategy, which is something we have always encouraged our clients to do, but it might need some work for those who have until now used them more as an operational tool.

This is an area we are particularly expert in. We have long held the view that unless these standards are used strategically to support the organisation's vision and goals, then there is much less value to be had in implementing them and we have always supported our clients to take this approach, allowing them to gain real organisational benefit. It is very heartening to see the 2015 versions supporting this view.

Do contact us if there are any aspects of transition to the new standards that you feel you need more information about or if you would like any advice or help.
Annex SL  
   
Annex SL was introduced by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) in  April 2012, replacing ISO Guide 83 as the guide to follow when developing management system standards.

All new or revised management systems standards since then have been developed using an identical high level structure, text and common terms and definitions, as set out in Annex SL.

Management system standards that have now adopted the Annex SL structure include the new
ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 9001:2015.

This is ensuring consistency among future and revised management system standards and making integrated use simpler. It is also making the standards easier to read in order that they can be better understood by users.

The common High Level Structure has 10 sections, as follows -  

  1. Scope
  2. Normative references
  3. Terms and definitions
  4. Context of the organisation
  5. Leadership
  6. Planning
  7. Support
  8. Operation
  9. Performance evaluation
  10. Improvemet

Sincerely,
 
Graham Hull
ley hill solutions limited
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