ISO

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a Quality Management System that is based off of performance. In a performance based approach the focus of all decisions is on demand requirements and on required performance in use. In traditional practice describes the way and the method to get things done. Performance based building is focused on the needs of the people using it and focuses on the performance required for the business processes. There are two main points in the performance based concept: need for validation and verification of results, and the use and balance between two different languages (one for the clients and the users and the other for the supply of the performance.) The languages are split in such a way that there is a language that demands the requirements and the other language that requires performance which should have a capacity to fulfill the demand. Performance requirements are used to translate user requirements in more precise quantitative measurable and technical terms for a certain purpose. Performance based criteria need to make sure they list indicators of performance in a way that can be measured against the explicit requirements in either a quantitative or qualitative method. These performance indicators need to be clearly laid out so the user and the evaluator can easily understand them. The appropriate tools and methods must be used to verify that required performance has been achieved.

ISO DIS 14001 is being updated and the final version is expected to be released on October 2015. Documentation of ISO can take anywhere from a couple weeks to a year to get certified. This new version has updated their environmental management system. The first step in updating your environmental management system is to know the context of your organization, both the external and internal components that are relevant to your organizations purpose. The next step is to clarify the needs and expectations of your interested parties that are relevant to your organization’s environmental management system. Then you need to identify the interested parties that are interested in your environmental performance. To develop your environmental management system you must clarify boundaries and use them to define the scope of the program. To further specify your scope of your environmental management system you must include all products, services, and activities that have specific environment aspects and then document them. Now that you have determined the scope you can establish and maintain an environmental management system. When you are doing this an organization must consider the external and internal context of how interested parties and issues could influence your organization’s environmental management system. Organization’s must provide leadership in their environmental management system and ensure that an environmental policy and objective are established. Communication is key for explaining why environmental management is important to your organization and to expect your managers and personnel to be accountable and personally support the environmental management system. To make sure your program’s environmental policies are put into effect the organization must assign roles, authorities, and responsibilities and make sure that they are well communicated.