Requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 - Case Study Example

Student: Tutor: Course title: Course code: Institutional affiliation: Date of submission: Executive summary The purpose of this report was to analyze the case of welcome services in relation to requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. The next task was to recommend which between a separate or integrated risk assessment approaches is best suited for the company. The company has done well to adopt ISO 9001 and is capable of handling an integrated risk assessment approach since it will save the company time, cost and expenses that come with disruptions during such processes. As such the report recommends an integrated risk assessment approach since its beneficial for the company. Furthermore, the company does not have complex processes and as such an integrated approach will not overwhelm the management as it would be the case for a company with complex processes and procedures which may result in massive losses if disrupted by such activities. Table of Contents Executive summary 2 1 Introduction 4 2 Methodology 4 3 Discussion 5 4 Strengths and weaknesses of separate and integrated approaches to risk assessment 7 4.1 Strengths of the separate assessment approach 7 4.2 Weaknesses on a separate assessment approach 7 4.3 Strengths of an integrated approach 8 4.4 Weaknesses of the integrated approach 8 5 Conclusion/recommendation 8 References 10 Risk Assessment for Welcome Services 1 Introduction If an organization is to achieve effectiveness in its operations, it has to come up with an elaborate plan of linking and executing different but linked activities that constitute its core functions. This way, it will be possible to resources and other inputs into finished products (Cianfrani, Tsiakals, & West, 2009; ISO, 2013). In such a process it is obvious that the output of one process forms the input of the next logical process. ISO 9001 helps in ensuring quality is upheld by using such an approach to improve quality of the final product. Traditionally this is the first standard to be implemented before ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 which are environmental and health and safety management system respectively (ISO, 2013). In relation to this, risk assessment process can be achieved through a separate process of the three or an integrated process. Both of which have advantages and disadvantages for a particular business (Seear, 2012). The purpose of this paper will be to analyses the two approaches in relation to “welcome services”. 2 Methodology This report shall review the processes of Welcome services in relation to requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. The report will go ahead to recommend the appropriate risk assessment approach between separate and integrated approach for the case of Welcome services 3 Discussion Welcome services is well on its way to complying with the ISO 9001 which they already hold, however with such small inefficiencies in the system, the quality of the services and product delivery may be poor. Given the progress that welcome has made in regards to ISO 9001, it may be about time that the company considers adopting environmental management (ISO 14001) and health and safety management systems (OHSAS 18001). All the three systems actually complement each other to the extent that benefits gained by one system may be transferred to adhering with the requirements of the other system. For instance, conservation of raw materials by reducing wastage is a requirement of the ISO 14001, however in so doing; the company will also be economizing on resources thus becoming profitable (Walter, 2004). A separate risk assessment approach will mean that the company analyses its adherence to the requirements of each process separately. This will be very effective as regards implementing fully of each and every process. The company will have enough time to focus its attention towards understanding the requirements of each process. In so doing the company will analyze its position to conform to the requirements setout in each system (Block & Marash, 2002). Upon the understanding of the matter well, the company will proceed to implement it appropriately. Such a system will fit very smoothly into the system without much disruption into the activities and processes of the company. however considering that the company also wants to acquire other standardization certificates, it should be noted that each time the system is to be reviewed and adjusted to fit the requirements of the a different standards requirement there will be numerous disruption which may derail the process that take place within a system (Sadiq & Khan, 2011). An integrated approach on the other hand provides a company with the option of saving costs associated with assessing its processes, investing to comply with the requirements of each standard. The idea is that, when the company considers adopting all the standards that it desires, and then it will set aside the required resources and invest in assets or system features that are the requirements of all the standards. This is cost effective as compared to fulfilling the requirements of each standard separately. It should also be noted that the cost of engaging a consulting firm may be brought down dramatically if the firm is engaged once to deliver services for adoption of the three standards (Cianfrani, Tsiakals, & West, 2009). Apart from cost effectiveness, the integrated approach also reduces the disruptions made to the system as the standards risk assessments are done and implementation is conducted. The disruptions may result in delayed service or product delivery much to the dissatisfaction of the company’s customers. The disruptions may also result into lost profit as the system does not function normally during the implementation process (Seear, 2012). It is therefore advisable that a business adopts the integrated approach to adopting the three standards. For welcome, it will be even simpler since the company is already a holder of the ISO 9001 quality standard. What this means is that it will be easy to adopt the remaining two standards since much of the system is already streamlined by the quality management system. Doing so will cut the cost for welcome and ensure minimal disruption since it will be done once. 4 Strengths and weaknesses of separate and integrated approaches to risk assessment 4.1 Strengths of the separate assessment approach The approach provides for enough time and attention to review the system carefully. It therefore ensures that the implementation process will be successful since enough reparation has been made. The separate approach also ensures that the business has the opportunity to analyze the success of the first adoption which is typically the quality management system. once the company determines the management system adopted has affected the company in a positive way in terms of customer satisfaction and growth of sales, then the company can go ahead to assess the possibility of implementing the other two standards. This ensures that chances of there having multiple hiccups in the system are minimized. The management is also not overwhelmed by the amount of work that is usually associated with an integrated approach to adoption of the standards system. As such the management is committed fully towards full adoption of the system. 4.2 Weaknesses on a separate assessment approach It maybe very expensive to use separate risk assessment approaches as each time they are done, a consultancy firm will be involved which is a costly affair. There are also many disruptions in the system which may slow the processes in the business or even lower the profitability of the business through delays. 4.3 Strengths of an integrated approach The integrated system saves on time consumed doing risk assessment for each standard. This ensures that the company can concentrate on its core activities once the risk assessment process is completed without much time wastage. The integrated approach is cost effective as the company can capitalize on economies of scale especially on consulting charges as they can be done once. The minimal disruptions also mean that the company will suffer limited losses accruing from the disruption of the core process of the business. 4.4 Weaknesses of the integrated approach The approach may result in the management being overwhelmed by the multiple risk assessment and improvement process in the company. It might then result in total failure of all the systems being implemented. it may result to lack of thoroughness in doing risk assessment. Meaning the whole process might not actually achieve the desired results. 5 Conclusion/recommendation For welcome, their processes are not so complex. The company has also adopted the ISO 9001 successfully meaning that it will be simple to move on into other standards with less hiccups. Using an integrated approach will save time and expenses for welcome as the assessment will be done jointly for the two standards and as such time will be saved and joint expenses shall lower the costs involved for both assessments. The process will also result in minimal disruptions unlike if it would have been done separately since each time it is conducted the disruptions will be unavoidable. It is therefore prudent that the management at welcome considers doing the risk assessment in an integrated approach since the benefits are more as compared to separate assessments. The integrated risk assessment process in the service delivery section of the company will review how much time is spent working on a client order to improve service quality; it will review the safety and health of employees in the service delivery section in terms of dealing with dirty mats which pose a health risk. It will also assess how the cleaning and delivery services impact on the environment for improvement purposes. References Block, M., & Marash, R. (2002). Integrating Iso 14001 Into a Quality Management System. ASQ Quality Press. Cianfrani, C., Tsiakals, J., & West, J. (2009). ISO 9001:2008 Explained. ASQ Quality Press. ISO. (2013). ISO 14000 - Environmental management. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from ISO Website : http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/management-standards/iso14000.htm ISO. (2013). ISO 9000 - Quality management. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from ISO Website: http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_9000 OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health & Safety. (2007, July 12). What is OHSAS 18001? . Retrieved October 28, 2013, from ohsas-18001-occupational-health-and-safety website: http://www.ohsas-18001-occupational-health-and-safety.com/what.htm Sadiq, N., & Khan, A. (2011). ISO14001 Step by Step: A Practical Guide. IT Governance Pub. Seear, D. (2012). Iso 9001 Audit Trail: A Practical Guide to Process Auditing Following an Audit Trail. Westbow Press. Walter, F. (2004). Financial and Environmental Impacts of ISO 14001 Certification. GRIN Verlag. Read More