ISO A Standard for the Environment... Today and Tomorrow

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Leonard Dennis
9 years ago
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1 ISO A Standard for the Environment... Today and Tomorrow

2 The Environment It s the air we breathe It s the water we drink It s the resources we use The future of our environment depends on us At Rockwell Automation, we ve implemented a program which enables us to dynamically manage our environmental endeavors responsibly. It s called ISO Certification At the heart of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Certification is the Environmental Management System or EMS. The Rockwell Automation EMS is an integral part of our overall management structure that addresses the immediate and long-term impact our products, services and processes have on the environment. It provides orderly and consistent methods for resource allocation, responsibility assignment, and ongoing practice, procedure, and process evaluation. As members of the global community, it s extremely important to us that Rockwell Automation is a good neighbor. That means we provide our employees and the community with a safe and environmentally sound place to work.

It s called ISO 14001 Certification At the heart of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 14001 Certification is the Environmental Management System or EMS.

3 WHAT IS THE ISO STANDARD? To become ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certified, a company must: Communicate its environmental commitment and policy to employees Develop a strategy and process to meet policy goals and the structure for executing that strategy Set objectives for continuous environmental performance improvement Implement programs and tools to meet continuous improvement objectives Conduct policy communications and training programs to strengthen participation and understanding Establish progress monitoring, measurement and review processes Using a basic framework, environmental and quality professionals from each of our facilities work together to develop an individual ISO Environmental Management System for each facility. Our process looks something like this: Environmental Policy inaugurated Planning Impact, requirements and other factors considered Objectives and targets set Programs and performance measures established Implementation Operational control Responsibilities assigned Procedures standardized Employees trained Progress documented Progress communicated Emergency plan put into place Monitoring and Corrective Actions taken Results monitored and measured Compliance audited Environmental Management System (EMS) audited Problems corrected THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM S ROLE Rockwell Automation accomplished ISO s basic requirements by integrating them into a unique approach for certification. Our Environment Management Systems: Incorporate common Environmental Management Procedures Activities recorded Management reviews Review overall EMS Lessons learned Implementation, program, planning, policy changes required Provide individual facilities adaptation Leverage existing Quality Management System (ISO 9000) Are certified on facility level Use same registrar (as feasible)

policy goals and the structure for executing that strategy Set objectives for continuous environmental performance improvement Implement programs and tools to meet continuous improvement objectives

4 DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION As early as 1991, Rockwell Automation developed a program to identify and continuously improve the company s efforts on environmental matters. When ISO certification became available, Rockwell Automation voluntarily and eagerly embraced it making company-wide certification a corporate goal. And, we don t stop with certification. Our facilities continually push themselves to go beyond regulatory compliance. Our design engineers look for new ways to make our products environmentally-friendly. Our Twinsburg, Ohio facility was only the fifth manufacturing facility of its kind to become ISO certified in the United States. This also made Rockwell Automation the first U.S. controls supplier to achieve ISO certification status. As of July 1999, 21 Rockwell Automation sites worldwide have been certified to the ISO Standard. For update on our certification status, see web site or call Rockwell Automation Headquarters Environmental, at Rockwell Automation can also provide a service to customers and vendors to establish their own ISO program and achieve ISO certification. Economic benefits, too, can be seen from ISO certification. Certification relies on corrective actions continuing to be taken to meet compliance and reduce future liability. Compliance, in turn, significantly reduces the possibility of a shutdown based on non-compliance. Compliance also reduces the amount of regulatory involvement. Prevention is always far less costly than remediation. All this goodwill ultimately increases the value of the company in the minds of our employees, our customers, our vendors, our shareholder, and in the communities in which we do business. Rockwell Automation is and will continue to be a good neighbor for today and tomorrow. Worldwide toxic release reports declare a 83% reduction in toxic releases from 1996 to Toxic Report Inventory Releases (In Tons) Worldwide, 92% of all hazardous waste produced by Rockwell Automation is incinerated, recycled, treated or used as a secondary fuel with only 8% being landfilled. Virtually no waste is deep well injected. Rockwell Automation uses only approved hazardous waste disposal sites. Notable results from individual Rockwell Automation facility ISO Certification: Solid waste reduced by 85 tons 18 tons of office paper recycled $9,000 annual hauling expense savings 18-percent waste reduction Air compressor and lighting equipment upgrades significantly reduced energy usage Cleaning process improvements reduced facility waste stream

Our facilities continually push themselves to go beyond regulatory compliance. Our design engineers look for new ways to make our products environmentally-friendly.

5 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Rockwell Automation is committed to demonstrating the highest standard of global environmental management. Our policy is to go beyond strict regulatory compliance and to act in the interest of the communities, in which we live and work. We are committed to the continual improvement of our environmental management system and performance, including resource conservation and pollution prevention. We relentlessly strive to be the best in all aspects of environmental management by fostering a culture of trust, teamwork, accountability, partnership and communication with employees, suppliers, customers and outside organizations.

We are committed to the continual improvement of our environmental management system and performance, including resource conservation and pollution prevention.

Identifying Environmental Aspects

Identifying Environmental Aspects How an organization interfaces with the environment Environmental Aspect: Element of an organization s activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment.