JQA conducts assessments that provide your organization with the opportunity to recognize the potential for system improvement as your organization aims to enhance the effectiveness of the environmental management system and the organization's social value.
⇒Summary ⇓Procedures of Assessment and Registration ⇓FAQ
ISO14001 is the international standard for environmental management systems. Its objective is to promote business operations while simultaneously providing for sound environmental conservation by responding to social needs based on the concept of sustainability.
ISO14001, the international standard for environmental management systems, aims to reduce environmental risks and contribute to environmental conservation while balancing these with business operation. The environmental risks involved in business activities have become diversified to an unprecedented degree, and efforts to reduce them and contribute to environmental conservation are becoming increasingly important. If your organization actively incorporates an environmental system and the effort to attain a balance between environmental aspects and business operation, such measures would be highly regarded by a wide range of stakeholders (concerned parties), as they would be able to enhance the value of organizations that are seeking sustainable development.
The effectiveness of the ISO14001 management system in relation to the environmental management activities of organizations is highlighted in the environmental reports and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports of many organizations. As such, certification/registration has been expanding to and prevailing among many organizations such as electric and electronic industries and other various industries.
JQA adopts a broader perspective when it comes to improving environmental performance by having auditors, who have acquired a wide range of best practices, perform the assessments from the stakeholders' perspective.
In its assessment of environmental management systems, JQA tries to maintain and enhance social trust in your organization by adopting the basic stance of always considering the stakeholders point of view. Instead of conducting assessments for their own sake, there is an emphasis on business processes and job sites, as it is more desirable for the environmental management system to be integrated with business processes.
JQA auditors have accumulated experience through the assessment of many organizations, and have gained a thorough grounding in a diverse range of best practices. As such, they are able to conduct assessments that serve to promote awareness among organizations and personnel and broaden their perspective as they attempt to improve environmental performance. In addition, the auditors can recommend EMS Step-Up Diagnosis and other procedures taking into account the maturity of your environmental management system.
JQA's ISO14001 assessment emphasizes the following points, taking into consideration the needs of your organization as well as those of society.
(1) Emphasis on business processes
- JQA’s assessment is more than just checking compliance with the standard requirements.
- JQA conducts assessments that consider the characteristics of the industry.
- JQA places importance on job sites, and whether the environmental management system has been positioned and operated integrally with the flow of business processes.
(2) Appropriateness and effectiveness of the system
- When conducting an assessment, JQA emphasizes the appropriateness and effectiveness of the system in an effort to achieve continual improvement.
- JQA focuses on the improvement of and linkage among the overall system elements, and conducts assessments that lead to enhanced performance.
(3) Stakeholders’ perspective
- JQA offers highly objective and fair assessments by viewing the system from the stakeholders’ perspective.
- JQA conducts assessments that enhance the credibility and value of the environmental management system of your organization.
- JQA focuses on the correlation between the processes of your organization and their overall profile from a third party perspective. JQA provides opportunities for increased awareness through the assessment.
- JQA offers feedback concerning system improvement and conducts assessments that help in conducting business operations.
Procedures of ISO14001 Assessment and Registration: From the Declaration to Certification/Registration and Steps after Registration
⇑Summary ⇒Procedures of Assessment and Registration ⇓FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions concerning ISO14001
⇑Summary ⇑Procedures of Assessment and Registration ⇒FAQ
How is the number of assessment man-days determined?
The number of assessment man-days is determined for each organization based on the IAF Guidelines that are internationally recognized.
In the assessment, JQA confirms whether the Plan-Do-Act-Check (PDCA) cycle is working properly at the operational level, the process level and the system level and whether the management system is functioning effectively in line with the actual process flow of your organization. For this reason, JQA has set the necessary number of assessment man-days for each organization based on the IAF Guidelines, considering the size of the organization, number of sites, complexity of processes and magnitude of environmental load associated with primary business operation.
- How should we apply for the assessment schedule?
- Fill in the necessary items on the application form for the assessment schedule and submit it by the 5th day two months prior to the month you wish to be assessed.
Please fill in the necessary items on the application form for the assessment schedule and submit it by the 5th day two months prior to the month you wish to be assessed. You will receive notification from JQA regarding the schedule approximately one month before the assessment based on the outcome of discussion with you using the information received.
- To what extent should we select and evaluate the "environmental aspects that the organization can influence"?
- These aspects are determined taking into consideration the environmental impact from the upstream to the downstream business processes in your organization.
The scope of selection and evaluation differs depending on the activities and the products/services your organization provides. However, they need to be included in the scope in the case where their environmental impacts are observed in relation to your organization's business operations.
•Examples of environmental aspects that your organization can influence
