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THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF
ENTERPRISE-WIDE SHEQ RISK
Management systems for Safety, Health, Environment
and Quality (SHEQ) risk have been driven into
business processes through the introduction and
acceptance of international standards such as ISO
14001 (Environmental Management) OHSAS 18001 (Health
and Safety Management) and ISO 9001 (Quality
Management), and has lead to business improvement on
all levels.
The local and international focus on the development
of codes of corporate governance together with
investor pressure has further entrenched SHEQ issues
as part of the risk and performance assessment arena – there is now recognition that these issues do
fundamentally affect the achievement of business
objectives.
The rapid and ever-increasing need to improve
corporate governance has significantly increased the
importance of real time, accurate and
enterprise-wide SHEQ risk and compliance
information. In conflict to this, there is ongoing
pressure to improve the bottom line performance by
reducing cost whilst at the same time improving
operational and resource efficiency. This
strong operational imperative is driving an
increasing need for available information across a
wide variety of risks whilst human resources to
manage and use it are being cut. The amount of data
generated steadily accumulates without the means of
effectively reporting key performance information to
senior management. This coupled with lean staffing
of operations is proving to be a major problem for
those responsible for the successful implementation
of integrated SHEQ strategies. In short, resources
are being stretched beyond their capacity to
effectively contribute.
The result is that although senior management
require consistent, timely and accurate SHEQ
information to make strategic decisions and govern
effectively, the piecemeal and limited investment in
SHEQ information management systems often results in
them receiving insufficient, inaccurate and
out-of-date SHEQ information. This is further
exacerbated by the rudimentary and often silo-based
approaches that have been adopted for SHEQ
management in many organisations.
The deployment of effective information technology
at the enterprise level is critical for SHEQ
professionals to succeed in such a competitive
business environment. The use of appropriate
information technology provides a solution for
meeting this increase in demand for SHEQ information
and relieving the stretch on resources.
Metrix Software Solutions MD Paul de Kock says “Web
based SHEQ technology can change the way companies
do business.” The fundamental reason for this,
he notes, is that Web technology can be used to more
effectively access and exchange information with a
variety of internal and external stakeholders in
real time. Organisations that have
adopted this technology are enjoying clear business
advantages by becoming more efficient, more
responsive and ultimately more sustainable,” he
adds.
The benefits of a Web-based SHEQ systems include
centralisation of data, which can be accessed in
real-time and allow multiple users to simultaneously
access relevant information. It provides a
consistent and common framework for SHEQ management
without sacrificing site-specific flexibility and
customisation options. Because information is
centrally stored within a secure database, it
enables fast reporting and analysis, including
historical and predictive comparisons.
In a multi-site or corporate environment, data vital
to ongoing management and performance improvement is
stored within the system and not only with the
people who operate it. This retention of knowledge
enables all to have indefinite access to a
continually growing knowledge base developed from
years of management experience, and this base can be
used to support the drive for continual improvement. De Kock says improving SHEQ information management
should therefore be seen as critical, adding that
there are exceptional opportunities to increase the
efficiency and effectiveness of SHEQ risk management
practices through the use of Web technology.
Paul de Kock
Managing Director of Metrix Software Solutions (Pty)
Ltd
QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STANDARDS AND BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT
A great deal of information has been written
about ISO 9001 much of which may not always share
the same viewpoint. This is because ISO 9001 is
subject to different interpretations depending on
the authors point of view and their particular “pet
loves and hates.”
The point I would to raise is where does good
customer-focused quality management fit into an
organisation?
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All organisations services and operations
have customers, internal or external. They
demand an ever-increasing standard of
service from existing and new product or
service offerings. A clearly structured,
systematic approach to improving the
customer experience must apply to all
organisations no matter what market segment
they serve or industry they belong to. |
Continual improvement is arguably the most important
feature of a good management system. A key point to
remember is that the ISO 9001 Standard demands that
improvements to the management system be made. The
belief is that product or service improvement will
result from a better system - or that the systematic
approach is the only way to ensure continuing and
improving customer satisfaction. The model central
to ISO 9001 is the PDCA + R cycle:
PLAN: How you are going to achieve the
desired outcome.
DO: Do what you have planned to do -
implement the processes.
CHECK: Check what has been done - has it
worked?
ACT: Act on these findings to identify
improvements.
REVIEW: Demonstrate and track improvement.
Business improvement is often quoted as one of the
benefits of a good management system but how are
these benefits achieved?
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Product or
service improvement, and improvement in
customer satisfaction, will have clear
advantages in your markets, in terms of
business retention and with new business; |
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Clear
objectives and related process improvements
ensure you are doing the right things for
the right reasons; |
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Clear
objectives and related process improvements
ensure you are doing the right things for
the right reasons; |
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Reductions in
defects and failures can have clear
financial benefits; |
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Some markets
still insist on ISO 9001 certification as a
contract or supply requirement; |
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The ISO 9001
quality model can be expanded to include
wider business objectives. Some of these are
commonly included in the organisation's
quality objectives - such as efficiency and
cost targets. |
ISO 9001 forms the basic building block for how a
good quality management system should be structured.
All organisations and departments have customers,
therefore ISO 9001 applies to all.
Although there may be no external demand,
certification will give you and others confidence
that you have a good system.
Simply put whether you desire to achieve ISO 9001
certification or not if you believe in and apply its
principles and the key elements contained within it
you will definitely have a strategic advantage over
your competitors in the markets and industries that
you serve.
Steve Simmonds
Executive Head Quality of Metrix Software Solutions
(Pty) Ltd
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