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Drivers of Success

An ISO 14000 Certified Environmental Management System Implementation

(TEMPE, Arizona) October 2, 2009 — With a focus on supply management, this CAPS Research Practix (Best Practices) article describes the implementation and operation of an ISO 14000 certified environmental management system (EMS) at a leading supplier of energy and environmental sensors.

Important areas where ISO 14000 and supply management intersect are vendor packaging, chemical management and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliance.

As with any improvement initiative, some hurdles were encountered. Two of these were related to the informal, entrepreneurial culture and the company's cultural/language diversity. Drivers of successful implementation and ongoing operation of the EMS include managing the program scope, employee training and communication, and management commitment. Results included large increases in material recovery, decreases in power consumption, and marketing benefits.

The ISO 14000 process created a safer internal environment and improved the company's effect on the outside environment. As a result of recycling and re-use initiatives, this organization has increased its recovery rate (material not going to landfills) from 50 percent to 85 percent and cut the cost of garbage hauling service by two-thirds.

The complete Practix article, "ISO 14000 at Veris Industries," is available at the CAPS Research web site: http://www.capsresearch.org/publications/pdfs-protected/practix072009.pdf. This best practices article includes a table with key components of the Environmental Management System.

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CAPS Research is a nonprofit research organization founded in 1986 to provide leading research to our strategic-minded corporate sponsors and to the public. Our mission is to work in partnership with a global network of executives and academics for the discovery and dissemination of strategic supply management knowledge and best practices. CAPS Research is jointly sponsored by the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and the Institute for Supply Management™ and Global 1000/Fortune 500-size organizations.

Media Contact:
Clare Donnalley
Marketing Manager
CAPS Research
Voice: 800/888-6276 extension 3007
cdonnalley@capsresearch.org

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