1. role of environmental management system in TQM

EnvironmentEnvironment is defined as 'surroundings in which an Organisation operates including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelation. Surroundings in this context extend from within individual households to organisations and then to the entire global system. Keeping the environment fit for living is the duty of every citizen and Organisation, because a clean environment enhances the 'quality of life' of all species on the earth. There is an increasing awareness by individuals and organisations to achieve and demonstrate sound environmental performance by controlling the impact of their activities on the environment.Causes of environmental degradationThere are many causes that have contributed for the degradation in the environment. Some of them are population increase, ozone depletion, global warming, air pollution, water pollution and ecosystem disturbance.Population increaseThe World population is increasing rapidly. Current population is around 6 billion and will increase to 12 to 15 billion by year 2100. There will be great demands on resources such as space, water and food. There will be serious pollution problems as a result of population growth.Ozone depletionCFC's and other gases are responsible for attacking and reducing the thin layer of high-level of ozone 15 km up in the troposphere. Ozone, the three atom form of oxygen is destroyed by the CFC's and other similar chemicals which release chlorine when exposed to sun light. The chlorine then attacks the ozone converting it into oxygen. During turbulence at this height the ozone thins out, creating a hole which allows ultra violet light from the sun to the surface of the earth. Ultra violet radiation has widespread effects on human health, crops, photo synthesis and ecosystems.Global WarmingThe mean temperature on the earth over the past 140 years has gone up by about 0.5 degrees Celsius. The green house gases that contribute to the global warming are as follows:Air PollutionAir pollution is caused by several factors. Some of the major causes of air pollution are - smog, emissions from vehicle exhausts, release of hydrocarbons from industries. Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon monoxide, solvents and complex hydrocarbons cause air pollution. Many different concerns manifest themselves as 'acid rain'. Acid rain, particularly caused by sulfur-dioxide causes extensive damage to ecosystems. Low level ozone generation from the release of hydrocarbons from industry and vehicles is a problem, particularly during summer when sunlight creates a photochemical smog. Air pollution is cause for many disorders like asthma, bronchitis, eye infections and headaches.Water PollutionWater pollution is caused by nitrates from agricultural operations, discharges from factories either directly or through water treatment plants, sewage discharges, spillage of chemicals, run-off from mining and quarrying operations and ground water contamination due to landfill sites. Classification scheme for river and canal water is as follows: Ecosystem DegradationIn pursuit of industrialisation, large scale destruction of geographical regions is causing massive degradation of the ecosystem. Inadequate planning and poor management of the resources are resulting in destruction of rain forests and upland regions. Exploitation of forests for wood (as industrial raw material, fuel and construction material), mineral extraction and construction of dams for irrigation and power generation are creating imbalance in the ecosystem.Environmental concerns

Managements of Business organisations are under constant pressure from various groups like Legislation, Customers, Markets, Insurance, Public and Media to achieve and demonstrate sound environmental performance.LegislationOrganisations need to adhere to the statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the country to be in business. There is no equal pressure in all the countries. In developed and advanced countries, the legislation for protection of environment has become a high priority. Environmental regulatory bodies, like the Pollution Control Board play, a significant role in the implementation and monitoring of the legislative requirements.CustomersIndividual customers and corporate customers would like to purchase products from manufacturers who are committed to environmental protection. Eco-Label award or certification to ISO 14000 EMS standards provides confidence to the customers that the suppliers are committed to environmental protection and improvement.Market TrendsEnvironmental issues have influenced the consumption patterns of many products. Manufacturers need to study the market trends to prepare the business plans. Some examples of this changing trend are• Usage pattern of pesticides, refrigerants and solvents• Reduction in the use of solvents due to water based alternatives• Alternatives to wood being developed• Usage of sodium hexafluoride as insulating gas under threat

InsuranceInsurance companies are creating pressure on the industry to institute an EMS by providing tailored insurance policies than general policies. Pollution liability is restricted to sudden and accidental and no cover for gradual pollution incidents.Sudden and accidental-Bhopal, Chernobyl etc.,Gradual - Disposal of toxic waste by burial - Leakage of pipes, tanks or pits - Discharge into streams or rivers - Release of fumes into atmospherePublic and MediaPublic consisting of local residents, organisation's workforce, investors and insurers, customers and environmental interest groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth are creating awareness on environmental issues. Wide usage of the Internet and government regulations will lead organisations to provide information on the environmental performance.

Environmental Management Systems - NeedOrganisations of all kinds are increasingly concerned to achieve and demonstrate sound environmental performance by controlling the impact of their activities, products and services on the environment taking into consideration their environmental policy and objectives. The Environmental Management System of an organisation is expected to meet the following needs:Meet the regulatory, and legislative requirements1.Improve the control of the environmental impact2.Provide confidence to the customers that the products and services are manufactured with the aim of reducing the negative impact on the environment3.Suitably accommodate changing market trends and gain competitive edge4.Reduce the costs associated with environmental liabilities and Insurance Gain public and media support

Environmental Management Systems - ScopeThe Environmental Management System enables an Organisation to formulate policy and objectives taking into consideration legislative requirements and significant environmental impacts and specifies the environmental performance criteria. The scope of the Environmental Management System of an organisation consists of :* Implement. Maintain and improve EMS.* Conformance to the stated policies and objectives.* Demonstrate conformance to the EMS through certification.Environment Management System of an organisation shall consider the following issues:* Improvement to the Quality of life* Benefits to society* Commitment to the future generations* Minimizations of environment risk* Prevention of pollution* Environment care and continuous improvements* Save resources

Environmental Management Systems - BenefitsEnvironmental Management System benefits the organisation as well as the society. Significant benefits of the EMS are

* Assurance of policy implementation.- Forces organisations to link policy to objectives and targets.- Policy linked to operations and activities.- Management involvement.- Compliance with the regulatory requirements.- Continuous environmental improvement.- Spot and correct potential problems.* Technology tie-ups.- Multi-national companies (MNCs) would like to provide technology to companies which have implemented EMS.* Benefits to stakeholders-employees, customers, society, government and interested parties.* Reduction in costs.- Reduction in expenditure on raw materials.- Savings from waste reduction or elimination.- Decrease in costs of waste disposal.- Reduction of insurance costs and elimination of penalties.

Key elements of Environment Management Systems:

Environmental policy — Develop a statement of your plant’s commitment to the environment. Use this policy as a framework for planning and action. The policy is a direct reflection of the fundamental values of the organization.Environmental aspects — Identify environmental attributes of your products, activities and services. Determine those that could have significant impacts on the environment. Legal and other requirements — Identify and ensure access to relevant laws and regulations, as well as other requirements to which your plant adheres.Objectives and targets — Establish environmental goals for your plant, in line with your policy, environmental impacts, the views of interested parties and other factors.Environmental management program — Plan actions necessary to achieve your objectives and targets.Structure and responsibility — Establish roles and responsibilities for environmental management and provide appropriate resources.Training, awareness and competence — Ensure that your plant’s employees are trained and capable of carrying out their environmental responsibilities.Communication — Establish processes for internal and external communications on environmental management issues.EMS documentation — Maintain information on your plant’s EMS and related documents. Document control — Ensure effective management of procedures and other system documents. Operational control — Identify, plan and manage your plant’s operations and activities in line with your plant’s policy, objectives and targets.Emergency preparedness and response — Identify potential emergencies and develop procedures for preventing and responding to them.Monitoring and measurement — Monitor key activities and track performance. Conduct periodic assessments of compliance with legal requirements.Nonconformance and corrective and preventive action — Identify and correct problems and prevent their recurrence.Records — Maintain and manage records of EMS performance.EMS audit — Periodically verify that your plant’s EMS is operating as intended.Management review — Periodically review your plant’s EMS with an eye to continual improvement.

Conclusion:Any TQM model expects that organisation is socially responsible, fulfilling the environment management systems as per ISO 14001 any organisation demonstrate their concern for the environment.