ISO 14001:2015 EMS Development & Training for John Deere

Overview:

KERAMIDA provided John Deere with ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS) development services and awareness training. To help John Deere achieve their goal of registering their Waterloo Research & Development facility under the ISO 14001:2015 standard in 2019, KERAMIDA assisted in developing an EMS and providing support until the facility was registered. KERAMIDA then provided ISO 14001:2015 awareness training to John Deere employees at three separate facilities in Illinois, Iowa, and North Carolina.

ISO 14001:2015 EMS Development:

This project was completed using KERAMIDA’s customized EMS set-up method, FastTrack®, which followed a proven step-by-step process to create a fully documented EMS ready for implementation. An added benefit was the ability of FastTrack® to integrate with John Deere’s Quality Management System (QMS) procedures and documents. KERAMIDA’s qualified ISO 14001:2015 auditors directed all services for this project.

KERAMIDA’s scope of work covered the development of all elements necessary to implement and certify in ISO 14001:2015 EMS, completed in a series of working sessions.

Working Session 1: Aspects & Impacts, Risks & Opportunities, and Objectives (on-site, 1 day)

In Working Session 1, KERAMIDA worked with plant personnel in a cross-functional team (CFT) format to facilitate the data gathering and analysis required to develop the EMS. The tasks included:

• Review ISO 14001 and Corporate requirements

• Conduct detailed Plant Tour

• Flowchart company’s activities and processes with regard to environmental aspects/impacts and product life-cycle

• Brainstorm and Identify Organization’s Aspects/Impacts and Risks/Opportunities

• Identify Compliance Obligations

• Determine Significant Aspects Criteria

• Determine Risks/Opportunities Criteria

• Establish “Significant Aspects” and “Risks/Opportunities that need addressed”

• Review Corporate Objectives

• Select Aspects/Impacts and Risks/Opportunities to be managed with Environmental Objectives

• Establish Program Framework to Achieve Environmental Objectives

• Establish assignments, planning goals and timetable for remaining Working Sessions

Working Session 2: Compliance Obligations (off-site, 1/2 day e-session with site)

Working Session 2 focused on Clause 6.1.3 and 9.1.2 of ISO 14001:2015, which address Compliance Obligations.

Working Session 3: Procedures and Forms (off-site, 1 day e-session with site)

Working Session 3 focused on customization, documentation, and design of all necessary EMS procedures and forms. KERAMIDA’s systems specialists worked with key members of the CFT as needed, allowing for minimal disruptions of personnel’s job functions. The documentation developed during this session was submitted for review and subsequently approved by John Deere’s top facility management. After approval, KERAMIDA developed the EMS implementation schedule.

Working Session 4: Focused Implementation Tasks (off-site, 1 day e-session with site)

After the EMS was developed, customized, and approved, KERAMIDA worked with key members of the CFT in Working Session 4, which included the development of Work Instructions, Training Materials, and Contractor Management Materials.

Working Session 5: Internal Audit (on-site, 2 days)

Following 2 months of implementation, KERAMIDA completed the first Internal Audit of the new EMS, as required by Clause 9.2 of the standard. KERAMIDA’s certified EMS auditor performed the Internal Audit as a third-party auditor. KERAMIDA’s written internal audit report included information on the activities performed, the scope of the audit, conformance-classification of audit findings, and auditor qualification information.

ISO 14001:2015 Awareness Training:

KERAMIDA provided training to approximately 20 EHS management employees at three separate John Deere facilities regarding the ISO 14001:2015 standard, its linkage to the current EMS methods used at various facilities, the implications of transitioning the current EMS’s to the ISO standard, and processes that could be used to do so.

KERAMIDA prepared and presented training classes for the Client’s facilities in Moline, Illinois; Waterloo, Iowa; and Kernersville, North Carolina. Each training was presented in PowerPoint format and conducted over an approximately 2-day period, with time allotted for questions and answers. The training included examples from John Deere EMS projects completed by KERAMIDA prior to the training date.

Related Services: