By Travis Clark Cornerstone’s team has seen a remarkable increase in contact from our client base regarding the implementation of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 Management Systems for both single and multi-site operations. Through discussions with my clients this year, there seem to be two main sources of urgency driving their need to obtain certification.  One is the missed implementation goals from 2020 due to the COVID pandemic impact.  The second is a renewed corporate and executive management commitment to the standards.

Pandemic Delays

For clients catching up on missed or delayed timelines due to challenges presented during 2020, many organizations are looking to reduce obstacles for assessment and implementation of QMS systems in 2021. Providing a gap analysis is often our first line of support to assess the current status of organizations and what actions are needed prior to a successful certification audit. Throughout 2020, in addition to the primary role of many individuals, the pandemic presented new and additional challenges including remote work, enhanced safety and cleaning protocols, social distancing, and disruption to supply chains.  Adding ISO implementation duties during that time seemed impossible for many managers. Recently, a few of our clients have found new ways to move forward with implementation plans.  One way is by creating a large, cross-functional team to champion ISO.  Doing so shifts the burden from a single person and spreads the tasks and actions needed across the organization. After a gap analysis has been completed, it is essential to develop an action plan with clear assignments and deadlines in order to meet the implementation timeline.  Regular meetings and team communication will ensure incremental progress toward meeting implementation goals.  While the pandemic may have changed the way meetings and communication occur, our experience is showing that companies will adapt to make it happen.  Many of our clients have adapted and have shifted to conducting virtual meetings such as Zoom or Teams to keep moving forward.

Management Commitment

There is no doubt that ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is driving interest in ISO. The initials ESG or its underlying message of sustainability are everywhere (company websites, discussions in board meetings, annual reports, social media, newsletters, and even commercials). ESG is a framework used to assess the impact of a company’s practices, its contribution to society, and its financial performance.  Many of the ideas in ESG reporting are not new but now the company’s values, goals, actions, and it’s approach to sustainability are being quantified and judged by stakeholders. The International Standards under the ISO umbrella have been widely adopted by organizations and cover many of the same areas in ESG. In some cases, companies are pursuing ISO certification to further proof of their commitment to environmental compliance and worker safety as well as other legal and regulatory obligations. In 2015, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 were updated to a new framework following Annex SL.  Since that time, AS 9100 and IATF 16949 have also been updated and OHSAS 18001 migrated to ISO 45001.  Amidst all of those changes, the standards shifted from having a single point of responsibility, a Management Rep, to holding the entire organization responsible for the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of its management systems.  This shift has prompted the executive leadership within companies to be more mindful of not only their roles and responsibilities to the systems but also the necessity of allocating resources and taking a team approach to the success of a system.

How can we help?

Our ISO team has extensive experience assisting client companies in the implementation and ongoing maintenance of environmental, safety, and quality management systems.  We are able to work with organizations of any size, within any sector to design, implement, train, and improve systems that meet their needs.

Travis Clark is a Cornerstone Account Manager with a focus on business development. He manages corporate clients primarily in the industrial sector with a focus on manufacturing and logistics. He counsels clients in the areas of EPA and OSHA regulatory compliance management, quality certifications, and sustainability. He works closely with these operations to provide guidance on minimizing risk and implementation of cost-saving initiatives.