One of the challenges faced by organizations is showing the value derived from the management systems they have implemented. It is often the case that an organization will implement a system such as ISO 9001:2000, OHSAS 18001 or ISO 14001 primarily to satisfy a client requirement. When this occurs, the organization may not realize the potential value of the management system and could be wasting time and resources simply achieving the status quo.
At Intelex, we believe it is very important that organizations realize the true value of their management system approach. Recently, Devon Ambrose, a key member of Intelex's Client Services Team, gave an informative presentation that highlighted the importance of maximizing the value of a management system by continually improving an organization. The purpose of Devon's presentation was to explore the benefits of applying the Process Approach to a management system, thereby creating a 'Value Added Management System'. A management system is the method in which an organization manages their processes and activities. Devon's presentation underlined the opportunity for an organization to leverage their management system to drive continual improvement. This opportunity is guided by the Process Approach that states that in order to facilitate meaningful decisions; a management system must consider all the variables involved in a process/activity. Furthermore, we must understand how the processes within an organization are interrelated (referred to as the process links).
Essentially, the Process Approach creates a foundation for a Value Added Management System, by allowing for managers to pinpoint the use of resources, the overlap and interrelationship between processes (process links), and measure the effectiveness of the various contributions that make up processes. This operational control over the processes that make up an organization's activities gives management and employees the necessary information to adjust and document activities to meet both operational and organizational objectives.
As Devon explained, this is the fundamental logic behind the Intelex system. Consider for example an effective Quality Management System (QMS). It must be able to track, analyze and report on all quality management initiatives from product defect tracking, to supplier management to document control. Each process or sub-process is linked to another through variables such as inputs/outputs, resources, material, time, location and staff. The Intelex QMS suite is structured so that interrelated processes are easily identified and accessible between modules. If, for example, a nonconformance arises as a result of an audit, when the auditor records that nonconformance, it is also linked back to the audit record where it resulted from. It is essential for a management solution to have continuity between its components that reflect the interrelationship between processes. Thus, the Value Added Management System, guided by the principles of the Process Approach ensures organizations go beyond compliance to drive continual improvement.
View Devon's presentation
