In the years since ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 were first published, many organizations have followed the models of these standards in designing their own management systems. However, many of those systems haven’t been utilized to effectively manage risk. Many have been minimally developed to meet customer requirements or legal regulations.

The draft revisions to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 will provide a way for companies to look at their processes in a new light and to take a more active approach to risk management. For example, if a company wishes to pursue ISO 14001 certification, its prevention of pollution policy will have to be revamped to focus on protection of the environment. As the company moves in that direction it will truly become more competitive on a global basis.

Although we’ve seen this trend coming, the upcoming revisions to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are proof that quality management and risk management can no longer be considered separate issues for your organization. The revisions call for greater flexibility and recognize the need for businesses to integrate their quality or environmental management processes into the overall business strategy.

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