Environmental Management System
An environmental management system (EMS) refers to the management of an organization's environmental programs in a far reaching, orderly, arranged and archived way. It includes the organizational structure, planning and resources for developing, implementing and maintaining policy for efficient environmental protection.
Environmental Management System of IBM
IBM run operations which could potentially impact the environment heavily in a number of ways. Chemicals utilized for research, development, manufacturing processes and services has to be properly managed, from purchase through storage, use and disposal. Certain processes are energy and/or water-intensive. In addition, IBM products have to be thoughtfully
It does not specifically state requirements for environmental performance, but in any case, maps out a system that an organization or association can take after to set up a compelling EMS. Its objective is to integrate the EMS with overall business management processes so that environmental considerations are a standard part of business decisions.
In 1997, IBM became the world's first major multinational corporation to have earned a single worldwide registration to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) standard. This covered IBM's manufacturing, product design and hardware development operations worldwide. IBM was able to earn its single worldwide registration to ISO 14001 because of its longstanding globally renowned EMS.
Since 1997, IBM has expanded its global ISO 14001 registration to include its chemical-using research locations and several country organizations, covering their non-manufacturing locations. Other business functions such as product design and development, Integrated Supply Chain, and Global Asset Recovery Services have also obtained ISO 14001
These include:
• Professional Self-Assessment Program o The professional self-assessment program consists of a series of IBM specific environmental checklists which are used to provide IBM the ability to assess its overall environmental performance globally on a consistent basis. The checklists cover both manufacturing and hardware development locations and non-manufacturing locations at a geographic level, product groups and service activities.
• Environmental Performance Database (EPD) o The EPD functions as IBM's internal measurement and tracking system. The database measures environmental performance in areas such as water effluents, chemical use and emissions, hazardous and non-hazardous waste management, recycling, energy conservation, environmental expenditures and progress toward meeting product stewardship objectives. o The EPD provides the data used in IBM's annual environmental and corporate responsibility reporting as well as in periodic updates on performance and programs that go to senior management. Business units also make use of the database in analysing their environmental performance and identifying key areas for
With forward movement in society, it is important to consider not just what will propel most toward success, but also what will help to sustain the environment along the way. What may have been considered appropriate decades ago, may no longer be socially acceptable due to the changes observed in both the business world and the environment (Fiske, 2010). Therefore, it is important for organizations thriving in today?s economy to consider how they may capitalize most effectively from their product or service of choice while minimizing or eliminating any damages along the way (Knoke, 2012).
This case focuses on corporate obstacles to pollution prevention. Pollution prevention can complex especially for large corporations. There are many different forms of pollution prevention including emissions control devices and incremental changes in existing technology. The author reviews the impact of emissions controlled devices, however the focus of the case study is on incremental changes in existing technology. Incremental changes include substituting one or two steps in a production process or relationship changes between production steps. One example of incremental changes that was provided by the author was eliminating chlorofluorocarbons and saving energy by replacing a refrigeration process with a heath exchanger that can exploit waste cooling from another part of the process. There are three critical decision-making stages for incremental changes; identifying a pollution prevention opportunity, finding a solution appropriate to that opportunity, and implementing that solution. The author discusses the three aspects of an organization (culture, ability to process information, and its politics) and how they impact the decision-making stages.
Even though EPD operates in an uncertain environment, yet in terms of management and organization, it is similar to Allentown that participates in much of more certain and stable OEM businesses where Allentown had technological advantage and capital requirements have prevented serious competition. The division has differences between functions in structure, goals, time horizons and personal orientations of people. Market planning as a function has been eliminated due to cost cutting, and Product Development is working on projects similar to those of corporate R&D.
IBM has not only succeeded in maintaining its competition in providing software, computer technology and systems integrators, but IBM also successfully managing its resource such as energy, water, and material, including waste product, thus offering environmentally friendly products and services which have been recognized by various parties and has received many awards (IBM Environment Report, 2012). IBM success is always related to the leadership style of it appointed CEO and management group. There are several appointed CEO with different leadership style since IBM established, such as Sam Palmisano, Larry Ellison, Randy MacDonald, and Thomas Watson. Different leadership style among CEO help IBM to adapt and overcome the challenges faced by providing different and fresh approach in leading IBM toward established vision and mission of the company.
There are some recommendation that Company X should utilize in helping them to be an even more social responsible. For the main office, it is recommended that they recycle things like paper, toner cartridges and move more to a pape...
IBM main activity is to find solutions to its wide range of clients using advanced information technology. Its clients are individual users, specialized businesses, and institutions such as government, science, defense, and spatial and educational organizations.
The next part of Audit process is to understand the business environmental aspects of the company. As part of the marketing audit project the author is going to analyze and provide detailed information on the following key environmental aspects
The Macbook Pro Retina is one of the most popular technological products in the current market. The Macbook Pro is marketed as the greenest notebook by Apple but there are elements of the product that are not environmentally sound. This is proven with the study from the process from cradle to grave of the new Macbook Pro Retina. The environmental impact of the Macbook Pro can be measured by the lack of recyclability in the creation stage, the level of emissions in the transportation stage, the facilitation of disposal by Apple and local governments, and the economic viability of the MacBook Pro.
The stages of the EIA process include screening, scoping, impact prediction, evaluation and mitigation, decision-making and, finally, monitoring t...
In this environment conscious world, there is a growing argument about the ways in which a business should run its activities that should not have any negative impact on the environment overall. Raderbauer, M. (2011) A research done at the University of Exeter indicated that Industry has been the perpetrator behind ruining the environment for fulfilling its short-term profits instead of long-term environment consequences. Many businesses have understood the importance of preserving the environment and thus it is in the betterment of its own business, keeping in mind the long-term profits they can have while making environment responsible decisions. Business are more affected by environment because they run with the help of all the raw materials
Procedures for monitoring and measuring operations that can have a significant impact on the environment.
Environmental analysis is a strategic tool. It is a process of identifying all the external and internal elements, which can affect the organization’s performance. The analysis entails assessing the level of threat or opportunity the factors might present. These evaluations are later translated into the decision-making process. The analysis helps align strategies with the firm’s environment.
Environmental factors cater for the protection of the environment. A business must carefully be able to look at its surroundings to see for benefits and ensure that its daily production does not interfere with society.
ISO 9001:2008 is a world-wide accepted standard for quality management systems. As such, ISO 9001:2008 focuses on a large variety of business activities – not merely on quality control. Implementing ISO 9001:2008 will affect virtually all of the business processes. The websites of ISO and the 9001 Council contain much information on ISO 9001 and how to implement it (Iso.org). An introductory online ISO 9001 course is also available on the website.
Therefore, the application of the EIA in such public projects is a critical aspect in project developments especially in promoting environmentally sustainable projects and public participation in the EIA process.