Management Review
The Management Review is the final element in the EMS cycle. It’s an opportunity to fine-tune the system and make course corrections, if needed. Management determines whether or not the EMS is functioning properly, where additional resources need to be allocated, and if the environmental policy is appropriate or needs to be changed. It’s the responsibility of the EMS Management Representative to provide senior management with sufficient information to make an assessment of the effectiveness of the EMS.
The Management Review:
- The “ACT” part of the plan-do-check-act cycle
- Considers all EMS elements
- Considers if the environmental policy is still relevant and any need for changes
- Scheduled at appropriate intervals
- Outcome needs to be recorded
- Evaluates the effectiveness, adequacy, and suitability of the EMS
- The driver for continual improvement
Management’s Role
- Determine who should be involved in the review process
- Determine the best time to conduct the management review and how frequently the reviews will be scheduled
- Review sufficient material in order to decide whether the EMS is effective adequate and suitable
- Tie the management review process to continual improvement actions and plans
- Determine if the EMS procedures and activities add value. If not, eliminate them
- Assess the effect on the EMS
- Continue to provide leadership in institutionalizing the EMS
Environmental Management Representative’s Role
- Make sure that all inputs/information are available for review
- Present the information to management at the management review meeting
- Make sure there is a documented process for conducting the management review
- Ensure that the management review meetings are documented
- Ensure that management review decisions for improvements are incorporated, documented and communicated
- Ensure that recommendation of management reviews are tracked, acted upon and reported
Information to Review
- Audit results – EMS and Compliance
- Internal suggestions
- External communications
- Progress on achieving objectives and targets
- Other environmental performance measures
- Reports of emergencies, spills, other incidents/accidents
- New or modified laws/regulations
- New scientific/technical data on materials and processes used by the organization
- Status of Corrective Action Requests
- Results action items from previous management review meetings
Keys to Success
- Don’t overwhelm management with details
- Present the information so it’s easily understood
- Throughout the year provide management with updates
Action Items
- Schedule a time for the management review
- Identify the information you will use for the review
- Document the process as a procedure
- Record the decisions/outcome of the management review
- Retain the meeting minutes in accordance with your records management procedure
- Communicate and implement management’s recommendations/decisions