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Plan, Do, Check, Act Model – Check
Basic Information
As discussed earlier, your EMS should be built on the "Plan, Do, Check, Act" model to ensure that environmental matters are systematically identified, controlled, and monitored. Using this approach will help to ensure that performance of your EMS improves over time and that you meet your goals for implementing an EMS in the first place.
This stage continues the step by step action plan for developing and implementing the elements of an EMS. At this point, you should have sufficient EMS processes in place to begin to check your EMS. One approach is discussed below.
Conduct Internal EMS Audits
Once internal auditors have been selected and trained, you should design and initiate the internal auditing process. At this point, you should have sufficient EMS processes in place to conduct meaningful audits. Many organizations find that it is easier to start with smaller, more frequent audits that to audit the entire EMS at once. These early audits can serve as a learning tool for the auditors.
Audit records should be managed in accordance with the records management process.
Plan, Do, Check, Act
Once the audit results are known, use the corrective and preventive action process to address any identified problems.
More Information
- Environmental Management Systems: An Implementation Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Organizations
This Guide is designed primarily for use by EMS implementers to explain the program's concepts and to support and facilitate the development of EMS among small and medium-sized organizations.
- Case Studies
Highlights of EMS-related case studies with links to more detailed information, if available.