Abstract

Environmental thinking should be integrated into all company functions. A tool for total quality environmental management (TQEM) is the ISO 14001 standard. Some organizations have gone beyond the ISO 14001 baseline, but initial steps in any TQEM implementation include modeling processes, identifying measures, leveraging information resources, and participating in standards development. Benefits of these and later steps are process improvement, competitiveness, stakeholder satisfaction, and the integration of regulatory compliance into business functions. At Procter & Gamble Company, the TQEM initiative includes plans for monitoring discharges at each site; making environmental impact part of process review; and benchmarking. Digital Equipment Corporation applies environmental thinking through risk assessment; goals and objectives; and developing TQEM programs that fit each of its units. Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. has created an environmental compliance team, which has learned that compliance requires adequate knowledge and training as well as the involvement of all employees.