Auditing for Environmental Quality Leadership

Book excerpt: Many of the best and most successful companies are no longer content to do the minimum required to achieve compliance with environmental regulations. Instead, a new standard of environmental excellence has arisen. A high-quality environmental system is now seen both as a means to regulatory compliance and as a very cost-effective way of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of operations in general. In this way, the environmental audit often serves as a significant driver for improvement within the overall management system. Auditing for Environmental Quality Leadership details these new techniques and practices in environmental auditing and shows how their place in a Total Quality Environmental Management System can help companies achieve environmental excellence and a competitive advantage. Sponsored by the Environmental Auditing Roundtable, this book covers the major topics in defining, conducting, assessing, and improving an environmental audit. Unique in its breadth and depth of coverage, this book includes: Comprehensive treatment of environmental auditing by recognized leaders in the field Application of Total Quality Environmental Management methods to develop efficient environmental auditing programs that delve into root causes and sort out what adds value from what does not Analysis of the movement toward standardization of environmental auditing principles and practices, including such timely international issues as efforts to produce North American standards, the European Eco-label and Audit scheme, and the International Standard Organization's ISO 9000 and 14000 series Examination of innovative auditing programs developed by leading corporations and trade organizations, including Allied Signal, Union Carbide, Lockheed, and many others Latest methods of information management technology and automated auditing for assembling, auditing, and reviewing environmental data Because of its thorough, authoritative examination of the issues, illuminating case studies, and wealth of practical guidance, environmental professionals and corporate and government managers will find Auditing for Environmental Quality Leadership essential reading on this crucial topic. Auditing for Environmental Quality Leadership Beyond Compliance to Environmental Excellence To meet the challenges of regulatory compliance, international standards, and the need to "work smarter" in today's marketplace, greater emphasis is being placed on environmental auditing—especially among the most forward-looking companies. In this book, you will find a comprehensive presentation of the entire field of environmental auditing by leading experts in the field. It covers the latest practices and shows, through specific case studies, how major corporations are applying them to achieve environmental excellence and competitive advantage. Sponsored by the Environmental Auditing Roundtable, this book covers the major procedures used in defining, conducting, assessing, and improving an environmental auditing program. Such timely and important subjects as Total Quality Environmental Management, the internationalization of standards, and the use of information technology are clearly presented and explored. Auditing for Environmental Quality Leadership will give managers, consultants, and environmental professionals authoritative guidance in this increasingly important field.