SERI recently added three new implementation guide modules to its website.  The purpose of the implementation guide is to educate and assist companies that are preparing for certification.  Current modules available are:

The remaining modules should be finished by the end of the year and will be posted to the SERI website as they are completed.  

Many businesses view internal audits as a necessary evil - a cost and interruption to their business that does not enhance the company's profitability.  This is a short sighted view, often resulting in a lack of sufficient time and resources being allocated to the audit.  Not embracing the internal audit process is a lost opportunity for businesses.  Here is why:

   

The internal audit can be instrumental in holding your employees accountable.    You've gone through the time and expense of developing a written plan for how you want your business to operate.  You've incorporated all the necessary legal requirements into your processes.  The internal audit is a valuable tool to ensure that your employees are following the processes that you've spelled out.  Your employees don't need to know the reasons behind each process, and likely won't understand the complexity of OSHA Powered Industrial Truck regulations, for example.  They just need to follow the instructions to ensure your business remains in compliance.  Internal audits provide management the assurance that all these complexities are being met.  Furthermore, it can initiate corrections to ensure that the problems are addressed at the root cause to prevent reoccurrence.

Internal audits identify weaknesses in your system.   Weaknesses may lead to injuries, mistakes, spills, fires, inefficiencies, etc.  Identifying and correcting weaknesses before problems occur can increase profitability and save significant costs down the road.

Use the outcomes of internal audits to identify successes.   The standards you subscribe to should reflect the core best practices of your business.  Reward employees for conformance to the system, as this reinforces the behavior and operations that you have prescribed in your management system.  Internal audits need not be one major event each year.  Break it down into monthly or quarterly portions to comprise the full audit over a year's time.  This will provide you the reassurance that your system and your team are effective.

Continuing Interest in R2 Certification

• Increasing marketplace demand for R2 certification by suppliers and vendors;
• The emphasis R2 puts on testing and reuse;
• The emphasis R2 places on sustainable resource management vs. "waste" management;
• The training and implementation tools that are provided to companies seeking R2 certification.