Aspects, identification and impacts evaluation in environmental management systems : a case study using the FMEA approach

Abstract

This thesis is a description of how environmental aspects are identified and evaluated using a case study to illustrate the application. It describes the mechanics using a four-step sequence. The first step is selecting the target organisation. The second step is identifying the full range of environmental aspects of the target organisation. The third step is evaluating the aspects to determine their impacts on the environment and rating each aspect against suitable criteria. The final step is selecting the significant aspects. Significant aspects will become the focus of the organisation’s continuous improvement efforts. A systematic methodology of identification was evolved in the case study and is documented here. In addition, the FMEA approach, which was used to rate aspects, is described and illustrated. The thesis expands on the mechanical process of aspects identification and evaluation to describe operational issues that affect the qualification of aspect identification and evaluation. The discussion takes in points observed during the case study and the evolving operations management perspective on environmental aspects. As a follow on to the case study the same methodology was adopted and applied to two other cases. These cases were used for a comparison with the case study and to prove that the described methodology is transferable. This was proven. The further applications allowed for quantitative and qualitative comparisons to be made.