Below is an excerpt from our e-book “ISO 9001,14001 and 45001 - The Ultimate Guide” Download the full e-book for free here.
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A policy is a statement of intent and guidance developed by senior management to guide decisions and achieve desired goals in the organization.
Policies should be developed for the subject areas identified by senior management as particularly important for the organisation to achieve its strategy. Common subject areas are e.g. quality, environment, information security and work environment.
There are many ways to make a policy. It can be long or short, a document or a printed plan.
Creating a policy can be a creative process and there is no one-size-fits-all template. The important thing is that the policy reflects the values, goals and expectations of the organization.
A policy is only as good as its implementation. It is therefore important not only to formulate a policy, but also to ensure that everyone within the organization knows and understands it.
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Ensure that all employees know the policy and understand its meaning and purpose. This can be done through meetings, trainings or informational materials.
Educate staff on how to follow the policy in their daily work. This may include specific instructions, guidelines, or checklists.
Check policy compliance regularly and use feedback from employees to make any adjustments.
Policies should not be static documents but be updated regularly to keep up with the development of the organization and the requirements of the outside world.
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With proper implementation, an operations policy can become an effective tool for directing the work of the organization towards the set goals.
Finally, each operating policy should be clear, easy to understand and directly applicable to the daily routines within the company. Only then will it have the desired effect — a more efficient, safe and responsible business.
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Above is an excerpt from our e-book “ISO 9001,14001 and 45001 - The Ultimate Guide” Download the full e-book for free here.
