Implementing an environmental management system through iso 14001: A case study at lever vietnam, hanoi branch

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IMPLEMENTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THROUGH ISO 14001: A CASE STUDY AT LEVER VIETNAM, HANOI BRANCH


by Le Thang Long






A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Business Administration








Examination Committee Dr. Fredric W. Swierczek (Chairperson)
Dr. Barbara Igel
Dr. Arne Deussen







Nationality Vietnamese
Previous Degree Bachelor of Economics
National Economics University
Hanoi, Vietnam

Scholarship donor Government of Switzerland





Asian Institute of Technology
School of Management
Bangkok, Thailand
April 2001

Acknowledgement

The author expresses his deep gratitude to his advisor, Dr. Fredric Swierczek, for his visionary advice and comments that help complete this research study.
Sincere thanks are extended to Dr. Barbara Igel, who has given critical suggestions for a better structure of the recommendations of the research.
The author would like to thank SAV Program, whose funding made his study at AIT possible.
Warmest love is dedicated to his father, who has been a guiding light and extended endless encouragement for him to pursue his interest in environmental management.
The author extends his special thanks to Dr. Nguyen The Chinh and Mr. Dinh Van Tru for their assistance in collecting information and ideas in establishing the research framework. Mr. Mai Duc Lam also spent his valuable time to provide information for this research study.


Abstract

Environmental management has recently emerged as a competitive edge in the international market. Vietnamese companies can no longer ignore this phenomenon in the way joining the world business community. However, they are far behind world level practice in environmental management and now pacing to catch up with their rivals in advanced countries.
ISO 1400 standards series developed by the International Organization for Standardization is widely acknowledged as a solution for business entities based in developing countries to compete equally in the world market in terms of environmental management. Vietnamese enterprises are now paying more attention to environmental management and, thus, considering the option of implementing ISO 14000.
This research aims at discovering the practice of ISO 14000 standards series in a Vietnamese facility: Lever Vietnam, Hanoi Branch. The author wants to analyze the practice of building an Environmental Management System through a standard of the ISO 14000 series, ISO 14001 namely “Environmental Management System specification”. Base on the analysis the research study draws the lessons for implementing ISO 14001 at the facility and suggests recommendations to improve the EMS of the facility.

Table of Content
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I
ABSTRACT II
TABLE OF CONTENT III
LIST OF FIGURES V
LIST OF TABLES VI
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1
I BACKGROUND 1
II PROBLEM STATEMENT 2
III RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 2
IV RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2
1 Primary information: 2
2 Secondary information: 2
V SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS 3
1 Scope: 3
2 Limitations: 3
VI PLAN OF THE RESEARCH 3
VII PRESENTATION OF THE RESEARCH 3
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 5
I ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 5
II ISO 14000 STANDARDS SERIES AND THE PROSPECTS OF EMS 7
1 What is ISO 14000 standards series 7
2 General Description of ISO 14001 12
3 ISO 14000 standards series and EMS 14
4 Benefits of implementing ISO 14001 17
CHAPTER 3: IMPLEMENTING ISO 14001 AT LV HANOI 19
I CURRENT VIETNAMESE LAWS AND REGULATIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 19
1 The Law on Environmental Protection 19
2 Government Decree 175-CP 20
II SOCIAL TRENDS AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFECTION 22
III COMPANY PROFILE 22
IV ISO 14001 AT THE FACILITY 24
1 Corporate environmental policy 24
2 Planning 25
3 Implementation And Operation 30
4 Checking and Corrective Action 40
5 Management Review 41
V DIFFICULTIES IN IMPLEMENTING ISO 14000 AT LV HANOI 42
1 External difficulties 43
2 Internal difficulties 44
3 Impacts of ISO 14001 implementation 45
4 Provision for future environmental actions of LV Hanoi by EMR 47
CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 48
I CONCLUSIONS 48
1 The ultimate purpose of ISO 14000 standards series 48
2 Perspectives of implementing ISO 14000 standards series in Vietnam 49
II RECOMMENDATIONS 49
1 For LV Hanoi 49
2 For State authorities 52
3 Recommendation for further studies 53
BIBLIOGRAPHY 54


LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Title Page
2.1. Environmental Management System Loops 6
2.2. ISO 14000 standards series 9
3.1. Procedure for identifying significant environmental aspects at LV Hanoi 24
3.2. Environmental Management structure at LV Hanoi 29
3.3. Environmental communication hierarchy at LV Hanoi 32
3.4. Procedure for document control at LV Hanoi 34

LIST OF TABLES

Table Title Page
2.1. ISO 14000 standards series 10
2.2. Comparison of EMS standards 14
3.1. Capital contribution of Lever Vietnam 21
3.2. Operational control over significant environmental aspects at LV Hanoi 36Trích từ: http://www.kilobooks.com