Report on Environmental Management System (EMS ... - ICAO

Chapter 6
IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE
6.1 INTRODUCTION
A wide range of approaches can be used to implement an EMS depending on the nature of the organization’s operations
and future plans. This chapter discusses and analyses the resources and time needed for EMS implementation,
including training. It also discusses the resources needed to operate and maintain an EMS, as well as how long the
organization has operated their EMS. Where applicable, the analysis and discussion investigate trends by industry
sector.
6.2 EMS IMPLEMENTATION
6.2.1 Respondents were asked to indicate when their EMS was implemented as well as how long it took to
successfully implement the system within their organization. The same trends were found among all five sectors; and
therefore responses were aggregated at the industry level. Figure 6-1 shows that EMS implementation has been
relatively consistent within the industry for the past ten years.
30
18
29
28
12
Figure 6-1. Average time EMS has been in place across all aviation industry sectors
6.2.2 Figure 6-2 indicates that most organizations (46) required 6 to 12 months to fully develop and implement
their EMS. Very few organizations (8) were able to accomplish this task in less than six months, and many (63) needed
one to two years to fully deploy their systems. EMS implementation typically takes longer in large organizations and in
complicated operations. Approximately 71 per cent of the 117 respondents with an EMS sought outside assistance from
a consulting or contracting firm in order to implement the system.
6-1
0–2 years
2–3 years
3–5 years
6–10 years
>10 years