ISO 14001 Assistance - Johnson Electric
Project Title: ISO 14001 Assistance
Company Profile: Headquartered in Hong Kong, China, Johnson Electric operates facilities throughout North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Ohio facility, located in Vandalia, serves the aerospace, medical, automotive, and industrial markets. Johnson Electric is a world leader in the development and supply of innovative solutions that integrate software, electronic, and electromechanical technologies, and is widely recognized for the design, engineering, and manufacture of Ledex and Dormeyer Actuation Products.
Project: Recognizing that ISO 14001 is acknowledged worldwide as a benchmark for environmental excellence, Johnson Electric management staff established a corporate policy for having all of their manufacturing locations certified to the ISO 14001 standard. Johnson Electric was further prompted to achieve certification, though, when they learned that it was essential for maintaining their supplier status with a major customer. Johnson Electric lacked experience with ISO 14001 and the assigned environmental coordinator, who also served as the plant engineer, had little environmental training. Someone with experience was needed to help them develop an environmental management system that would meet ISO 14001 standards and could be integrated into Johnson Electric’s existing business environment.
TechSolve provided coaching and assistance to Johnson Electric in order for the company to achieve certification to the ISO 14001 standard. Solutions, procedures, and work instructions were developed by TechSolve to implement the environmental management system and all procedures were customized to the company’s practices. TechSolve identified and
implemented waste reduction methods, which included providing resources to aid in the removal of lead from all non-military applications in accordance with the European Standard Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). Utilizing its manufacturing network, TechSolve identified another Ohio company that had similarly eliminated lead solder (and its
corresponding high-cost process) that was willing to share their experiences, which enabled Johnson Electric to smoothly transition to the non-lead solder and avoid the costly process.
Results: Johnson Electric’s ability to achieve ISO 14001 certification enabled them to preserve their supplier status and retain over 300 jobs. After a TechSolve member discount and 50% Boeing Supplier Ohio Industrial Training Program (OITP) subsidy, Johnson Electric was able to accomplish this at a substantially reduced rate, as well as improve product quality by providing cleaner products to its customers. As part of the initiative sustainment, John Electric has hired TechSolve to assist in the maintenance of the ISO 14001 program.
"TechSolve guided us through every phase of the ISO 14001 certification process. We would not have achieved certification without their help. We have utilized TechSolve for several projects in recent years, and they have always been extremely helpful and cooperative."
Rich Graff, Vice President,Manufacturing & Operations, Johnson Electric
