In July 2005, Daikin began efforts to achieve certification for the ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) using the experience gained from Daikin bases around the world. In building an environmental management system,
we wanted to ensure that it was a totally local effort, so we appointed Daikin Czech employees both as the head of overall activities and as the managers running the day-to-day progress. An EMS cannot function unless the people implementing it thoroughly understand the reasons and goals behind the actions. That is why there were regular meetings for the Czech leaders of the various plant sections. Japanese staff joined these meetings so that both sides could understand and respect each other’s opinions and thus create a Czech-style EMS. The manual for the system was written both in Czech and Japanese and used as a tool to smoothen communications.
In June 2006, about a year after efforts began, the site was certified for ISO 14001. The system was soon implemented and monthly meetings have been held ever since then for the purpose of constantly improving it.
As a result of these efforts, local employees had a greater understanding of Daikin’s environmental policies and environmental management system and this provided the groundwork for global ISO 14001 certification efforts for the entire Group.
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The ISO system only begins to function when employees on the ground become actively involved. It’s no good having the attitude that “This is something that management does, so it’s none of my business.” When we were acquiring certification we repeatedly explained its objective to employees on the factory floor, emphasizing that proceeding with work according to the system results in improved efficiency and accident prevention. This aroused their interest. I myself have visited Japanese factories and seen with my own eyes the details of their operation.
We will place even more of a focus on employee education and will also hold seminars for residents in cooperation with the Pilsen municipal government, in our endeavor to engage in environmental preservation activities together with local residents.
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