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Lorena Bermúdez , Coordinator of the RC , Quality and Excellence Area of Bureau Veritas Training .
In the evolution of ISO standards for management systems, it has been seen that one of their disadvantages has been the difference between the structures of their contents.
As most organizations have more than one management system standard implemented and certified, it has been necessary to find a way to integrate and combine them in the best possible way.
This has led ISO to define a single structure for the different management system standards ( ISO 9001 , ISO 14001 , ISO 45001 , ISO 27001 , etc.), called the “high-level structure” which is described in Annex SL of the ISO consolidated supplement to the ISO/IEC directive .
What's new in Annex SL?
One of the key changes that Annex SL has incorporated is the chinese america data establishment of a systematic approach to risk and opportunity management .
The concept of risk management has always been implicit in previous versions of these ISO standards , as part of the “process approach” and “preventive action”, but now it is explicit .
What are its objectives?
Risk is no longer treated as an individual part of the management system , separate from the rest of the elements, but has become part of it in an integrated , methodical and more in-depth manner .
Risk is often seen as negative, but risk-based thinking can help identify opportunities . This proposes a broader treatment of potential situations , also covering positive events that may arise in the analysis of relevant internal and external issues .
Conclusions
Knowing and understanding this new systematic approach , as well as the different tools for identifying, analyzing and controlling risk, is vital for proper application in organizations , allowing them not only to eliminate or mitigate their risks, but also to identify and take advantage of opportunities for improvement .