Applying ISO Management System Principles in Your Personal Life: A Path to Efficiency and Excellence

ISO Management System Standards are frameworks that help organizations manage their business to achieve specific objectives. These standards, such as ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety), are widely recognized and implemented by organizations worldwide. All these management systems work on the basis of the PDCA cycle: PLAN, DO, CHECK, ACT. As a QHSE Professional, it’s important to understand the basics of these standards.

But have you ever thought about how these principles could be applied to personal life? Let’s explore this idea.

Setting Clear Goals and Plans to Achieve (Plan - in PDCA)

Just like an organization sets objectives, we can set personal goals. These could be anything related to our health, career, finances, or personal growth. Having clear goals gives us a sense of direction and purpose in life.

When setting the goal, it should be considered “SMART”:

• Specific: Clearly define your goal, including the “what,” “why,” and “how.”
• Measurable: Make sure your goal is quantifiable, so you can track your progress.
• Achievable: Ensure your goal is realistic and within your reach.
• Relevant: Align your goal with your overall objectives and values.
• Time-bound: Set a specific timeframe.

Once we have our goals, we need to develop a plan to achieve them. This could involve learning new skills, adopting healthy habits, or making financial investments.

For example: Plan to read the book “Guide to Environment, Safety and Health Management,” which consists of 200 pages. The goal is to increase my knowledge on ESH Management within 1 month by reading 7 pages daily from today.

Plans may include where to buy or borrow books, allocating resources like finance & time, setting up a reading area, etc.

Risk Management

Life is full of uncertainties. Anticipating obstacles and risks that could hinder our progress towards our goals is important. Having a plan to mitigate these risks helps us stay resilient in the face of challenges.

For example: Prolonged periods of reading, especially in poor lighting or with improper posture, can lead to physical strain or discomfort. Plan strategies to mitigate such risks.

Implementing (Do - in PDCA)

Put the plan into action. Execute the strategies and actions as outlined in the planning stage.

Monitoring and Improving (Check - in PDCA)

Regularly reviewing our progress towards our goals is crucial. If we’re not on track, we need to identify the reasons and make necessary adjustments in our plan. This principle encourages us to be proactive and take responsibility for our personal growth.

For example: Use a checklist to confirm daily tasks have been completed. Ask a friend to ask questions from the pages you have already completed to analyze the effectiveness of reading.

Continual Improvement

In the previous example, if your friend asked you a question from the pages that you have already read and you couldn’t answer it means there is something that needs improvement. Find where it went wrong - maybe because of reading too quickly - then you will have to again plan to overcome the challenge, do it, check again and act. The PDCA cycle is an infinite loop.

Striving for continual improvement is at the heart of ISO MSS. In a personal context, this means constantly seeking ways to enhance our physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. It’s about progress, not perfection.

In conclusion, while ISO Management System Standards are designed for organizations, the underlying principles can certainly provide a structured approach to personal development. By setting clear goals, planning and implementing strategies, monitoring progress, managing risks, and striving for continual improvement, we can enhance our quality of life and achieve personal success.