The Importance of EHSQ in Industry 4.0
Blog: NASSCOM Official Blog
Technology has truly transformed the way business operations are undertaken, and we are now in a digital first world or what we call the fourth Industrial Revolution. However, along with having a technological edge to stay ahead of competition, today’s business leaders also need to be sustainable, for long term success. EHSQ is a common acronym in the sustainability space today, that is becoming an essential component of business process management today. It stands for the Environmental, Health, Safety and Quality standards that a company follows to ensure the safety of the organization.
The definition of EHSQ is also bound to change according to the type of industry that a company belongs to, but the end goal remains the same – to ensure the complete safety of internal teams, and make them feel taken care of. This is usually undertaken through programs focusing on safety management, environmental compliance, protection of local communities and convergence training. Some even focus on workplace diversity, regular employee checkups and office ergonomics and exercise at the workplace,
Digital transformation as a concept has shaped up modern IT setups, and led the convergence of quality, safety and risk management for both internal and external stakeholders, of which EHSQ forms an important part. Almost every other enterprise today is striving to improve its EHSQ performance, as directly impacts the workforce. These procedures are not just laws, but also add to the overall sense of responsibility for organizations, no matter their size or scale. A few key strategies that company leaders use to align EHSQ goals with the overall company growth include:
- Business integration: Most companies now use tech-led EHS Management systems to keep track of this at all times. Aligning EHS standards with the overall mission and vision of the business is the first step, and the most critical. How well it can be integrated, is measured through Quality standards, or the Q in EHSQ. This also includes setting processes for compliance and regulations, discipline management and enabling performance measurement metrics.
- Leadership led initiatives: EHSQ goals are led from the C suite level, since these goals are the same for everyone – right from the CEO to the newest hires. Training programs, thus, are a great way to bring everyone up to speed and on to the same page. These programs are designed to empower managers who can actively enable their teams to grow with the company. Topics like stress management, risk management and industrial excellence are generally covered.
- Data Management: Challenges can only be overcome if they are anticipated well in time, and this is where data management steps in. Benchmarking data points in comparison with competitors is crucial for EHS standards. With Quality control in the mix, it becomes easier to identify risk management opportunities. Many companies also create custom scorecards that their sustainability teams align with the overall sustainability goals and update them regularly with the help of data analysis and management.
- Developing continuous improvement loops: No EHS strategy is complete without an audit. Regular yearly assessments and audits are carried out to analyse improvement areas further enhance the strategy in the coming years, and quality standards are enhanced every year.
Using technology deftly can also aid EHS practices and make it more streamlined, for tech can add great value to aiding business value. 71% of companies with EHS software have established a formal risk management framework, compared to 20 percent of companies that don’t use EHS software, research states. As the extent of new threats like industrial cyber security on business continuity is better understood, EHS and operational risk management are increasingly seen as key in board-level enterprise risk management initiatives.
Cloud-based EHS platforms allow users to streamline operations management systems and flexibility to configure the software to companies’ individual business processes as well as changing regulations. They also provide robust analytics and visibility through dashboards and real-time reporting. Digital technologies such as predictive analytics solutions, and specialist tech vendors offer cost-effective solutions with quick payback, e.g., augmented reality (AR) and intelligent wearables.
To conclude, EHS and technology today go hand in hand, and their collaboration is necessary to ensure strategic business growth. A team of experts who understand both domains extensively can be of real help. Our disruptive, state of the art resustain
model have been enabling a smart play of tech to enhance EHS standards for enterprises in all industries. With a dedicated team of consultants. our customised, R&D led and innovative solutions not only create long term and efficient sustainability strategies, but also ensure holistic resilience for the enterprise. Together, every step taken in this direction can amount to tremendous positive change!
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