Mary Joann Thurman

Contributor: Mary Joann Thurman Business Title: Manager Environmental Services Contact Information: Rockwell Automation Headquarters Environmental 1201 S. 2^nd Street Milwaukee WI 53204 Phone: 414 382 3640 Fax: 414 382 2277 Email: mjthurman@ra.rockwell.com
Biography: Mary Joann (Majo) Thurman has worked for Rockwell in the environmental field for the past eleven years and currently works in the Headquarters Safety and Environment Group. She is a leader in the Rockwell Automation ISO 14001 certification strategy. Responsibilities include development and support of Rockwell Automation's ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. She supports internal and external customers by providing ISO 14001 implementation workshops and other training, consulting and internal system audits. Previously, she provided compliance environmental management support for the Allen-Bradley Milwaukee main plant with 3500 employees. Ms. Thurman has a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. She has been a CHMM since 1995.
Title of Presentation: Case Study: Rockwell Automation, ISO 14001 Certification, Four Years Later, Was it Worth it? Author: Mary Joann Thurman Key Words: Environmental Management Systems, ISO 14001, ISO Certification, Rockwell Automation Abstract: As a leader in the automation industry, Rockwell Automation approaches environmental compliance with the same dedication that continually earns high customer and employee satisfaction ratings. In 1996, when ISO 14001 Standards were introduced, Rockwell Automation saw an opportunity to use the certification to (1) Enhance environmental business practices, (2) Become an early adopter of an internationally recognized standard (3) Gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. The company implemented an aggressive program to gain ISO 14001 certification, no small task considering the logistics of training 25,000 employees and certifying 44 facilities. Work began at the highest levels in the company and evolved to touch virtually the entire workforce. The results are outstanding. Rockwell Automation realized significant business and civic benefits. Today, Rockwell Automation has certified 29 facilities and expects to have all 44 certified by 2002. All six Wisconsin facilities will be certified by September of 2000, which includes the Milwaukee-based world headquarters staffed by 3,600. Certified facilities have succeeded in tightly focusing resources. At the central distribution facility, the outcome has been a 40 percent reduction in wood pallet usage saving the company shipping costs in the process. Over the past two years, the company has received 10 city and state awards for environmental performance. The Milwaukee facility, in particular, cut hazardous air pollution numbers from 8,715 pounds in 1997 to 3,281 pounds in 1999 earning Rockwell Automation the Excellence Award for Environmental Protection from the city mayor. In the future, committed resources help demonstrate continual improvement in environmental performance and keep the company on track for exceeding original goals. Early and ongoing efforts to satisfy ISO 14001 certification provide solid evidence to customers looking for companies with good environmental standards. Within the company, implementation of an Environmental Management System improved management support, employee awareness and streamlined procedures. Now, the model is in place for ongoing reductions in facility environmental management costs through lower waste disposal expenses and pollution prevention. The results to fiscal and manpower performance give Rockwell Automation a major competitive advantage in a marketplace highly respectful of companies capable of being ISO 14001.