Phases of a Continuous Management Cycle

Phases of a Continuous Management Cycle

Protect&Sustain advocates the same overreaching approach to managing every stage of the product lifespan – one of continuous review and improvement, supported at all times by high-level management leadership and support.


As is key to all successful SHE management programmes, it is essential that product stewardship is integral to a business’ corporate policy and receives support and leadership from the highest level.
Senior management should demonstrate their commitment to product stewardship principles by providing the necessary staff and financial resources and by fixing clear objectives that are actively and broadly communicated to all employees and contractors.


Every turn of product stewardship begins with the review of particular aspects of safety, health, environment or security management under consideration against strategic objectives established by the organization's senior management.


An organization or business unit should designate a product stewardship leader responsible for managing and reporting stewardship results to senior management. This begins with a thorough review of current business processes to ensure that SHE and security principles are properly integrated into them.  The IFA P&S Evaluation Tool is a structured framework for conducting such a "gap analysis".


The organizations product stewardship leader should develop an implementation plan, or take corrective actions where necessary, based on the assessment and gap analysis.  Communication channels and written reporting procedures should be established to ensure seamless flow of information and effective monitoring.


Stewardship procedures, and business processes, should be regularly reviewed by the product stewardship leader, and other assigned task force members.  Performance should be constantly, and regularly measured against the pre-defined objectives.  Also, senior management should regularly review the objectives to determine their continued relevance and to ensure the appropriate resources are available for the next improvement phase.