Integrated Management Systems

A Management System (MS) is a set of policies, processes and procedures used by organisations covering different components of their business operations to ensure that they accomplish the required tasks to achieve their objectives. The components can be the general components of quality, safety, health, environment or specific business components like adventure tourism, road safety etc.

Advantages of having a MS:
  • Consistent objectives, planning, and document management.
  • Lower costs for system implementation and operation.
  • Smoother and coordinated internal audits.
  • Less redundancies which reduce the possibilities of conflict.

An integrated management system (IMS) combines the different components of a business into one system to facilitate easier management and operations. Within the context of the ISO Standards, the elements of Quality, Environmental, and Health and Safety management systems are often combined and managed as an IMS.

For example, a company can choose to be certified for either one, or a combination of, the following:
  • ISO 9001: 2015 (Quality MS)
  • ISO 14001: 2015 (Environmental MS)
  • ISO 45001: 2018 (OHS MS)

These three management systems are compatible in terms of their content and terminologies, and share common requirements and the continual improvement goal. However, they may differ in their approach and degree of prescription.

Advantages of having an IMS:
  • Consistent objectives, planning, and document management.
  • Lower costs for system implementation and operation.
  • Smoother and coordinated internal audits.
  • Less redundancies which reduce the possibilities of conflict.

While an IMS can introduce complexity into the processes, in certain organisational structures and operations, the benefits can be justified. As proof of this, IMS are becoming increasingly more common among leading industry players and successful organisations.

Talk to us should you wish to explore certification for more than one MS, or to integrate your existing MS with other management systems.