Integrated Management Systems

Standards that can be integrated

The common International Standards that can be included in an Integrated Management System include:

Why integrate?

There is an ever-increasing competition in the market with a higher awareness of both environmental and health & safety performance for companies. This awareness is driving businesses to implement the ISO standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and ISO 45001.

Implementing these standards at the same time but separately can compound the challenges — things that seem easy with one standard can become problematic with several. As complexity grows, a systematic approach has never been more important.

In today’s competitive business environment, streamlining operations keeps overheads low. Integrating your management systems eliminates redundancy, reduces duplication and improves efficiency — the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Key elements of an Integrated Management System

1. Integrated policy & leadership

   • One overarching management-system policy
   • Leadership responsibilities
   • Common governance structure
   • Roles and responsibilities

2. Integrated risk & opportunity management

   • Quality risks
   • Environmental aspects and risks
   • Health & safety hazards
   • Information-security risks
   • Business-continuity risks

3. Common processes & documentation

   • Document control
   • Competence and training
   • Communication
   • Operational controls
   • Records management
   • Corrective action

4. Integrated auditing & performance evaluation

   • Combined internal audits
   • Common audit programme
   • Key Performance Indicators and objectives
   • Compliance evaluation
   • Management review

5. Continual improvement

   • Nonconformity management
   • Root-cause analysis
   • Corrective actions
   • Improvement projects
   • Lessons learned

Typical IMS structure

ISO 9001 + ISO 14001 + ISO 45001 + ISO 27001

This can be managed through Annex SL:

1. Context
2. Leadership
3. Planning
4. Support
5. Operations
6. Performance Evaluation
7. Improvement

This approach can provide one management framework with separate technical controls where necessary, rather than maintaining four completely independent systems.

How QSP Solutions can help

1. Implementation and operation of an integrated management system meeting ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and ISO 45001, based on PAS 99.
2. Policy statement, objectives and procedures.
3. Identifying compliance with relevant regulations.
4. Development of integrated management programmes.
5. Delivery of integrated management system awareness training sessions to staff — view an awareness briefing (PDF)
6. Undertaking and managing your integrated internal audit programme, including audits, audit reports and support through to resolution of any issues.
7. Liaison with your chosen certification body for certification to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and ISO 45001.
8. Maintenance of your integrated management system after certification.

Annex SL and integration

Annex SL defines the high-level structure for all ISO management system standards. It makes integrated management systems easier, giving organisations the tools to streamline current protocols, encourage standardisation and transform existing systems into an integrated model.

The common structure has been introduced in the latest ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and ISO 45001 standards, making the standards more compatible and integration more effective. Remember: the purpose of ISO standards is to help you run a better organisation. If your management systems cause staff to duplicate work, they aren’t delivering the value they should.

Don't just take our word for it

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