Integrated Management System (IMS)

In the modern competitive international environment, the tendency towards the adherence of an organization to a variety of management standards, including ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environment) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety), is getting stronger. These standards when managed individually may be complex, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. An Integrated Management System (IMS) is a management system that provides a common approach by integrating several standards in a single management system.

An IMS enables companies to simplify their operations, minimize redundancy, increase efficiency, and promote consistency in all operational sectors. An IMS combines policies, objectives, and procedures instead of having different systems per certification, which results in improved use of resources as well as easier audits.

Why Integrated Management System Required?

The continuously increasing complexity of compliance requirements turns integration into not merely advantageous but, in many cases, a sustainably growing business-enabling practice. These are the reasons why organizations adopt IMS implementation:

• Simplified Compliance: An IMS can assist organizations in achieving the criteria of more than one ISO standard at a time and thus avoid the necessity of several audits, certifications, and management reviews.
• Operational Efficiency: Integration will remove the duplicate processes and will coordinate the policies among the departments. This results in better coordination, quicker decision-making, and streamlined workflows.
• Cost Reduction: The overall cost of managing multiple standards separately is greater regarding resources, audits, and administration. IMS cuts down on such costs through consolidation of efforts.
• Risk Management: With an integrated approach, a holistic picture of the organizational risks can be seen and managed proactively in the areas of quality, safety, and environment.
• Continuous Improvement: IMS assists organizations in responding promptly to dynamic regulatory, market, and customer needs through the inculcation of a culture of constant improvement in all management systems.

Key ISO Standards Commonly Integrated

Although IMS can be tailored according to the requirements of an organization, the majority of the organizations adopt the following main standards:

• ISO 9001 - QMS - Quality Management System
• ISO 14001 - EMS - Environmental Management System
• ISO 45001 - OHSMS - Occupational Health & Safety Management System

When the standards are used together, the organizations establish a solid basis of sustainable growth, stakeholder confidence, and international competitiveness.

The Industries that Benefit from IMS Certification

The IMS certification proves to be very useful in various industries where several standards apply:

• Industrial and Manufacturing Firms
• Engineering and Construction Companies
• Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Industry
• Food Processing Industries and Packaging
• Energy Sector and Oil & Gas
• Supply Chain and Logistics Management

Implementation of an Integrated Management System can assist any organization that requires addressing more than one ISO standard greatly.

FAQs