Implementing an Integrated Management System (IMS) and achieving certification can ensure all areas of your organisation meet performance standards. But what does that mean, and how can you go about achieving compliance?
When it comes to integrating management systems, optimising processes and boosting productivity, we know what to do. We’ve worked with organisations across a full spectrum of IMS training programmes, helping to optimise your processes and procedures.
Training in the standards that make up an IMS is a good way to ensure that you’re managing the requirements of the standards effectively. This article will introduce you to integrated management systems generally and the ways in which they benefit your organisation’s health.
TL;DR
- Implementing an integrated management system (IMS) can be an effective way to help your organisation meet best practice while also streamlining similar processes. .
- IMS certification is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to meeting baseline standards. It can help to streamline your operations and establish procedures and processes. .
- RTP offers two different training programs in IMS – a 3-day program, designed for those who need comprehensive training in understanding the management systems standards that make up an IMS, as well as more extensive 5-day IMS Lead Auditor training.
What does IMS stand for?
It stands for “Integrated Management System”.
An IMS combines the requirements of two or more management systems – typically, ISO 9001 Quality, ISO 14001 Environment, and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). – Integrating different management systems is important for an organisation’s health and performance, and helps to streamline processes across different types of risk (e.g., having the same incident reporting process for both environmental and health and safety incidents). Common standards incorporated into IMS include:
- ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems: applicable to organisations across most sectors, focusing on meeting the needs and expectations of customers.
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems: this standard adopts the life cycle approach and is a way for organisations to show stakeholders that they are committed to doing the right thing for the planet.
- ISO 45001 OH&S Management Systems: provides the framework to protect your most important assets – your people.
Why an IMS is important
For organisations that successfully implement an IMS, the benefits are manifold, promoting more efficient use of resources, ensuring streamlined processes, and reducing duplication. In the process of achieving organisational efficiency and consistency, integrating different systems makes it possible to streamline management processes and ensure that all areas of the organisation are managed effectively.
While many different types of organisations can benefit from implementing an IMS, there are some systems that apply specifically to certain industries; for example, ISO 13485 is designed for organisations involved in the design, production, installation, and servicing of medical devices.
What are the Core functions of an IMS?
Policy and planning
Planning and setting policies are crucial to effective integration of different management systems because each system must work together.
As part of this process, a management team must understand the risks across each system – including quality management risks, health, safety and security hazards, and environmental aspects.
Leadership and Commitment
The role of organisational leaders in supporting and maintaining the IMS cannot be understated, as they must manage all of the tasks and procedures involved in implementing an integrated system. This includes developing supporting functions and processes, providing resources, and communicating positively about the IMS.
As the IMS must also be relevant to an organisation on an individual level, these aspects must also be underpinned by contextual understanding.
Implementation and operation
To effectively implement and operate an IMS within an organisation, you must first understand how these systems work. Team members must also be on board with the planned transition and be ready to embrace any changes to processes. Operational teams should be involved in the design of their own work processes and ensure operational realities are balanced with the requirements and commitments of the IMS.
Performance evaluation
Evaluating the performance of an IMS through performance monitoring, internal audits, and management reviews is essential to ensure that the potential benefits are realised and areas for improvement are identified.
The holistic IMS internal audit process typically starts by identifying the critical risks and processes for each element of the IMS and reviewing these against the relevant requirements to provide comfort to management and other stakeholders that the risks are effectively managed.
Improvement
Whilst implementing an IMS is an important step, all systems require continual improvement to operate at their best.
As noted above, the audit process is geared towards providing management teams with a clear overview of areas for improvement and procedures they should follow to achieve this.
What does IMS certification mean?
I IMS Certification shows that an organisation has had multiple management systems – processes and documentation – evaluated by a single, comprehensive audit and have been found to be conformant to the requirements of the relevant standards.
The IMS certification process typically involves a two stage audit to ensure that ISO standards are being met, followed by a certification decision. An annual or half-yearly surveillance audit is also a requirement. The certification typically lasts three years, before the organisation completes the two stage audit again.
A significant benefit of IMS certification for organisations is the establishment of streamlined and efficient processes across all key areas of business. This, in turn, leads to greater resource efficiency, saving time, reducing waste and optimising processes. There may also be cost savings for the organisation in the certification process as common elements across the different standards can be audited together.
IMS certification can have a positive impact on employees, giving them a supportive system and the right documentation to do their jobs in a way that aligns with ISO standards. It can also make their day to day activities easier due to streamlined documentation and processes.
In this way, certification can lead to better risk management, compliance, operational efficiency, and stakeholder trust.
“Integrating the different systems where possible makes sense for many organisations wanting to increase the maturity of their different management systems. It means they can typically run a more efficient operation, reduce silos across the business, and consolidate management reporting to save everyone time,” said Tom Barham, Founder and Director of RTP .
How RTP can help you
RTP offers two training programs in IMS, and it’s important to understand your professional goals to choose the right course for you.
Our training programs in IMS are unique in several ways:
- They are delivered by practising audit, certification, and systems experts.
- There is no risk of course cancellations.
- We provide copies of the management systems standards to all students.
- Our face-to-face courses provide networking opportunities over fully catered lunches, while our virtually-run courses are accessible from anywhere.
Here’s what a few of our past participants had to say about the program:
“It was evident that the trainer had significant industry-related experience in auditing. They were able to reinforce learnings and keep us interested by integrating their experiences into the course with relevant and engaging real world examples.”
Wayne Duffy
“Really enjoyed the training. What could be a very stale topic was delivered in a very engaging and detailed way. I particularly enjoyed the conversational delivery of the content and the practical activities were challenging and well presented. The catering was great too.”
Victoria Spencer
How to get started with IMS training
So you’re ready to get started with the training? The process to enrol in our IMS training course is simple: just head to our website, navigate to the “Find a Course” tab, and select IMS as the course topic.
You can choose either the 3-day Integrated Management Systems course, or the 5-day Integrated Management Systems Lead Auditor option.
The “Learn More” button provides more details on course content, qualifications, prerequisites, and assessments, and when you’re ready to secure your place, just hit “Book Now” to get started.
If you need a little more information before deciding to proceed, call the team at RTP on 1300 95 96 92, email us at hello@risktrainingprofessionals.com,or fill in the contact form.
Wherever your organisation is on their management system journey, our team is here to help you take the next step and make the improvements that will take things to the next level.
Manage your organisation for optimum quality, safety and efficiency
If you’re seeking a better solution for the management of multiple systems in your organisation, investing in an IMS is an excellent way to streamline operations for long-term effectiveness, efficiency, and consistency.
