TL;DR: Integrated management systems
- Reduced duplication: An Integrated Management System (IMS) combines different management systems standards, typically ISO 9001 Quality, ISO 14001 Environmental, and ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety, into one streamlined framework.
- Simplified processes: Eliminates duplication and aligns operations for better efficiency.
- Streamlined audits: Reduces the need for separate audits by integrating them into one system.
- Enhanced credibility: Demonstrates compliance, builds trust, and boosts business reputation.
Juggling three separate systems for quality, environmental practices, and work health safety sounds exhausting, right? That’s where an IMS can help, streamlining these essential processes into one cohesive framework.
But what does that mean for your organisation? In this article, we’ll break down IMS certification, what it entails, and why it’s useful for many organisations. Learn how this integrated approach simplifies operations, strengthens compliance, builds trust, and keeps you ahead of the competition.
What is IMS certification?
An IMS integrates multiple management systems aligned with different standards, typically ISO 9001 Quality, ISO 14001 Environment, and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), into a single, cohesive framework. Instead of managing these systems separately, an IMS allows organisations to operate efficiently under one unified structure. An organisation’s IMS can also include other standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management Systems or ISO 22301 Business Continuity.
For an organisation to become certified, their IMS needs to be audited by a third party conformity assessment body (CAB)- also known as certification bodies – to ensure their management system aligns with the relevant ISO standards.
What does IMS certification mean?
There isn’t a single “IMS Certification.” Instead, businesses achieve certification for their individual management systems standards under relevant ISO frameworks, which are most commonly:
- ISO 9001: Quality Management System – ensuring consistent quality in products and services.
- ISO 14001: Environmental Management System – managing environmental responsibilities efficiently.
- ISO 45001: Occupational Health & Safety Management System – prioritising workplace safety and helping to manage risks efficiently.
Achieving IMS certification demonstrates compliance with internationally recognised processes and frameworks and showcases a strong commitment to continual improvement, operational excellence, environmental sustainability, and workplace safety.
Benefits of IMS certification:
- Streamlined processes across departments.
- Potentially reduced audit durations
- Improved compliance with regulatory and stakeholder requirements.
- Better approach to risk management and sustainability practices.
Why ISO standards?
ISO standards are internationally recognised guidelines and best practices developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) to ensure quality, safety, efficiency, and consistency across various industries and processes. Each standard has specific objectives, for example:
- ISO 9001: Ensures consistent quality and customer satisfaction.
- ISO 14001: Promotes environmental sustainability and compliance.
- ISO 45001: Focuses on creating safe and healthy workplaces.
- ISO/IEC 27001: Protects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
ISO 22301: Ensures organisations can respond to, recover from, and minimise disruptions caused by unexpected events. Most management systems standards follow the Harmonised Structure, with a consistent structure and approach followed in each, allowing organisations of various types and industries to more easily integrate them together.
What is an IMS-certified organisation?
An IMS-certified organisation has been assessed by a third party CAB to have met the requirements set out in the standards for which they are requiring certification. Becoming IMS certified streamlines an organisation’s processes, enables compliance, enhances their reputation, improves risk management, and provides a competitive advantage.
IMS-certified organisations apply a unified approach to managing their operations and processes. For example, by leveraging the streamlined approach of an integrated system, manufacturers can enhance production efficiency, construction firms can strengthen worker safety measures, and service businesses can elevate customer satisfaction.
Further benefits of IMS Certification:
- Increased reputation as a reliable and ethical organisation.
- Greater trust from customers and stakeholders.
- Improved market competitiveness.
How do you prepare for IMS Certification?
Like any certification, preparing to have your IMS certified involves having confidence in your organisation’s approach to managing its risks and ensuring controls for these risks are implemented consistently. Some of the key elements include:
- Policy Integration: Unifying quality, environmental, and OH&S policies.
- Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating risks across all systems.
- Documentation: Comprehensive documentation for policies, processes, and procedures.
- Audits: Regular internal and external audits are conducted to address emerging risks, ensure compliance, and identify opportunities for improvement.
This integration reduces redundancy between common processes, making compliance more straightforward and efficient.
How Does an IMS Work?
An IMS combines various processes, policies, and procedures into a single framework. Here’s how it functions:
- Unified Objectives: Aligning goals for quality, environmental sustainability, and workplace safety.
- Streamlined Processes: Avoiding duplication of effort by integrating similar processes across systems.
- Continual Improvement: Regularly update and improve the system based on performance data and audits.
The holistic approach of an IMS focuses on efficiency while enabling organisations’ internal teams to focus on strategic priorities.
When integrating the different processes and activities within an organisation, it’s important to ensure that each individual standard’s requirements get the attention that they deserve. For example, if integrating environmental and OH&S processes together, many organisations will put an increased emphasis on the OH&S requirements and potentially miss some of the environmental requirements, like considering a life cycle perspective.
What is IMS compliance?
IMS compliance ensures that the integrated system meets the requirements of relevant ISO standards. Maintaining compliance involves:
- Regular monitoring and evaluation.
- Adhering to documented processes.
- Conducting routine internal and external audits.
Ongoing compliance helps organisations maintain their certification and continually improve their management systems.
Preparing for IMS certification typically involves the following steps:
- Understand Requirements:
Familiarise your organisation with the standards you wish to integrate and their specific requirements. - Perform a Gap Analysis:
Assess your existing management systems to identify gaps between current practices and the standards’ requirements. - Develop the IMS:
- Combine processes and policies into a single framework that addresses the requirements of all the chosen standards.
- Align common elements like document control, internal audits, risk management, and leadership involvement.
- Train Staff:
Train employees on the IMS processes, their roles, and responsibilities to ensure understanding and compliance. - Implement the IMS:
Put the system into practice across the organisation, monitoring and documenting activities to demonstrate compliance. - Conduct Internal Audits:
Regularly audit the IMS to identify non-conformities and areas for improvement. - Engage a Certification Body:
Choose an accredited certification body to assess your IMS for compliance with the standards. - Undergo a Certification Audit:
- Stage 1 Audit: The certification body reviews your documentation and preparedness.
- Stage 2 Audit: The auditors assess the practical implementation of your IMS.
- Address Findings:
Correct any non-conformities identified during the audit process. - Achieve Certification:
Once the certification body is satisfied, they issue an IMS certificate demonstrating your compliance with the integrated standards. - Maintain the IMS:
Regularly monitor, audit, and improve your IMS to ensure continued compliance and successful surveillance audits.
Difference between IMS and ISO
An IMS consolidates several different management systems into one framework. Unlike separate ISO standards, which address each area individually, an IMS streamlines operations by aligning processes, reducing redundancies, and improving efficiency across the board.
Advantages of IMS over individual ISO standards:
- Consolidated audits.
- Unified objectives and processes.
- Greater cost-efficiency in maintaining systems.
Difference between IMS and QMS
A Quality Management System (QMS) focuses exclusively on quality objectives, typically under ISO 9001. In contrast, an IMS encompasses the requirements of a QMS while integrating other management systems, with key benefits such as environmental and OH&S.
Benefits of integrating QMS into an IMS:
- Broader focus, addressing multiple aspects of business operations.
- Streamlined processes across quality, environment, and safety.
- Enhanced value from combined audits and reporting.
Conclusion
Managing different management systems doesn’t have to be a juggling act. By integrating management systems and achieving third party certification, your organisation can reap the benefits – ensuring compliance, increased efficiencies, and an enhanced reputation in the market.
Our training programs are here to help you comply with and understand ISO management systems standards.
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