IMS

An Integrated Management System (IMS) combines the requirements of two or more management system standards into one single system.

What Can Be Integrated?
Many businesses begin with integrating say Quality (ISO 9001) and Environmental (ISO 14001), then move onto Occupational Health & Safety (45001) & Information Security (27001) etc, but there are no rules and it's entirely up to the business which combination of standards and/or specifications/schemes they wish to integrate.

We would always recommend using internationally accepted methods, these include both Annex SL and/or PAS 99 – Both are specifications for MSS integration, and set the overall framework to use:

Context of the organisation
Leadership
Planning
Support
Operation
Performance evaluation
Improvement.

Using the above high-level structure (HLS), the common elements of each standard can be combined, and then the specific requirements are integrated within the correct section above.

A single management framework as opposed to multiple systems

Minimises duplication and waste

Streamlined processes leading to efficiency gains

Reduces consultancy fees

Reduced initial and ongoing certification costs

Reduces the time and resources needed to manage the system

Harmonises and optimises practices, processes, and people

Turns the focus onto coherent business goals

Increased profitability

An IMS can be a valuable differentiator in the marketplace enhancing reputation and brand image

A holistic IMS approach enhances risk management across different aspects of the operations

Founder and Lead Consultant of ISO Systems UK, Billy Naisbett has specialised in IMS's since 2004, initially using the 14001 as the preferred central framework for an IMS, then the big breakthrough came in 2006 with BSI developing and introducing the first specification for IMS’s. This was the PAS 99, ‘Specification of Common Requirements as a Framework for Integration, this was revised in 2012.

Then In 2015, there was an event that had a significant impact on organisations, trainers, consultants, certification bodies, accreditation bodies, auditors, and Management System Standards (MSS) writers.

It was the introduction of Annex SL (previously ISO Guide 83) which defines the high-Level Structure (HLS) for management systems. Since then, all ISO MSS had to adhere to this HLS, and all current MSS will migrate to the framework at their next revision.

In future all ISO MSS should be consistent and compatible - they will all have the same look and feel. This could be the beginning of the end of the conflicts, duplication, confusion, and misunderstanding arising from subtly different requirements across the various MSS.

To this day Billy continues to use both the PAS 99 2012, and Annex SL to develop efficient, effective and lean integrated management systems.

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