Any
system, which is required by the effective running of a business, can be
integrated either totally or partially under a unified management structure. In
essence any system, which has an impact on overall business performance, should
be part of the integrated management system.
To
ensure effective systems, the following functions must be performed:
§ Risk Assessment- this should
address customer perceptions, health & safety risks, environmental concerns
& impacts and process failure modes. By having a common approach it will be
easier to compare risks occurring in different parts of the business.
§ Norms & Regulations
Management – to capture norms and regulations with respect to product
specifications, environment and health & safety and their impacts on the
business.
§ Continual Improvement Management
– this should focus on specific improvement programmes related to quality,
health & safety and environment.
§ Stakeholders Awareness – this
should address needs of customers, staff and general public with respect to
quality, health & safety and environment .
An integrated management system (IMS)
is a management system, which integrates all relevant components of a business
into one coherent system so as to enable the optimal achievement of its
business objectives. The integrated approach requires combining all the
internal business management practices into one system. For the different
systems to be properly integrated, rather than simply being separate systems
joined together, there have to be effective linkages so that the boundaries
between processes are seamless. The fundamental components of the system
include the organisation, resources and processes. Therefore, people, equipment
and business culture are part of the system as well as the documented policies
and practices.
All
systems relevant to the business, whether certifiable or otherwise, can be
included. These could include: Quality (ISO 9001); Environment (ISO 14001);
Occupational Health & Safety Management System(ISO 45001); Food Safety
Management System (ISO 22000) .
Integration
is designed to:
§ Ensure focus on business goals
& objectives
§ optimise practices
§ Reduce risks to the business and
increase profitability
§ Balance conflicting objectives
§ Eliminate conflicting
responsibilities and relationships
§ Create consistency
§ Reduce duplication and therefore
costs
§ Improve communications
§ Facilitate training and
developmen
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