Summary
Every organization has management systems, whether they are formalized or not, recognized or instinctive, or called processes or procedures. There are many advantages to be gained from integrating these systems to provide an over-arching set of guidance, procedures and records. These will encompass all the organization’s activities, build on strengths, help to identify weaknesses, aid control and improvement, and reflect the interactive nature of the processes employed in meeting customer demands.
IMS: The Framework presents an approach that enables integration to become a reality, not merely between two standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 (environment) but as part of an overall system for the organization. This framework makes it possible for management systems in a range of disciplines to be incorporated, to the benefit of all organizations’ operations.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Terms and definitions
3. Why consider an Integrated Management System?
4. What is an Integrated Management System?
5. The background to Integrated Management System standards
6. Making a management system work
7. Process and plan-do-check-act: keys to success
8. The framework of IMS
9. Getting started
10. Integrating management systems into your IMS
Appendix 1. IMS framework
Appendix 2. Common elements of quality, environmental and OH&S systems
References