IMS

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

(IMS)
First Quality has worked with a number of clients to integrate ISO 9001 quality systems,
ISO 14001 environmental management systems and BS OHSAS 18001 Health and
Safety systems. The advantages of integration include:

o Reduces duplication between systems

o Allows common auditing of systems, both internal and external
o Hence it can save money on external assessment costs
o Reduces risks to the business
o Eliminates conflicting responsibilities between management personnel
o Improves internal communication
o Demonstrates to customers the organisation’s commitment to quality, the environment
and health & safety issues

STARTING WITH A PROCESS ORIENTED ISO

9001:2015 QUALITY SYSTEM IS A GOOD
FIRST STEP
A well-defined, process oriented BS EN ISO 9001:2015 quality system is a good first
step towards an integrated system. However do not under estimate the extra work that is
required for an integrated system. The following additional elements will be required:

o Define environmental impacts and process failure modes

o Define H&S risk assessment
o Definite environmental and H&S targets and objectives
o Management of regulations applicable to the business
o Management of Improvement programmes within the business e.g. to achieve objectives
and targets
o Define methods of public awareness
o Update process documentation to cover environmental and H&S issues
o Implement the new practices and methods
o Communicate to all personnel regarding the aims, objectives and methods of the new
integrated system

THE FUTURE OF IMS DOCUMENTATION

ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are both now written around the template for management
systems known as Annex SL.
BS OHSAS 18001 will soon be replaced by ISO 45001 which is again written around
Annex SL.
Hence future integration of all three system will be much easier as there will be many
common elemenrts all written identically e.g. Documented information, internal audits,
management review etc.