How an Integrated Management System Can Help Your Business
There are many benefits to an integrated management system. The greatest benefits include increased efficiency and the reduction of costs and disruptions caused by external audits. An IMS shows that an organization has an unwavering commitment to employee and customer satisfaction as well as continuous improvement.
What is an Integrated Management System?
An integrated management system (IMS) is a single system specially designed to manage multiple aspects of an organization’s operations. Integrated management can benefit any organization, regardless of their size or sector. An IMS makes it possible to integrate two or more management systems into one cohesive system with a complete set of documentation, policies, procedures and processes.
How an IMS Improves Efficiency
Many businesses run multiple systems to manage different aspects of their business such as health and safety, environment, quality and HR. An IMS enables the integration of organizational structures, decision-making, resource allocation and auditing processes into one robust system.
An IMS significantly improves the process and service quality of a company, leading to increased efficiency within the system.
Integrated systems provide a clear picture of all aspects of an organization including how they affect each other and all associated risks. This results in less duplication and easier adoption of new systems in the future.
Seamless Integration of Management Systems
Companies can choose between conversion and consolidation when integrating management systems. Conversion involves adding new processes to an existing management system and revising documents to cover all management system requirements. Consolidation involves merging two systems and integrating other systems during formalization. This method allows organizations to merge documentation when it supports the same process.
Any combination of management systems can be integrated. Means Engineering, Inc. integrates our Quality Management System (certified to ISO 9001, AS9100, and ISO 13485), our Environmental Management System (certified to ISO 14001) and our other business processes (including Health and Safety, Information Security, Business Continuity, and Ethics). With one efficient system, we are able to better meet the needs of our customers.
