Integrated management system

 

 

What is the Integrated Management System?

An integrated management system (IMS) is a management system which integrates all components of a business into one coherent system to enable delivery of the purpose and mission of the business.

 

ISO 8402:1994 defines Total Quality management (TQM) as a management approach centred on quality for an organization, and which is based on the participation of all its members and aiming towards long-term success. This is achieved through customer satisfaction and benefits all members of the organization and society in general. In other words, TQM is a philosophy for managing an organization in a way which enables it to meet stakeholder needs and expectations efficiently and effectively, without compromising ethical values. TQM is a way of thinking about goals, processes and people to ensure that the right things are done right the first time. This thought process could change attitudes, behaviours and enhance results.

 

Need for an Integrated Management System

Identifiable processes that have an effect on business results should become recognised business practice and therefore included in the management systems.
Thus, an IMS should integrate all currently formalized systems focusing on, for example, quality, health and safety, environment, personnel, etc.
This means is that all processes, and the documents that describe them, should be integrated to become a fully coherent statement of business practice.

 

The pressure to integrate managements systems in the organization is likely to come from within the organization. It is doubtful that customers will demand introduction of an IMS. There are no national or international standards for integrated management systems. From this we can conclude that implementation of an Integrated Management System is going to be a choice made by the organization itself.
Integrated Management Systems have been implemented in many organizations across the world, ensuring their effectiveness and profitability.

 

The principles of Integrated Management System

This approach begins by looking at the business as a whole and establishing its mission and purpose; and the core processes that support the achievement of that mission. A system is the interconnection of components to achieve a given objective. These components include the organization, resources and processes. Therefore, people, equipment and culture are part of the system as well as the documented policies and practices.

 

Benefits for organization

There are several good reasons for organizations to implement an IMS:

 

• Opportunity to review all the business processes
• Eliminate unnecessary processes and therefore costs
• Avoid duplication of effort and improve productivity
• Reduce risks and increase profitability
• Balance conflicting objectives
• Eliminate conflicting responsibilities and relationships
• Diffuse the power system
• Turn the focus onto business goals
• Harmonize and optimize practices
• Create consistency
• Improve communication
• Facilitate training and development.

 

The introduction of an IMS improves operational and financial performance by linking strategy, operational plans and a system of measurements with change initiatives