With ISO 45001 (Health and Safety) now also following the structure of ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environment), there has never been a better time for considering integration of your management systems. Our experience shows that gaining certification for two or more standards is never twice the effort!
With the new common framework for management system standards (Annex SL) now in place across a suite of ISO documentation it is easy to see the overlap, common requirements and duplication within each. Simply, you can combine items such as document control, management of nonconformance, internal audits and management review etc. Other elements such as context, understanding the needs of interested parties and risk management can all be easily integrated together.
When working with our clients we always set up systems that have the potential to be integrated – even if you are not seeking certification to a second standard at the time of our help. So, even if all you need for now is ISO 9001, consider that what you develop now can also, then be the framework for ISO 14001 etc. It will save a great deal of effort in the future.
Also, to consider only quality without also thinking about how you may impact on the environment or generate health and safety hazards means you are failing to appreciate the outcome of decisions made.
For example, you may develop a new product:
- To help deliver what your clients want and need (meeting quality objectives).
- But, there is always the risk of this generating environmental impact (think about the raw materials consumed or energy used).
- Or the introduction of health and safety hazards (is the task of manufacture hazardous?).
Integration encourages you to think about the whole picture.
With more standards now adopting the common framework (the latest being ISO 50001 for energy management) then the attraction of integration grows. If you think it is something you might benefit from then do give us a call.
Auditing is core to all standards and QCS offers specialist, bespoke training on integrated management system auditing. Auditors with a wider understanding of processes usually generate better and more useful reports; the basis for driving improvement. This training is tailored to clients’ requirements and includes a live audit within your place of work.
You can find out more about our IMS auditing training at https://qcsl.co.uk/integrated-auditing-courses/