Integrating Management Systems

At times, it seems like we’re being inundated with ISO standards these days. Scott Adams has found a lot of material for his Dilbert comic strips from the ISO requirements. If developed and implemented properly though, companies find that these systems do in fact have value beyond meeting customer requirements. Improvements can occur in efficiency, quality, compliance, environmental impacts, health & safety risk reduction, and even costs (cost savings tend not to occur until after the initial investment to develop the systems). For companies that need or want to develop systems that conform to more than one of these management system standards, a cost-effective way to do so is to integrate these systems.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued ISO 9000 standards for Quality Management Systems (QMS), and the ISO 14001 standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). More recently, a consortium of standards bodies have issued the OHSAS 18001 occupational health & safety management systems (HSMS) standard. It is anticipated that the OHSAS 18001 standard will also become a future ISO standard. Additional standards exist for specific applications such as the automotive industry QS 9000 and TS 16945 standards. Many organizations have seen the benefits of these systems of management, and have encouraged or required their suppliers and vendors to implement similar systems.

Consider some of the following opportunities for integrating systems:

• Combine EMS and HSMS manuals, particularly if the same department is involved in the implementation of both systems
• Combine Objectives, Targets, & Programs, especially in cases where there is overlap. For example, substituting less hazardous chemicals or alternative processes can have a positive impact on the environment AND it can also reduce occupational health & safety risks and hazards.
• Combine Audit Systems. Often, the same internal auditors can audit areas for environmental as well as health & safety at the same time. Additionally, internal EMS audits can be combined with internal HSMS audits in the many areas of overlap.
• Combine Corrective & Preventive Action Systems. The standards for the quality management systems (QMS), the environmental management systems (EMS), and the health and safety management systems (HSMS) all require similar corrective & preventive action systems. When non-conformances to these systems are identified, corrective actions must be identified and implemented to fix the specific non-conformance. In addition, the root cause of the specific non-conformance must be identified so that a preventive action can be identified and implemented to prevent similar non-conformances or repeat instances of nonconformance’s from occurring. The same or similar tracking systems can be used for QMS, EMS, and/or HSMS. Electronic forms and databases are a very effective way of tracking these items to closure and ensuring the responsible persons identify, implement, and verify actions.
• Combine Documentation Systems. Many companies already have formal documentation procedures for engineering design and manufacturing specifications. Companies who have already implementedISO 9000 systems often have very sophisticated electronic document control systems. Avoid “re-inventing the wheel” by taking advantage of existing systems that already meet the ISO standards or just need minor “tweaking” to meet the standard. Using the same system makes it easier for employees to use too.
• Combine Management Review Systems. Consider incorporating the environmental, health and safety (EH&S) management reviews into existing management review systems. Take advantage of processes learned through quality management systems (such as development of effective process and result metrics) to present useful and meaningful information to management.

Read more on ISO 9001 Standards at http://www.iso9001store.com