Easily obtain IMS-integrated management system certification

IMS (Integrated Management Systems)

In the dynamic business landscape, organizations are continually seeking ways to enhance operational efficiency, streamline processes, and maintain compliance with international standards. One powerful solution gaining popularity is the Integrated Management System (IMS). At LegalBabu.com, we understand the significance of seamless operations and are proud to offer consultancy services for ISO certification, including the implementation of IMS.

What is IMS?

Integrated Management System (IMS) is a holistic approach that combines various management standards into a single, unified system. It integrates Quality Management (ISO 9001), Environmental Management (ISO 14001), and Occupational Health and Safety Management (ISO 45001) standards, creating a cohesive framework that aligns with an organization's objectives.

Principles of IMS:

Integration of Standards:

IMS brings together different management systems, fostering synergy and eliminating redundancy. This ensures a more efficient use of resources and a streamlined approach to compliance.

Continuous Improvement:

The IMS emphasizes a commitment to continuous improvement. By integrating various management principles, organizations can identify areas for enhancement across multiple facets of their operations.

Risk Management:

IMS encourages organizations to identify, assess, and manage risks comprehensively. This proactive approach helps prevent issues before they escalate and ensures a robust risk management framework.

What are the key requirements for obtaining IMS-integrated management system certification?

The key requirements for obtaining IMS (Integrated Management System) certification include:

1. Establishing a comprehensive management system framework that integrates multiple management standards such as ISO 9001 for Quality Management, ISO 14001 for Environmental Management, and ISO 45001 for Occupational Health and Safety.
2. Ensuring top management commitment and leadership in driving the IMS implementation process.
3. Conducting a thorough assessment of organizational processes, risks, and opportunities to identify areas for integration and improvement.
4. Developing and documenting IMS policies, objectives, procedures, and processes that address the requirements of each management standard.
5. Providing adequate resources, training, and support to ensure that employees understand their roles and responsibilities within the IMS.
6. Implementing processes for monitoring, measurement, and evaluation of IMS performance, including regular internal audits and management reviews.
7. Ensuring compliance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements related to quality, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.
8. Continuously improving the IMS through corrective actions, preventive actions, and opportunities for innovation and learning.
9. Seeking certification from an accredited third-party certification body to validate compliance with IMS requirements and demonstrate commitment to integrated management practices.

Why IMS Certification?

The main aim for IMS implementation is to have common management system requirements with the intent of using one complete framework to implement multiple management systems and standards.

By integrating your management systems, you can minimize duplication of work, align your objectives, and reduce costs. The move consolidates the common requirements of the management system standards.

By integrating management certification helps reduce disruption to your business by eliminating duplication of audit activity and fewer audits, thus minimizing implementation time, audit time, certification fees, and audit frequency.

Many SMEs (small and medium enterprises) are suppliers to large companies that insist on quality and environmental requirements from their supply chain vendors. Most of these requirements can only be met by implementing a management system and being certified. Also, government departments also apply quality, environmental, and even sustainability criteria in their purchasing and procurement activities and tenders. It is imperative for the SME to implement quality and environmental management systems to survive in competitive business environment.

Benefits of Integrated Management Systems (IMS) Certification

1. Boost Performance: Get better in quality, safety, handling risks, and doing work more efficiently.

Implementing an Integrated Management System (IMS) helps your organization become better overall. By combining efforts in quality, safety, risk management, and productivity, you can streamline how you operate. This means improvements in one area can positively affect others, creating a continuous cycle of getting better at what you do.

2. Cut Costs: Save money by doing things faster and more efficiently.

IMS certification brings significant savings. By making processes smoother and cutting out unnecessary steps, you spend less time on tasks. This not only reduces interruptions but also leads to saving money. Your operations become more efficient, making them cost less to run.

3. Make the Most of Resources: Use your time and materials wisely by focusing on important tasks rather than system upkeep.

With IMS, the goal is to make the best use of your resources. By putting different management systems together, you can focus on adding value instead of spending time on maintaining systems. This lets you use your people and materials more effectively, leading to better outcomes.

4. Reduce Maintenance: Keep things running smoothly with less effort.

Integration is the key to making maintenance easier. When different management systems become one, you don't need separate maintenance processes. This simplifies how you manage things and reduces the time and effort needed to keep everything running smoothly. It's like making things simpler so they work better.

5. Reduce Audit costs: Check your integrated management system once a year and save lots of time and money.

IMS certification cuts down on audit costs. Instead of doing separate audits for different systems, you only need to check the integrated management system once a year. This not only saves a lot of resources but also makes audits more efficient and focused. It's a simpler way to make sure everything follows the rules and works well.

6. Improve Communication: Teams from different areas work together better, making communication in the organization smoother.

IMS encourages teamwork and better communication within your organization. When teams from different areas come together to follow the same procedures and processes, it creates a more united work environment. This improved communication means information flows easily between departments, making everything work together seamlessly.

In summary, IMS certification brings lots of benefits, from getting better at what you do and saving money to using your resources wisely and making communication smoother. It's a smart move for long-term success, helping your organization work better and be more united.

Stages Involved in Getting IMS Certification

1. Application:

Clients start by filling out an application where they share basic details about their organization and what they need. This helps us understand their size, operations, and management system.

Based on this information, we set objectives for the assessment and/or certification, including standards to be followed.

Legal Babu then provides a detailed offer in a contract, specifying what services will be provided based on the client's needs.

2. Pre-Audit:

We conduct a pre-audit to analyze how well the organization is doing initially. This helps identify strengths and areas that need improvement.

For larger projects, we have a meeting to plan the assessment, ensuring a customized plan for all functions and processes.

The pre-audit helps top management understand where improvements are needed to meet international standards.

3. Stage 1 Audit:

Certification body conducts the Stage 1 audit, meeting with management to discuss details about the audit.

The audit includes reviewing system documentation, goals, management reviews, and internal audits to see if the management system is ready for certification.

The auditor will provide feedback and suggest improvements if needed, which the organization must address within a specific timeframe.

4. Stage 2 Audit:

This audit is done by the certification body, evaluating the company's existing quality systems against IMS standards.

Inspections cover everything from employees to products, services, and support systems. Best practices lead to positive results.

Auditors perform detailed checks on cleanliness, inventory, packaging, dispatch, and employee training programs.

After a satisfactory audit, the auditor shares a report and recommends issuing the IMS certification.

5. Certificate:

The final phase is done in the auditor's office. They validate procedures, documents, and get approvals from relevant departments.

Any technicalities found are shared with the client for corrective actions.

A draft certificate is given to the client for review, and once approved, the final certificate is issued with a unique number, company name, address, and validity period.