When considering how to implement various management systems, companies are often faced with challenging decisions. Say, for example, a company was considering integration of a Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2008) with an Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2004) and/or an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001).

An integrated approach provides the most benefit from management systems that are structured around their business processes. Process owners and cross-functional teams working together provide improved integrated process/system outputs resulting in higher overall system performance versus an individual systems approach.

This synergy—the performance of the combination is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

For example: A product development engineer, sales person and manufacturing engineer working together to achieve a new innovation or new final product. The team more than satisfies the customer, market needs, safety and environmental, resulting in better overall business results, than if each person was working toward the same goal individually.

In my opinion, it is possible that Toyota Motor Corp.'s widely publicized problem with unintended acceleration of some of its vehicles may be an example where an integrated systems approach might have achieved better results, protecting the company's reputation and saving dozens of lives.

Advantages of an Integrated Systems Approach

• More concise minimalist management system with all aspects adding value without redundancy
• Enhanced communication through simplicity and uniformity
• More effective and efficient processes
• Reduction of internal and external audit costs
• Reduction of implementation costs
• Integrated Objectives and Measures
• Increased satisfaction for customers, suppliers, stakeholders and the environment
• Reducing system risk overall by providing risk analysis comparisons between Quality, Environmental and Safety Risks
• Enhanced competitiveness and business security
• Increased profitability through lower costs, improved productivity and creativity
  

Summary

Consider the benefits a management system (Quality, Environmental or OHSAS) can contribute to the success of your company in the future. Depending on your current needs consider the implementation of an integrated systems approach. If you are new to management systems consider implementing a quality management system initially to continually improve your business processes, improve customer satisfaction, allow market growth and diversification and improve bottom line profits.

About the Author: Since joining MAGNET in 1992, Dennis Rosa has helped more than one hundred manufacturing organizations improve their bottom lines through quality and productivity improvement efforts. He received his BS in industrial engineering from Cleveland State University. Dennis has managed both Manufacturing Engineering and Quality functions at CE Cast Equipment, Lubriquip and KT/Swasey (Warner & Swasey).