Set up your Integrated Management System

Reduce duplication, improve oversight and bring management systems together.

Many organisations hold certification to more than one management system, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 27001.

Managing each system separately can create duplicated processes, disconnected objectives and unnecessary audit activity. An integrated Management System (IMS) brings common elements together into a more coordinated approach, while maintaining the requirements and integrity of each individual standard.

LRQA can help you assess multiple management systems through a more connected programme, giving you clearer oversight, reducing disruption and helping your systems work more effectively together.

What is Annex SL?

Annex SL is the high-level structure for modern ISO Standards. The Annex SL structure ensures consistency and compatibility between the different management system standards and allows for a straightforward and harmonised implementation of multiple standards (integrated management systems).

Which standards use the Annex SL framework?

Most modern management systems (released or updated since 2011) use the Annex SL framework throughout their standards.

More familiar ISO Standards such as ISO 9001, ISO14001, ISO 27001, and ISO 45001 all follow the Annex SL structure.

Why integrate your management systems?

Integration is about more than bringing several procedures together in one manual. It is about creating one management framework that connects different areas of organisational risk.

Reduce duplication

Align common processes, documentation and responsibilities to avoid repeating the same activity across multiple management systems.

Coordinate audit activity

Bring assessments together through a more joined-up audit programme, reducing disruption and making better use of your teams’ time.

Improve visibility

Give leadership a clearer view of performance, findings and priorities across different management systems.

Create greater consistency

Align objectives, governance and improvement activity so different systems support one another rather than operating independently.

Annex SL is moving companies toward integrated management systems.

A more connected approach to assessment

LRQA can provide combined assessments for organisations operating multiple management systems, helping certification activity reflect the way your organisation is actually managed.

One coordinated audit programme

Align assessment activity across standards and reduce the disruption created by separate audit schedules.

Cross-standard expertise

Work with auditors who understand management systems across different disciplines while maintaining the integrity of each individual certification.

Clearer insight

Bring findings and improvement opportunities together to give leadership a more connected view across the organisation

Built to evolve

Develop your certification programme as you add standards, sites or new areas of organisational risk.

How LRQA can support you

Whether your systems are already integrated or you are beginning to move towards a more coordinated model, LRQA can support the different stages of your journey.

Integrated certification

Coordinate assessment across multiple management system standards through one connected certification programme.

Gap analysis

Understand how effectively your management systems currently work together and identify opportunities to strengthen alignment before assessment.

Training

Build capability across the teams responsible for implementing, maintaining and auditing multiple management system standards.

Certification transfer

If your certifications are currently held with another provider, LRQA can help coordinate their transfer and explore opportunities to bring them into a more aligned programme.

Why work with LRQA?

Management systems expertise

LRQA has decades of experience assessing management systems across standards, sectors and organisational structures.

Auditors who understand your organisation

Our auditors combine management systems knowledge with sector experience, helping them understand how different risks and requirements interact within your operations.

A connected approach to risk

Quality, environmental performance, health and safety, information security and other business risks do not operate independently. We help organisations take a more connected view across their management systems.

Global reach, local support

With clients around the world and auditors working across global markets, we can support integrated certification programmes across sites, regions and standards.

Bring your certifications together with LRQA

If you currently manage multiple certifications with another provider, moving to LRQA can also be an opportunity to simplify how they are managed. We can review your existing certification programme, coordinate key dates and explore where combined assessments could create a more efficient and connected approach.

Considering a change of certification partner?

Transfer to LRQA

Integrate your management systems with Annex SL