There are several fundamental principles common among the ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 27001 standards. For example, topics such as document control, management review, corrective actions, and competent personnel requirements are covered in all the standards mentioned.
According to Annex SL, a new high-level structure for all ISO management system standards in the future, it is possible to combine these standards into a single integrated system. The advantages of integrated management systems are remarkable. For example, integrated management systems will have a significant impact on the overall results of ISO management systems because they will be able to align the common components of the standards of the different management systems. This is valid, for example, for what concerns policies, objectives, processes, and resources.
Furthermore, you could have a single procedure for document control, management reviews, training, internal audit management, or improvement interventions. Once integrated, it will be possible to request and obtain the related iso system certifications more easily.
Also, the maintenance of the integrated system will become much easier to perform, therefore, there will be a greater focus on achieving the objectives that are central to any organization and every company that decides to adopt an integrated system will be able to have a systematic approach to changes with a decision-making process at their base decidedly simpler and more linear.
Another undoubted advantage is that organizations will be able to conduct integrated audits and assessments and, therefore, optimize processes and resources. All this, of course, will translate into fewer interruptions and a reduction in costs because resources will be able to focus on the implementation of the process and on adding value rather than on the additional maintenance of the system. Ultimately, there will be a greater focus on improvements rather than on maintaining multiple systems.
Annex SL, which is not an ISO standard but a guide to help consultants and organizations implement multiple / integrated management system standards, serves to align the Standards and integrate them better in the implementation phase. The guideline of Annex SL, in essence, will help to create a system that requires less maintenance and resources and will allow, for example, to produce one document or process instead of many. Annex SL outlines the structure for a generic management system.
All new ISO management system standards will follow this pattern and all standards that do not yet have this structure will migrate in this direction at the next revision. In the future, therefore, all ISO management system standards should be consistent and compatible because they will all have the same appearance.
Currently, the most popular standards that use Annex SL are:
- ISO 9001: 2015 Quality management system
- ISO 14001: 2015 Environmental management system
- ISO 27001 Information Technology Management System
- ISO 45001: 2018 Occupational health and safety management system standard