Integrated Management System (IMS) Certification

WECERT provides independent Integrated Management System (IMS) certification for organizations seeking certification to two or more ISO management system standards through a coordinated certification programme that reduces duplication, audit effort and administrative workload.

What is an Integrated Management System?

An Integrated Management System (IMS) combines two or more ISO management system standards into a single coordinated management framework. Instead of maintaining separate documentation, audits, policies and management reviews for each standard, organizations operate one integrated system that addresses multiple business objectives simultaneously.

Modern ISO management system standards share a common High-Level Structure (HLS), making integration practical and efficient. Organizations can integrate quality, environmental, occupational health and safety, information security, energy, business continuity and many other management systems depending on their operational needs.

WECERT provides independent certification services for integrated management systems across multiple internationally recognized ISO standards.

Context of the Organization

Understand the organization’s internal and external issues, interested parties, scope and strategic direction to establish an integrated management system that supports multiple ISO standards.

Leadership

Establish a unified management policy, define organizational responsibilities and demonstrate leadership commitment across all integrated management system disciplines.

Planning

Identify organizational risks, opportunities, compliance obligations and objectives while planning coordinated actions that support quality, environmental, occupational health & safety and other management system requirements.

Support

Provide the resources, competence, awareness, communication and documented information necessary to effectively implement, maintain and continually improve the Integrated Management System.

Operation

Manage operational processes through coordinated planning, operational controls, outsourced activities, emergency preparedness and risk management while meeting the requirements of all applicable ISO management system standards.

Performance Evaluation

Monitor performance, evaluate compliance, conduct integrated internal audits, measure objectives and perform management reviews to assess the effectiveness of the Integrated Management System.

Improvement

Identify nonconformities, implement corrective actions and drive continual improvement to enhance organizational performance across all integrated management system standards.

Why Organizations Choose an Integrated Management System

Instead of managing separate quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems, organizations increasingly adopt an Integrated Management System to streamline governance, reduce duplicated documentation, coordinate internal audits and improve overall business performance.

Integration allows common management system processes—including document control, internal audits, management reviews, corrective actions, risk management and organizational objectives—to be managed through a single framework while maintaining conformity with the individual requirements of each applicable ISO management system standard.

For organizations certified to multiple ISO standards, an Integrated Management System reduces administrative effort, improves consistency across departments and supports continual improvement throughout the organization.

Which Standards Can Be Integrated?

Most organizations begin with ISO 9001 and later integrate ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. Depending on operational requirements, additional standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 22000, ISO 50001, ISO 22301 and ISO 46001 may also be incorporated into a single Integrated Management System.

Is an Integrated Management System Right for Your Organization?

Organizations often consider implementing an Integrated Management System when they operate more than one ISO management system or plan to obtain certification against multiple ISO standards. Rather than maintaining separate policies, procedures, audits and management reviews for each standard, an Integrated Management System creates one coordinated framework that supports all applicable management system requirements.

Whether your organization is expanding, improving operational efficiency, reducing duplicated activities or simplifying certification management, an Integrated Management System provides a practical approach that can be adapted to organizations of any size, sector or level of complexity.

Benefits of Integrated Management System Certification

Organizations implementing an Integrated Management System benefit from coordinated management processes, reduced administrative effort, improved operational consistency and more efficient certification activities across multiple ISO standards.

Reduce Documentation

Eliminate duplicated procedures, policies and records by managing multiple ISO standards through one integrated management system.

Simplify Certification Audits

Coordinate Stage 1, Stage 2 and surveillance audits to reduce disruption while maintaining independent certification for each applicable standard.

Improve Organizational Efficiency

Streamline management reviews, internal audits, objectives and operational controls through a single integrated management framework.

Strengthen Risk Management

Address quality, environmental, occupational health and safety, information security and other organizational risks using one coordinated approach.

Lower Certification Costs

Reduce duplicated certification activities, optimize audit planning and improve resource utilization through integrated certification programmes.

Drive Continual Improvement

Monitor performance across multiple management systems, identify improvement opportunities and enhance overall organizational performance.

SEPARATED SYSTEMS vs. INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Separate Systems

  • Multiple policies and manuals
  • Separate procedures and documented information
  • Individual internal audits for each standard
  • Separate management reviews
  • Independent objectives and KPIs
  • Repeated risk assessments
  • Multiple certification audits
  • Duplicate documentation and records
  • Higher administrative workload
  • Increased audit time and certification costs

Integrated Management Systems

  • One integrated policy framework
  • Shared procedures and integrated documented information
  • Coordinated integrated internal audits
  • One integrated management review
  • Aligned objectives and performance indicators
  • Unified risk and opportunity management
  • Coordinated certification programme
  • Reduced documentation and simplified records
  • Streamlined administration and improved efficiency
  • Reduced audit duration and optimized certification costs

Common Integrated Management Systems

ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO 45001
Quality, Environmental and OH&S Management System
ISO 9001 & ISO 22000
Quality and Food Safety Management System
ISO 9001 & ISO/IEC 27001
Quality and Information Security Management System
ISO 14001 & ISO 50001
Environment and Energy Management System
ISO/IEC 27001 & ISO 22301
Information Security and Business Continuity Management Systems

How WECERT Performs Integrated Certification

Understand Your Integrated Management System

We review the organization’s scope, locations, management system standards, operational processes and certification objectives to develop an integrated certification programme.

Integrated Certification Audit

Our competent audit teams evaluate all applicable ISO management system standards through a coordinated certification audit designed to minimize disruption while maintaining independent conformity assessment.

Receive Multiple ISO Certifications

Following successful certification, organizations receive certification for each applicable ISO management system standard while benefiting from coordinated surveillance and recertification activities.

Why Choose WECERT for ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO 45001 Certification?

Independent Certification

Certification activities are conducted through impartial and evidence-based conformity assessment processes.

Competent Audit Teams

Auditors are assigned based on competence, sector knowledge and applicable requirements.

Clear Certification Process

Organizations receive clear guidance from application through certification decision and surveillance audits.

Sector Understanding

Audits consider your organization’s scope, processes, risks and operational context.

Internationally Aligned Practices

Certification activities are delivered according to recognized management system certification principles.

Improvement-Focused Audits

Audits support conformity while helping organizations identify opportunities for improvement.

Still have questions? We have answered the most common questions organizations ask before applying for IMS certification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About IMS Certification

An Integrated Management System (IMS) combines two or more ISO management system standards into a single coordinated management framework. Instead of operating separate systems for quality, environmental, occupational health and safety or other disciplines, organizations manage common processes through one integrated system, improving efficiency and reducing duplication.

Many ISO management system standards share a common Harmonized Structure (HS), making integration practical and efficient. Organizations commonly integrate ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, while additional standards such as ISO 22000, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 50001, ISO 22301, ISO 39001 and ISO 55001 can also be incorporated depending on business objectives.

Yes. Organizations may implement and certify ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 as a fully integrated management system. WECERT conducts coordinated certification activities while assessing conformity with the specific requirements of each applicable standard.

Although the management system is integrated, certification is issued separately for each applicable ISO standard. Organizations receive individual certificates confirming conformity with each management system standard included within the integrated certification programme.

Integrated certification allows audit activities to be planned and coordinated, reducing duplicated audit processes and minimizing disruption to normal business operations. Audit duration is determined in accordance with applicable accreditation requirements, the number of standards included, organizational complexity and audit scope.

Yes. Organizations may expand their Integrated Management System by incorporating additional management system standards as business needs evolve. WECERT can assess the expanded scope and include additional certification activities within the existing certification programme where applicable.

Yes. Integrated Management Systems can be implemented by organizations of any size. Smaller organizations often benefit from simplified documentation, coordinated management activities and more efficient use of resources while maintaining conformity with multiple ISO standards.

No. One of the primary advantages of an Integrated Management System is the ability to develop shared policies, procedures, objectives, internal audits and management reviews that satisfy the common requirements of multiple ISO management system standards while addressing any discipline-specific requirements.

Following certification, surveillance audits are normally coordinated to evaluate the effectiveness of the Integrated Management System and verify continued conformity with each certified management system standard included within the certification programme.

WECERT provides independent, impartial and internationally aligned certification services supported by competent audit teams with expertise across multiple management system disciplines. Our coordinated certification approach helps organizations achieve efficient certification while maintaining confidence in the conformity assessment process.

Ready to Simplify

Multiple ISO Certifications with One Integrated Audit?

Whether your organization is implementing IMS for the first time or transferring an existing certificate, WECERT can support your certification journey through competent, independent and internationally aligned certification services.