Many organizations need more than one certificate, most often ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. An integrated management system (IMS) brings them into one system, and an integrated audit assesses them together.
What Makes a System “Integrated”
A system qualifies as integrated when common elements are genuinely shared, for example:
- one documentation system and document control;
- a combined approach to risks and opportunities;
- integrated objectives and planning;
- one internal audit programme;
- one management review covering all standards; and
- one corrective action and improvement process.
Benefits
- Fewer total audit days than separate audits, depending on the level of integration
- One audit plan, one team, one schedule, so less disruption for managers
- One view of risk across quality, environment, safety and other areas
- Simpler maintenance for your own team
Common Combinations
| Combination | Typical sectors |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 + ISO 14001 + ISO 45001 | Construction, manufacturing, oil & gas, energy |
| ISO/IEC 27001 + ISO 22301 + ISO/IEC 20000-1 | IT and managed services |
| ISO 22000 + ISO 9001 | Food manufacturing and logistics |
| ISO 50001 + ISO 14001 | Energy-intensive operations |
How Audit Time Is Set
Each standard’s audit time is calculated first. A reduction is then applied according to the demonstrated level of integration, which we assess at application and confirm at Stage 1.
Can We Integrate Later?
Yes. Organizations already certified to one standard can add others at surveillance or recertification, and align their audit cycles.