THE CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN INTEGRATION OF MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

The paper explores actual trends in integration of management systems which can help in solving the problems that some organizations face in the separated systems.A growing body of information indicates that organizations are increasingly implementing integrated management systems that bring them significant benefits.Contemporary trends aim at complex integration of management systems when some of the models compromises the quality of the management system.Environmental management system and occupational health and safety system can be completed by other organization management subsystems, e.g.risk management system, corporate social responsibility, energy management, etc.The degree of the management systems integration depends on the specific needs of an organization.Since the integration process is not standardized, each organization may apply its own methodology or the existing guidelines and standards.It is recommended to use the existing experiences of other organizations that successfully improve their integration process, or to contract a consultant for assistance.Except for many benefits, this integration approach can also bring some limitations that are related especially to a tendency to develop over-documented bureaucratic process and unwillingness of quality professionals to accept requirements that do not relate to product quality.