Simultaneous integration: a case study of an SME

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to analyze the simultaneous implementation of an integrated management system in a small and medium size enterprise.
Design/methodology/approach – Based on a case study, the paper presents and analyzes the implementation of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management system standards. The organization analyzed is a small and medium size company of the heating and air conditioning sector that had no management systems implemented and decided to implement an integrated management system based on both functionspecific management system standards and also achieving the separated certification. For the case, the management systems’ manager and the consultant provided information about the decision-making, the implementation and certification and the overall satisfaction of the processes.
Findings – The results show that a simultaneous integration is possible and it is more effective than implementing the management system standards sequentially. A cost analysis is also provided to evidence the improvement of the organization’s efficiency. The certificates for both management system standards were
also achieved. These findings help in confirming theoretical statement posed in the literature of the integration of management systems: integration strategy, methodology and level. The organization values this integrated implementation as very positive internally and externally, as this is one of the first organizations of the sector implementing the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
Originality/value – Although studies analyzing empirically the integration of management systems have been
widely published in recent years, this paper provides evidence that those organizations implementing integration later than others, can learn from the beginners’ experience.

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management system integration, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, small and medium size enterprise.