Integrated Management Systems in Latvian Enterprises. Result of Empirical Research

Standards in different areas - quality, environment, occupational health and safety - are tools for deployment of sustainable development in any enterprise regardless of its size or sector of industry. Due to common principles, application of PDSA cycle and continuous improvement concepts in management system standards ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007, as well as, development of integrated management system is a comprehensive approach for ensuring efficient and effective operation of management systems conforming to two or three of the above mentioned standards. In order to understand practical aspects concerning development and implementation of integrated management systems in enterprises of Latvia, including quality, environmental, occupational health and safety management systems, a research study was carried out in November 2010. The research was initiated by inviting 119 enterprises to participate in a mail survey and 26 enterprises responding (22% response rate), which shared their experience on reasons for development and implementation of quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety management and integrated management system. Self-assessment of the degree of management systems integration has been performed by enterprises, using the self-assessment methodology for evaluation of the degree of integration, elaborated by the authors