Integrating sustainability aspects into an integrated management system

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the further development of an Excel-based integrated management system for the tool and cutlery industry regarding sustainability. The tool’s actual status allows integrating and implementing requirements considering work safety, environmental and quality management and a self-assessment for checking the level of requirements’ fulfilment. However, the topic of sustainability and requirements and risks going along with it are of great importance for the mostly small and medium companies of this industry. Therefore, the Excel-tool is being enhanced by integrating the requirements of risk, energy and sustainability management. The paper presents the advanced Excel-tool.

Design/methodology/approach

The base for advancing the Excel-tool has been analysing the status quo of sustainability management in the companies. Moreover, a matrix for comparing the requirements has been enlarged regarding the standards for sustainability, risk and energy management and builds the base for further developing of the Excel-tool.

Findings

This analysis has shown the need for action, regarding the topic of sustainability. Hence, the Excel-tool has been enlarged regarding the assessment of fulfilling the requirements of different management systems. It allows small- and medium-sized enterprises a detection of need for action to comply with the requirements of different management systems with minimal afford. By this, an easily evaluation and improvement of the companies’ management systems is enabled.

Originality/value

The tool enables companies to easily evaluate the state of their integrated management system by themselves and assists when implementing additional management systems.

Citation

Klute-Wenig, S. and Refflinghaus, R. (2015), "Integrating sustainability aspects into an integrated management system", The TQM Journal, Vol. 27 No. 3, pp. 303-315. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-12-2013-0128