An integrative approach to management systems and business excellence

Traditionally, quality (ISO, 9001), safety (OHSAS, 18001) and environmental (ISO, 14001) management systems are integrated. This study developed the SECQA Model which integrated the latter systems and proposed aids management and corporate governance in the integration process. Questionnaires were sent to thirty manufacturing and service organizations in the KwaZulu-Natal region to elicit the suitability of the SECQA model. The majority of the respondents indicated that they would be keen to use the SECQA model in their organization as integration of management systems would assist them in reducing their workloads. They also believed that the range of management systems selected was conducive to the trends of the country and would reduce resources used and be better than their current practice. The model can be adopted by manufacturing and service type organizations in any country as a springboard to promote business excellence.