If you’re looking to simplify complex management systems and make them more manageable, then the answer is yes. You do have to consider integrating quality, safety and environment (QSE) into your company’s main Project Management (PM) process.
Managers make use of a QSE system to help them identify crucial issues and manage risks within the areas of health and safety, quality and environment. Historically, these risk areas are viewed differently from a company’s core Project Management (PM) process. That’s why a traditional QSE system is often kept apart from the mainstream project management (PM) system, as if it emanates from a totally disparate corporate structure, and therein lies the problem. Fortunately in the 1950s, Deming and Juran in Japan showed the importance of viewing those areas as a fundamental part of doing business. Since then, QSE managers and PM’s began to reap the benefits of working with a unified system.
Here’s what to expect when merging several management systems including QSE into one.
A More Accurate Project Management (PM) Process for Determining Objectives and Clarifying Goals
The failure of most companies stem from having fragmented management systems each of which has its own quality plan, environmental plan and safety plan. Rather than having departments work on project-based goals, these companies are better off with a simplified management system that enables employees to seamlessly work together.
Once clear goals are established, managers can start integrating functions and justifying roles and responsibilities. Take this as an opportunity to reduce costs and increase profitability by avoiding work duplication and enhancing productivity.
A Project Management (PM) Process-Oriented System with More Focus on Auditing
Keeping QSE attuned to your company’s mainstream PM system cuts back time spent on documentation so you’re able to concentrate on auditing and ensuring that all requirements are being met. This solves the common problem of having too many data sources yet too little analysis suffered by an outmoded or indeed, multiple systems.
An integrated PM system allows for more effective risk assessment and control. Using it, you can compare and analyze risks coming from health and safety hazards, environmental dangers and process failures. You can also better prioritize issues and wisely allocate resources when implementing control measures.
Effective Communication is Crucial to Successfully Managing Key Areas
Making sure that your QSM works in unison with the overall PM system demands effective communication, whether it’s top-down, bottom-up or horizontal. Two elements are essential to effective communication: people and platform. While there’s a reduced chance of system failure in an integrated management system, it needs the support of people who can work together and a robust PM platform.
Hire people who are good at what they do and choose the cutting edge of PM tools and software. These can help your company transition from a disparate system into a centralized system.
Project management tools deserve special mention since they can either facilitate or prevent you from implementing a holistic management approach. Be sure to choose one that lets you do the following:
•   real-time communication, site diaries and daily reports
•   automatic filing of emails and project documents
•   support for geographically-dispersed teams
•   online cloud integration and offline support
•   ability to use mobile devices to easily record information captured in the field
More importantly, work with flexible software that allows you to customize features and applications. You’ll need this when working with different teams on various projects. IPM is a good candidate especially in terms of extensibility in areas such as OHS procedures and governance. Companies using IPM are able to build a single solution that fits all of their needs since it incorporates the flexibility of Microsoft Dynamics CRM with customizable workflows, dashboards and field labels. So there is no need to buy separate programs to manage key areas.
