Integrated management systems in Indian manufacturing organizations : Some key findings from an empirical study

Purpose – The integration of management systems has become a popular subject for research and practice. However, there is a considerable lack of literature on integrated management systems (IMS) in developing countries. This study aims to examine the current status, motivation and perceived benefits of IMS in manufacturing organizations in India. Design/methodology/approach – To examine the status of IMS in the Indian manufacturing sector, a survey was sent to 270 manufacturing organizations in India using a questionnaire as the survey instrument. Only 60 organizations participated in the survey. Subsequently, one case study was undertaken. Findings – The research reflects the status of IMS in India. The majority of the responding organizations are implementing IMS. The findings suggest that the most important motivating factors are to promote synergies among different management systems (MS), to combine objectives of different MS, and to avoid duplication of procedures. The perceived benefits of IMS are reduction in the duplication of policies, procedures and work instructions, reduced costs, higher transparency, time saving, and synergy between MS. Research limitations/implications – One of the major limitations of this study is the small sample size, which precludes generalization of the findings. This study provides a starting point for further research in developing countries. Practical implications – This research makes a contribution to the existing body of knowledge on IMS and provides results of value to IMS researchers and practitioners. Originality/value – This paper offers key insights into IMS implementation in India. This will encourage manufacturing organizations in India and other developing countries to adopt IMS.