The harmonized structure (HS) is the skeleton of ISO management system standards consisting of common clause numbering, common text and common terms. It was previously referred to as the High Level Structure (HLS).
The common clause structure
ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 50001 and other management system standards share the same main headings: context of the organization, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation and improvement.
Each standard adds the requirements specific to its own discipline to this skeleton.
Practical benefit
For organizations running more than one management system, the common structure brings a clear advantage:
- The context, interested parties, competence, documented information and internal audit sections can be merged into a single system
- Integrated internal audits can be conducted
- A single management review meeting is sufficient
- Certification audits can be combined to reduce audit days
Its limit
The common structure does not mean that discipline-specific requirements disappear. Environmental aspects, hazard identification or information security risk assessment remain specific to their own standard.
The harmonized structure is a direct time and cost advantage for organizations running several standards together. How the common clauses are merged is addressed in the combined programme of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 trainings. You can send us your request for an integrated programme.