The DACH Study on integrated management systems examines how companies implement their management systems in practice. What benefits do they expect, what challenges do they face, and which issues will become more important in the future? Until now, there has been a lack of up-to-date and comprehensive data to provide empirically sound answers to these questions for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

To close this research gap, the integrated management systems team (TIMS) at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, with support from TÜV Rheinland, Quality Austria, and the Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems (SQS), conducted a broad-based survey as well as supplementary focus group workshops. Between 2023 and 2025, the team conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the results.

For the first time, this study provides comprehensive insights into the practical implementation of integrated management systems in the DACH region. It reveals that quality, environmental, energy, and occupational safety management systems remain the most widely used and also play a central role in their integration.

About half of the companies surveyed have been using an integrated management system for at least ten years. About two-thirds rate their integration project as successful or a complete success. At the same time, topics such as climate and Risk management, as well as sustainability, are gaining importance for the further development of management systems.

The study also examines which factors support the implementation and further development of an IMS, what challenges companies face in this process, and how integrated management systems are organizationally embedded and documented.

The findings were presented and discussed during the research process in numerous professional and practical settings—including at the SQS Auditors’ Day and at networking events hosted by the German Society for Quality (DGQ). Their publication as a DIN white paper by DIN Media now serves as special recognition of their professional relevance.

This makes the research findings available free of charge to companies and organizations that operate, implement, or plan to implement an Integrated Management System. Universities, consulting firms, and other interested parties can also make use of the white paper.

The findings are also already being incorporated into continuing education programs. In collaboration with SQS, a seminar on integrated management systems was developed and is now offered in Switzerland. In the future, a TIMS continuing education course will also be available through DIN Media.

Expertise in integrated management systems is also firmly anchored in the HSZG’s curriculum. In the Master's degree programme in integrated management systems, students benefit from the integration of current research with real-world business challenges.

Management systems are constantly evolving in response to new requirements and conditions. For this reason, the DACH study is scheduled to be conducted again in five years at the latest. In this way, the researchers aim to highlight changes and identify emerging issues early on.