Integrating SMS within an EASA - Compliance Monitoring System

Presented by Sofema Online (SOL) 

Managing a Safety Management System (SMS) within the framework of EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) Compliance System presents a unique set of challenges, best practices, and additional concerns as noted by the aviation industry.

Integrating SMS within the EASA Compliance Monitoring System is a complex but necessary endeavour for advancing aviation safety. The challenges of integration, including the potential for operational disruption and the risk of compliance being viewed as a mere formality, are significant but surmountable.

Introduction – SMS into Compliance or Compliance into SMS?

This is an interesting subject because Compliance / Quality is the older sibling in this story – with the EASA Organisational Management System Concept together with the Mandatory implementation of SMS. In actual fact the Compliance system effectively becomes part of the SMS process – one of the risks the SMS considers is to look at the potential(risk) of an ineffective compliance system impacting the organisation. (SMS and Compliance: A Symbiotic Relationship)

Compliance can sometimes be viewed as a box-checking exercise, rather than a means to improve safety, this can directly inhibit a genuine safety culture.

Compliance as Part of the SMS Process

The notion that the compliance system becomes a part of the SMS process reflects a progressive approach to safety management. It acknowledges that compliance risks are safety risks and that managing these risks is integral to the overall effectiveness of the SMS. This approach requires organizations to reassess how they view compliance—not as a regulatory burden but as a key element of their safety strategy. It prompts a re-evaluation of compliance activities, ensuring they are not just about adhering to regulations but about contributing to a safer operational environment.

Taking an Incremental & Progressive Viewpoint

By adopting an incremental approach to integration, organizations can minimize disruption. This involves starting with areas where SMS processes can be integrated with minimal impact on day-to-day operations, gradually expanding to more complex areas.

• Such an approach not only mitigates the risk of operational disruption but also allows for the organic growth of a safety culture, as employees begin to see safety management as an integral part of their daily activities rather than an external imposition.

Integration with Existing Compliance Challenges

• One of the primary challenges is integrating the SMS with existing operational processes without causing disruption.

>>  Many organizations struggle to weave safety management into the fabric of their operations seamlessly.

• Through strategic planning, leadership commitment, clear communication, and the use of technology, organizations can achieve a seamless integration of SMS into their compliance monitoring processes.
• The successful integration of SMS within EASA CMS requires strong leadership and clear communication.

>>  Leaders within aviation organizations must champion the integration process, demonstrating a commitment to safety that goes beyond compliance.

• This integration not only meets regulatory requirements but also enhances safety outcomes, demonstrating that compliance and safety culture are not at odds but are complementary facets of a comprehensive approach to aviation safety.
• The risk of an ineffective compliance system is not merely a regulatory concern but a critical safety issue that SMS must address.

>>  This integration challenges the traditional hierarchy between compliance and safety, suggesting a more symbiotic relationship where each informs and enhances the other.

Next Steps

Sofema Aviation Services and Sofema Online provide EASA Compliant Webinar, Classroom & Online training in over 50 Quality Assurance and Compliance Related Subjects – Please see the websites or email team@sassofia.com

 

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