Total Compliance Management (TCM) is a complete approach to handling compliance throughout your entire business. Similar to Total Quality Management (TQM), it connects with every department, process, company culture, and system, covering all areas of compliance. From a compliance standpoint, TCM includes these key areas:
Regulatory Compliance
- Your company’s policies and procedures must follow all relevant laws, regulations, and legal requirements.
- Compliance means your business follows both legal rules and internal policies to prevent legal problems, fines, and harm to your reputation.
Employee Compliance
- Employment practices must comply with labor laws.
- Employee qualifications and work processes should match job duties and standards.
Workplace Compliance
- Your workplace must meet health and safety standards, such as OSHA rules.
Equipment Compliance
- Tools, machinery, and other equipment should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines.
Vendor / Supplier Compliance
- Your company’s compliance also depends on vendors and business partners following applicable rules and standards.
What are the basic pillars of Total Compliance Management?
The key components of an effective compliance management system include:
Compliance Culture and Communication
- Make compliance a core part of your company’s culture
- This means that ethics and legal requirements are more than just items on a checklist—they are actively practiced
- Ensure everyone, from executives to frontline employees, understands why compliance matters
- Clearly define roles and responsibilities for compliance
Continuous Improvement
- Regularly review and improve your compliance processes to ensure ongoing effectiveness
- External and internal compliance requirements are constantly changing, so your program must keep up
- Periodically assess all compliance areas for weaknesses and opportunities to improve
Employee Focus
- Use tools and processes that help your company follow all relevant rules and regulations
- Ensure employees comply with labor laws, company policies, and possess the necessary qualifications
Process Approach
- Develop clear internal policies, procedures, and guidelines that guide employee behavior
- Address compliance with both external laws and internal standards
- While management holds overall responsibility for compliance, it’s recommended to establish a compliance team led by a compliance manager. This team should have the resources it needs—such as budget, trained staff, and software—to maintain compliance across the organization
Effective Communication
- Maintain clear and documented communication with all stakeholders
- Engage employees actively in compliance efforts
- Use formal communication channels to share compliance information with employees and other stakeholders
System Approach and Integrated Tools
- Leverage digital tools to detect compliance issues and identify risks early
Advice and Supportive Tools for Total Compliance Management
Employee and Vendor Compliance Training
- Hold regular training sessions for employees and vendors
Use Compliance Management Software
- Software streamlines compliance by bringing all key processes onto a single digital platform—from whistleblower reporting to approval workflows for gifts and invitations.
- The more complex your compliance needs, the more important it is to have a reliable compliance management tool
Risk Management
- Integrate your risk management processes with compliance efforts
- Remember: Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is one system; risk, quality, security, and compliance management should all be part of your overall business management
Compliance Audits
- Audits help your organization understand its current compliance status and identify areas for improvement
- Think of audits as a trusted partner that provides recommendations and practical tips to enhance your compliance program