Code of Conduct. for social environmental economic responsibility

Transcription

1 Code of Conduct for social environmental economic responsibility

2 ÿ Table of content 1 On the ELMOS Semiconductor AG Code of Conduct 3 2 Responsibility for our company Targeting sustainability General demands on ethical conduct Law-abidance Responsibility for our company s reputation 4 3 Responsibility for our employees Staff policy and corporate culture Professional training Workplace safety and health protection Work environment and working conditions 7 4 Responsibility for our environment Eco-management system Basic principles of our environmental policy Environmental monitoring Responsible use of resources 9 5 Responsibility for society Youth work and job training Social commitment Regional commitment and structural change 10 6 Summary and outlook 11 2

3 On the ELMOS Semiconductor AG Code of Conduct Responsibility for our company 1 On the ELMOS Semiconductor AG Code of Conduct This Code provides a binding framework for the conduct of ELMOS and its employees, covering various aspects of sustainable and responsible action. This conduct is expected from all ELMOS Group employees towards the company, their co-workers, and third parties. ELMOS is committed to the principle of sustainability and shows this commitment in its day-to-day actions. We consider the principle of sustainability a long-term task of optimizing equally important social, environmental, and economic demands placed on us by the economy and society as well as by owners, employees, customers, and suppliers. We regard the exchange of ideas and the constructive cooperation with all interest groups involved as necessary. 2 Responsibility for our company 2.1 Targeting sustainability ELMOS aims for sustained profitability and the provision of attractive returns for the owners. This can only be achieved if the following objectives are pursued, creating added value in the long run: ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ Fulfilling our social responsibility Taking care of the environment Providing job prospects for our employees Offering competitive prices, outstanding quality and delivery reliability to our customers Future-oriented research and innovation 2.2 General demands on ethical conduct Our action is based on values such as honesty, openness, trust, and mutual respect as well as social responsibility. These are considered basic values for conduct within the company as well as towards third parties. 2.3 Law-abidance The active and competent conduct of business in compliance with applicable law, orders and regulations as well as with high ethical principles is our company s imperative. Each employee must observe the legal provisions established by the rules whose framework he or she acts within. Violations of the law must be avoided by all means. In the case of a violation, the employee responsible will face disciplinary action for breach of employment contract. elmos code of conduct

4 Responsibility for our company Responsibility for our employees 2.4 Responsibility for our company s reputation Our company s reputation as appraised by the public and within the company itself is established essentially by each employee s appearance, action, and behavior. Therefore every single employee is responsible for the company. Inappropriate behavior shown by just one employee may be sufficient to damage our company considerably. Additional aspects with great impact on our company s reputation are discussed in the following. 3 Responsibility for our employees We regard our employees as our most valuable asset and as a great power behind achieving our business targets. For this reason, we are aware of the social responsibility we have as their employer and we fulfill this responsibility with the utmost attention. 3.1 Staff policy and corporate culture The ELMOS Group is a modern and dynamic company. For years we have been one of the few companies in Dortmund creating new jobs. The employee turnover has been very low, reflecting the sense of continuity and team spirit experienced in our company. As a technology company, ELMOS profits from the employees know-how to a great extent. Their motivation, understanding, and flexibility are the prerequisite to the company s long-term success. Especially with regard to the development of new products and processes, the employees constitute the deciding criterion for innovative force and growth. At the main location in Dortmund, in Germany s most-populated federal state North Rhine-Westphalia, ELMOS is able to recruit from a great number of welltrained young engineers as there are more than 50 universities and colleges in Dortmund s vicinity. As the sole semiconductor manufacturer in the region, ELMOS holds a unique position. It therefore keeps attracting satisfying numbers of young professionals even in times of declining student numbers in the engineering departments. We have cooperated closely with the neighboring universities, colleges, and institutes and many employees now in executive functions once started out as ELMOS interns. A great number of ELMOS employees have been with the company for many years. We consider it another strong point of our company that cultural diversity and internationality are cherished in the work environment nad specifically fostered. We employ people from more than 20 nations and regard the international climate made possible by the influences of the different cultures as a positive contribution to the company as 4

5 Responsibility for our employees a whole. That is because the teamwork of many heterogeneous people facilitates the necessary increase in flexibility, creativity, and innovative force. Internal corporate communication The open and cooperative style of our corporate culture can be found in all areas of our company. The principle of open doors is therefore an important maxim of our corporate culture. Its realization in the day-to-day work environment is shown for instance by the fact that superiors on all levels may be approached by any employee at any time. Owing to the company size, most employees know each other which in turn effects the entire company s work climate positively. Another indication of the positive atmosphere at work discernible from the outside is the personal form of address with Du used between all executives and employees within the company. By an honest and open corporate communication, we make sure our employees are always informed about news and topics relevant to the company. Corporate communication is practiced via a comprehensive intranet as well as the issue of various statements, ranging from management reports to postings at the bulletin board. This information culture helps us to master the challenges of the competition by means of an exceptionally motivated willingness to perform. Employee participation We achieve our employees long-term commitment to the company by granting them a profit bonus within the scope of annual share option programs, among other things. By the purchase of an interest in the company, our employees can participate in their work s success directly, boosting their motivation and, above all, the commitment to the company. The corporate staff suggestion scheme, also of great importance, is used primarily by employees in the production areas to a great extent. After determining the individual suggestions usefulness and feasibility, varying premium payments are made. Employee representation In the entire ELMOS Group, management and employees work together trustingly. An employee representative committee with its own statutes represents the employees interests in numerous subcommittees both towards each other and the management. There are, among others, subcommittees for social issues, human resources, employee promotion, and economic issues. 3.2 Professional training The commitment and potential of well-trained employees are a cornerstone securing and impro-ving the long-term competitiveness of ELMOS. It is therefore an important concern of ours to invest in our employees in providing opportunities for both elmos code of conduct

6 Responsibility for our employees in-house and external professional trai-ning and in motivating and encouraging them to participate. Among the in-house training programs are company orientation courses designed to make it easier for new employees to start working for the company. In these courses, we give new co-workers an understanding of our products and production sites by conducting tours and talks. From the beginning of their employment, we create a climate that is characterized by frankness and information exchange. We also want to give our employees the opportunity to exploit their individual potential. To this end, qualified further training is constantly provided, such as English and French language courses. In order to fulfill our environmental protection measures, our employees are trained in qualified courses. The demand for the employees eco-related training and other training measures is determined in cooperation with the executives specifically for every workplace. The employees are trained in internal and external courses. Examples for in-house training are annual workplace instructions, such as the handling of hazardous substances, clean room training, and first-aid courses. Every employee involved in ecorelated and hazardous activities is regularly trained either by corporate representatives or external service providers. In addition, our employees inform themselves of current legal requirements concerning their fields of responsibility independently. Our corporate representatives gain their required expert knowledge by external training. Further training measures our employees are obliged to attend by law are carried out at least in compliance with the required intervals and always take place during working hours. Generally we awov ourselves to professional training as an important component of the continuous improvement of everyone s capability. 3.3 Workplace safety and health protection We are committed to provide our employees with a safe and healthy work environment at all times. All business transactions take account of health, safety, and ecological concerns. We set ourselves the goal to minimize hazards and risks at all workplaces and follow our way consistently in order to protect the health and well-being of our employees, suppliers, customers, and visitors. Workplace analyses are conducted regularly, at least as often as legal stipulations require, enabling us to guarantee workplace safety in the long run. In addition, our employees are prepared for dealing with hazardous substances in special training courses. Thus we make sure their awareness for possible hazards remains heightened. 6

7 Responsibility for our employees Responsibility for our environment 3.4 Work environment and working conditions We have created a work environment which is supportive of mutual respect, openness, and individuality. Our staff policy s principles and activities make their contribution to devise jobs that offer any employee the opportunity for professional and personal development. We also make an effort to accommodate our employees individual life situations and needs by offering various working hours schemes. As an example, our production workers may choose between the different schemes within the context of continuous and discontinuous shift work systems. The integration of handicapped employees into our day-to-day work routine is taken for granted in our company. It is our very special concern to be a responsible employer for these co-workers in particular. Further components enabling free development of professional potential and employee-friendly work environment, spacious air-conditioned premises and the opportunity to participate in in-house sports activities such as back exercises, badminton and soccer, make their contribution in line with the external framework. By providing the employee center which contains a cafeteria and a fitness center, opened in the year 2005, we want to create even more attractive working conditions for our employees, thereby further develop empathy with and dedication for the company. 4 Responsibility for our environment Protection of the environment is one of our corporate guidelines. Safeguarding the future requires responsible action today. 4.1 Eco-management system We have implemented an environmental protection management system which at least meets the requirements of DIN EN ISO Its foundation is our environmental policy discussed in the following. This policy establishes binding definitions for all employees environmentally compatible conduct. Aided by our eco-management system, we assure legal certainty. Responsibilities are precisely assigned, making sure that all prevailing legal requirements are met and future developments will be responded to with sufficient forward planning. Our aim to minimize environmental damages mirrors our pronounced sense of social responsibility. We want to contribute our share to making it possible for our employees and the local residents to continue living in a healthy environment. This is why we adopt our principle of continuous improvement not only to the eco-management system but also to our contribution to environmental protection as well. elmos code of conduct

8 Responsibility for our environment 4.2 Basic principles of our environmental policy For us, the following items describe the basic principles of a comprehensive and efficient environmental policy: Observing the law Laws and regulations for environmental protection are rigidly adhered to, as are other requirements the company has committed itself to. Minimization of environmental hazards Environmental aspects concern all processes and behavior patterns in the company. Above all, these imply economy and efficiency in handling resources, the use of economical, most up-to-date technology, and precautions against accidents and disruptions of business. Employees sense of responsibility Each employee pays attention to ecologically aware conduct. Actively heightening the sense of responsibility by employee training is a permanent management task. Environmental protection management ELMOS applies an environmental protection management which is subject to constant development. Part of this is an organization with well-defined responsibilities and tasks. Continuous improvement The objective of our environmental protection management system is a systematic and continuous improvement of our company s eco-protection performance. Communication We cultivate an open dialog with customers, employees, authorities, and interested circles. We take the suppliers eco-protection performance into consideration in contract negotiations. 4.3 Environmental monitoring The lawfulness of all actions carried out at ELMOS is monitored and documented internally and externally. The operation of our block-type thermal power plant, of water treatment and neutralization facilities for instance is examined regularly by external specialists. In in-house monitoring, ELMOS analyzes the eco-related data of its activities. This analysis is updated continuously and taken into account for the definition of eco-protection targets. Within the framework of an eco-management program, responsibilities, financial means and time frames are defined for the realization of these targets. 8 Another procedure identifies all relevant legal provisions and other environmental requirements ELMOS has committed itself to adhere to. The management system s particulars are audited at regular intervals for conformity with ISO and the results are documented.

9 Responsibility for our environment Responsibility for society 4.4 Responsible use of resources Traditionally, semiconductor manufacture is associated with high energy requirements. By the operation of a block-type thermal power plant, ELMOS has used the combined heat and power cycle since 1990, providing an eco-friendly and economical energy supply. Furthermore, the economical use of the valuable resource water is quite natural for us. ELMOS has achieved a continued reduction of the relative water consumption by the optimization of numerous relevant processes. Our waste management s principal aim is waste reduction. Waste which cannot be avoided is recycled as far as recycling is technically feasible and ecologically advisable. Waste of the highest ecological relevance requires closest monitoring. 5 Responsibility for society It is important to us as a company to accept responsibility for the society we operate in as well. For us, youth work and the offer of job training belong to social responsibility as does the support of charity organizations. We mean to make a contribution to society for the purpose of sustainability and to accept social responsibility even outside our business interests. 5.1 Youth work and job training Well-trained young professionals are a prerequisite for a company s sustained success. But we also consider it our social responsibility to give young people the opportunity of qualified job training. Today s trainees will be our experts tomorrow. For this reason, in the year 2004 we took on 20 more trainees in addition to the annually scheduled trainees on occasion of the 20 th company anniversary and in view of the difficult situation on the training market. Rounghly ten percent of the Dortmund employees are trainees. Roughly half of each new class of trainees are typically trained in the profession of microtechnologist, a job outline which ELMOS decisively helped formulate, introduced at the end of the nineties. Apart from microtechnologists, we train in a number of professions, suiting the different interests and talents of young people. Some of these professions are physics lab technician, electrician for industrial technology, clerk for office communication, storekeeper, industrial clerk, information and telecommunication electrician, IT specialist, IT clerk, and electrician. It is our particular ambition to offer employment in our company to all trainees after successfully passing their finals. Starting in the year 2001, we have also established a training association together with the educational institution RAG Bildung, offering employees the opportunity to undergo retraining for becoming a microtechnologist within one to three years. ELMOS has provided the training center s equipment. This association makes it possible for us to train and recruit even more professionals in the field of microsystems elmos code of conduct

10 Responsibility for society technology; and retraining enables employees to find work in a future-oriented industry with good prospects. 5.2 Social commitment As a responsible employer we consider it our task and obligation to give support to employees who find themselves in an emergency. Apart from other support measures, we try to realize this aim by financial aid out of a relief fund created particularly for this purpose and dedicated to the memory of its initiator and ELMOS former CEO for numerous years, Knut Hinrichs. In the past years we have tried to contribute to relieve acute distress, domestic and abroad, in a great number of fundraising campaigns. We collected donations for the tsunami victims in SouthEast Asia and provided funds to the hurricane victims in the South of the U.S. Our contributions objective is our attempt at making it easier for the people concerned to return to the day-to-day lives. We also donate to the SOS Children s Villages on a regular basis. Of course we try to support regional organizations with financial contributions, too. As an example, we collected and delivered donations for the children s cancer ward of a local hospital. We also act as sponsor of cultural institutions, such as the Dortmund Art Club. Supporting our young people is of particular importance to us, not only within our company, but outside as well in the shape of our sponsoring activities for local soccer clubs. 5.3 Regional commitment and structural change We consider ourselves as a partner of the region and make an effort to contribute to the location s attractiveness. We feel closely connected with the Ruhr Area and have helped to bring its recent structural change from industry to technology location about. The Dortmund location continues to play a deciding part in our future business decisions. As shown by expanding the production site at the Dortmund location and with the co-operation with the Fraunhofer-Institut for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems in Duisburg in the year 2005, we decidedly pursue our goals for continuing growth, strengthening our market position, and staying closely committed to the Dortmund location. In connection with this, more than 100 new jobs are going to be created in the region until the year

11 Summary and outlook 6 Summary and outlook With this Code, we want to document and lay down our manifold activities in line with our environmental, social, and economic responsibility. We have committed ourselves and will do our very best to achieve our self-defined objective of economic conduct while fulfilling the highest environmental standards and our social responsibility. We are aware that there is no alternative to maintaining social standards, paying attention to our fellow men, and protecting the environment. For this reason, we continue to work intensively on the definition and realization of our guidelines. Our intention to continuously improve sustainable processes makes clear that we will not rest on what we have achieved so far. In fact, our current achievements are a new starting point for further innovation and sustainable developments. elmos code of conduct

12 ELMOS Semiconductor AG Heinrich-Hertz-Str Dortmund Germany Telephone + 49 (0) Telefax + 49 (0)