CSR
(Corporate Social Responsibility)
Introducing the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities of Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)
About AKM
AKM Group CSR Policy
Based on a clear understanding of the effects of our operations on the global environment and local communities, our efforts and actions related to CSR are focused on four CSR Fundamentals: Compliance, Responsible Care, Corporate Citizenship, and Respect for Employee Individuality.
As a member of Asahi Kasei Group, we, Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation and our subsidiaries (“AKM Group”) established this AKM Group CSR Policy in order to share our commitment with our stakeholders, and endorse Code of Conduct established by Responsible Business Alliance as well.
● Endeavor to Maintain Absolute Safety in All Aspects of our Business
AKM Group considers safe business practices to be a prerequisite to the sustainable development of operations. Accordingly, it conducts business throughout all sectors in accordance with relevant safety management policies and endeavors to ensure safe in every way.
● Providing Safe and High-Quality Products and Services that Customers can rely on
AKM Group continuously strives to improve its quality management system and quality assurance programs in order to provide safe and high-quality products and services.
● Carefully Managing Workplace Safety to Ensure a Safe and Comfortable Work Environment
AKM Group endeavors to secure the safety of its employees by striving to prevent occupational accidents. Accordingly, it carries out risk assessment, and takes physical preventative measures, as well as providing an appropriate instruction manual and carrying out the education and training. AKM Group also endeavors to build comfortable workplace environments and to promote the maintenance and improvement of employee health.
● Contributing to Environmental Protection and Harmony with Local Communities
AKM Group is committed to operating in harmony with the environment and with local communities and to contribute to the development of local communities through our business activities. As a part of its endeavor to reduce the burden and impact of its business on the environment, AKM Group endeavors to reduce waste, prevent air, soil and water pollution, improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
● Disclosing Corporate Information Timely and Appropriately to Society
AKM Group endeavors to disclose corporate information, where required by law, fairly, impartially, accurately, and promptly to those around us such as our customers, shareholders, investors, suppliers, employees, and local communities, and to the general public.
● Appropriate Descriptions to Customers, Provision of Safe and Reliable Products and Service
AKM Group endeavors to provide descriptions of products and services to customers, including product labeling and advertisements, that are easy to understand, not misleading, and to provide safe and reliable products and services that meet customers’ needs.
● Healthy Relationships with Customers and Government Officials
AKM Group maintains healthy relationships with customers in both the public and private sectors, performs transactions with integrity, and especially does not permit the bribery of government officials to obtain orders or to advance business operations.
● Fair Relationships with Competitors
AKM Group thoroughly complies with the competition laws and antimonopoly laws of each country, maintains relationships of fair competition with competitors, and provides products and services in a fair manner. AKM Group also makes fair and accurate advertising and promoting in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.
● Optimized Procurement and Healthy and Appropriate Relationships with Suppliers
AKM Group sets rules related to procurement, pursues optimal procurement, maintains healthy relationships with suppliers, and thoroughly follows proper procedures for transactions and payment. AKM Group takes the issue of “Conflict Minerals” seriously and continues to implement measures to ensure the transparency of our supply chain and to promote responsible mineral procurement, so as not to support conflict and inhumane conduct in conflict-affected and high-risk areas. AKM Group also requests its suppliers to observe the AKM Group Supplier Code of Conduct, and it works closely with the entire supply chain to fulfill its social responsibilities.
● Respect for Human Rights and Diversity
AKM Group respects individuals’ basic human rights and diversity, and endeavors to provide a workplace that enables anyone to be actively engaged. AKM Group pays appropriate wages to workers, and provides benefits in accordance with applicable laws, and does not make employee work in excess of the maximum hours set by the applicable laws.
AKM Group also respects the employees’ right to join union, bargain collectively and engage in union activities in accordance with applicable laws.
● Performing Work with Integrity and Responsibility
AKM Group expects each individual employee to perform his or her work independently with integrity and a sense of responsibility.
● Compliance with Accounting and Tax Rules, Protecting Company Property
AKM Group protects the value of tangible and intangible company property by thoroughly performing proper accounting and tax treatment in conformity with the laws and relevant regulations and appropriate management of company property.
● Protecting and Managing Information
AKM Group thoroughly protects information security, including protection of personal information and customer information and proper management of documents. AKM Group acquires, stores, processes, transfers, protects, uses and/or destroys personal information in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection laws.
● Protecting and Respecting Intellectual Property Rights
AKM Group promotes the acquisition and protection of its own intellectual property rights, and endeavors to respect the intellectual property rights of others.
● Compliance with Laws and Regulations, Practicing Corporate Ethics
AKM Group endeavors to thoroughly comply with the laws and regulations of each country, and to prepare and appropriately apply internal company rules. When judgement cannot be made based on laws, regulations, and internal company rules, each action must be based on the utmost integrity.
CSR Procurement
AKM group established ‘AKM Group Supplier Code of Conduct’ to fulfill AKM CSR commitment mentioned above, and expects support and cooperation of its suppliers through the supply chains.
AKM group requests its suppliers to comply with this code, in addition to the observance of applicable laws and regulations and social norms, and to actively and continuously conduct corporate social responsibility activities.
ESH & QA (Environment, Health, Safety, and Quality Assurance) Policy
We give the utmost consideration to environmental protection, quality assurance, operational safety, workplace safety and hygiene, and health maintenance, throughout the product life cycle from R&D to disposal, as preeminent management tasks in all operations.
ESH & QA Management framework
As a member of the Asahi Kasei Group, Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) views environmental and safety activities as a pillar of CSR based on our common philosophy and policy.AKM's ESH management system is shown in the diagram below.
The President of the AKM Group is responsible for ESH management. Officers are assigned to assist the President as persons responsible for ESH. They also provide instructions to each office through the deliberation with AKM's ESH Division and branch managers." The ESH Department has been established under the direct control of Persons Responsible for the ESH (Officer) to support the smooth implementation of instructions and orders.
Under this system, the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle is implemented for continuous improvement of these activities.
Environment Policy and Management
Deeply aware of the responsibility of the corporation for preservation of the global environment, irreplaceable for humankind, the Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) conducts every phase of corporate operation, from product development to production, use and disposal, with consideration and care for environment, safety and health.
With the prevention of environmental pollution accident and zero emission as its basic policies, each division sets an environmental target at the beginning of the year. Environmental protection activity is established by all plants and departments introducing the environmental management system (ISO14001).
At the beginning of the year, activities for target achievement are planned. The status of achievement is regularly checked and additional measures are taken where necessary to ensure the goal is achieved by the end of the year.To check whether these PDCA cycles are properly operated, we train internal auditors and conduct mutual audit with other divisions. In addition to the voluntary audit, we regularly conduct an audit via a certification authority to ensure continuation of certification and steady operation of the management system.
Compliance with International Standard (ISO14001)
Certification for the ISO14001 international standard for environmental management systems has been obtained by each separate region of AKM.
AKM 's business operations involve the use of large amounts of chemical substances. We implement measures under our ISO 14001 environmental management system to prevent pollution-causing accidents. In addition to our efforts toward the achievement of a low-carbon society and toward the establishment of a recycling-oriented society, we also take measures to help preserve biodiversity.
Conflict Minerals Management Policy
Many activities are expanding worldwide in order to constrain “Conflict Minerals” sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries, some of which serve as a source of funding for armed groups that commit human rights abuses, including laws and regulations such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.
At Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, we take this issue seriously and continue to implement measures to ensure the transparency of our supply chain and to promote responsible mineral procurement, so as not to support conflict and inhumane conduct in these countries.
CSR Report
Asahi Kasei Report
The Asahi Kasei Group’s annual business activities are described, as well as business strategies and other information.