Fair Management
Compliance and Risk Management
Initiatives
in ComplianceVOICE:Committed
to establishing a compliance structureInitiatives
in Risk ManagementInitiatives
in Information Management
It is impossible to “create new values that satisfy stakeholders and are friendly to the earth” without management based on compliance (*A), which prevents any illegal and unfair practices. Alps upholds fair conduct at the heart of its corporate policies.
Alps Electric has established a global structure where the Headquarters Compliance Office and Compliance Officers (*B) assigned to seven global locations work together to enforce compliance. Internal reporting systems (ethics hotlines) were set up in North America and Korea over 2005 and 2006, and we are now examining appropriate reporting systems for the Greater China, ASEAN and European regions.
Educational programs for compliance at Alps Electric include regular workshops for new employees and managers. In addition, an anonymous questionnaire on compliance issues was conducted for employees, where the company then clarified its response to opinions on the intranet. In fiscal 2007, we will introduce an e-learning course, helping to promote a Group-wide educational structure.
(*A) Compliance: Conducting corporate activity in accordance with laws, regulations, social ethics and norms. Compliance requires a framework to ensure corporate ethics, which involves internal rules and manuals for business procedures.
(*B) Compliance Officer: A person responsible for compliance within a company. A Compliance Officer may set up organizations such as a compliance committee, which would serve as a framework for enforcing compliance.
Karen Hymes
Compliance Officer,
Alps Electric
(North America)
My role as General Counsel is to ensure Alps operates in compliance with the laws and regulations of the United States. I also serve as the chief guardian of Alps Electric (North America)’s Code of Conduct and Ethics. In furtherance of these goals, I implemented Alps North America’s ethics policy to address confidentiality, fraud and conflicts of interest in 2004 and established the ethics hotline in 2005. In 2006, Alps North America established its compliance policies on contractual issues, antitrust, customs/export control, the environment, and intellectual property.
Alps is committed to conducting business in full compliance with the highest ethical and business standards. I am committed to enforcing those standards.
Business Continuity Management
One important managerial issue at Alps Electric is risk management from the perspective of Business Continuity Management (BCM). Using Business Impact Analysis (BIA) methodology, we identify risks that may disrupt operations such as earthquakes, fires, and other internal or external factors, then examine potential property damage and opportunity loss. Based on this analysis, we identify risks that necessitate priority measures, then develop preventive strategies, safeguards and recovery strategies to compile a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan (BCP), which minimizes impact and interruptions to business. BCP effectiveness is analyzed using BIA regularly, completing the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle.
Reinforcing Information Security
In fiscal 2006, a solution to prevent information leaks was installed at all domestic bases. “Document Security” involves robust security measures that encrypt documents, prevent external transfer of information, and restrict data use, which all help to prevent classified information from leaking to external bodies. In fiscal 2007, this system will be installed at all Alps Electric Global bases.
Enhancing Our Global IT Infrastructure
Since June 2006, Alps Electric has operated CAMPS, a global system for real-time exchange and sharing of information among all Alps Electric Global bases. This system has enabled all bases to share and adopt standardized business procedures, enabling efficient response to customers’ needs, and improvements in business procedure quality and visibility.
