SANYO Group regards compliance (the observing of applicable laws and internal rules and the acting on ethics) as an important basis for continuity of business operation. We established the SANYO Electric Group Code of Conduct and Ethics, to be applied to our executives and employees working at Sanyo all over the world. The Code of Conduct and Ethics provides guidelines for day-to-day work and other corporate activities from the perspective of compliance.
We have established a compliance promotion system, led by the Chief Supervisor (President) and the Compliance Officer (selected from among executives). In addition, compliance leaders appointed by head office, each division play a central role in promoting compliance efforts. Compliance leaders ensure adherence to the Code of Conduct and Ethics and prevent violation of laws and regulations.
Compliance involves various areas, among which we have designated key compliance areas that require Group-wide commitment. These key areas include compliance with anti-trust law, export control, personal information protection, product quality and health and safety. For each of these key areas we have developed internal rules, according to which management is exercised.
For early detection of and response to compliance-related issues, we have installed Compliance Hotlines inside and outside the Company, as service desks to receive inquiries from and offer consultations to our employees. The contents of inquiries from employees and consultations are reported to Chief Supervisor and Compliance Officer, however, based on the guidance, measures such as investigation and assistance for improvement are forwarded.
In order to prevent the materialization of a major risk that affects business operations, or in order to minimize damage in the case of such an occurrence, it is necessary to analyze risk potential, and to quickly identify and take appropriate measures for a risk that has occurred. In addition to compliance promotion, the Sanyo Group has placed importance on risk management for the improvement and strengthening of its internal control system. Integrated risk management is being implemented for the entire group including consolidated subsidiaries.
Sanyo has designated on executive as Chief Supervisor, and has set up a group-wide risk management office that supports the Chief Supervisor, in order to conduct risk management throughout the Group.
In fiscal 2007, a risk management system based on JIS Q 2001 (Japanese Industrial Standard) “Guidelines for development and implementation of risk management system ” was introduced on a trial basis. In fiscal 2008, full-scale implementation of this system was carried out group-wide. Specifically, Sanyo is performing organizational and ongoing risk management to promote risk identification, evaluation, management, and revision on the departmental level, according to the Sanyo Electric Group Risk Management Policies.
Past risk and response cases, such as large-scale disasters, health and safety accidents, and product quality problems, are put into a group database and shared on a special intranet site. This is done in order to realize rapid and effective risk response while preventing similar disasters or accidents.
The Sanyo Group recognizes the importance of properly handling confidential information relating to its own group management, business, and financial results, as well as confidential information received from other parties. Therefore, Sanyo has established clear policies for the handling of confidential information in the group's Code of Conduct and Ethics, and is carrying out appropriate management and operation based on internal rules.
Sanyo has created a management system for the handling of confidential information centered on the group supervisor and department chiefs, and is taking thorough steps to prevent leakage or unauthorized use of confidential information and to ensure its proper handling. Moreover, in order to protect electronic data from destruction, falsification, interception, theft, or virus infection, in addition to preventing its leakage or unauthorized use, Sanyo has established operation rules based on internal rules, and is implementing safety measures for its IT systems.
The protection of customers’ personal information has been stated as a specific item in the Code of Conduct and Ethics, and this information is gathered, managed, and used within an appropriate scope based on Sanyo’s personal information protection policies and internal rules. Sanyo also posts related information on its intranet site and distributes “Personal Information Reminder Cards” to all its employees in order to ensure the complete understanding of its workforce. The same measures are taken to protect the personal information of employees.
Awareness raising for these information security measures is carried out through the distribution of an Information Security Guidebook, and the training of responsible managers in each department. In this way, Sanyo is striving to maintain information security and to prevent any problems.
