Compliance, the observance of legal requirements and internal guidelines, has gained increasing importance at SMA over the last few years. Rapid growth and increasing internationalization have made SMA's business operations much more complex. We are active in more and more countries and therefore have to observe more and more different laws.
Compliance issues are receiving increasing public attention. A company's reputation and economic success can suffer significant damage from violations of laws. In this case investors and business partners ask us: "What are you doing about Compliance?" Therefore, nowadays a risk-oriented, preventive compliance strategy is more important than ever.
At SMA, Corporate Compliance coordinates our worldwide Compliance activities and assists executives, employees and our business partners whenever they have questions regarding this matter.
Compliance violations can be the result of lacking knowledge, insufficient awareness, imprudence, or even criminal activities. Corporate Compliance has the goal of systematically reducing the risk of Non-Compliance through the following measures:
Global and systematic Compliance protects every individual SMA employee, as well as the Managing and Supervisory Boards.
It is quite difficult for non-legal professionals to fully understand what the legal requirements for a certain business conduct are. Therefore, the Managing Board decided to detail our values specified in the SMA Mission Statement by establishing Business Principles. Thereby, clear guidance can be provided to each SMA employee and our business partners. These Business Principles provide the fundamental framework for correct business conduct and they are also the backbone of the new SMA compliance program.
The Business Principles were developed by a working-group consisting of members of the Works Council, the Divisions and of Corporate Functions. 10 Principles tackling the most crucial compliance risks were specified. They apply always, everywhere, and for each SMA employee and business partner.
The topic of compliance keeps gaining enormous significance within global business. An increasingly regulated environment and a strong public perception with regard to compliance, bring about constantly expanding requirements, also for SMA employees and business partners.
Gifts are a common and legitimate business practice that sometimes lead to a conflict of interest. To avoid this, the following rules and limitations must be observed by all employees when receiving gifts in the workplace (or work related gifts).
Basics Rules for the acceptance of gifts:
Like gifts, the receiving of hospitality is a common business practice that sometimes leads to a conflict of interest. The following internal rule base and scope of action has therefore been put in place to avoid such situations.
Basic Rules for Hospitality:
SMA clearly separates its social commitments from its business activities. For this reason, employees from operational divisions, such as Purchasing, are not allowed to be involved in the charitable donation process, especially requesting, accepting and forwarding donations.
SMA business partners who would like to donate to a charitable project supported by SMA should contact SMA’s Corporate Social Responsibility department (csr@SMA.de) if they have any organizational questions relating to the donation process.
Our actions are characterized by clearly defined values and principles which are laid down in our Mission Statement. Our mission statement serves as a guideline for our employees and demonstrates the principles according to which we shape our relationships with business partners, customers and the public.
The BME code of conduct encompasses fundamental rules to combat corruption and violations of cartel law, to eliminate child and compulsory labor, and to support compliance with human rights, environmental and health protection, and fair work conditions.
The UN Global Compact is a worldwide voluntary initiative with the aim of bringing the forces of the United Nations, businesses and civil society together to act in the interests of sustainable development. At the core of this initiative are ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption.
UN Global Compact »
SMA employees are welcome to contact their respective manager or Corporate Compliance when seeking answers to their questions relating to the Business Principles. Additionally, there is now a new tool within the SMA Compliance System, the SMA Speak-Up Line, which offers SMA employees as well as external parties (e.g. suppliers) the chance to report serious violations of the SMA Business Principles.
The SMA Speak-Up Line is administered through the external service provider “People Intouch,” and subject to local laws and regulations, it allows for the reporting of Compliance concerns anywhere and anytime. Such reports may also be made anonymously.
Your report will be forwarded exclusively to SMA Corporate Compliance, where it will be handled confidentially and professionally.
For more information regarding the use of the SMA Speak-Up Line, please see the FAQ section and the related data protection policy.
If you have any questions please contact the staff of the compliance department. Please use the following contact form to send a message.
