Basic Concept
Under our Corporate Principles and Business Policy, TECHNO ASSOCIE has an unwavering commitment to contributing to society through fair business practices. We have also formulated the Charter of Corporate Behavior as a set of basic rules for earning the trust and confidence of society.
Guided by a shared awareness of these principles, we have established a framework for decision-making that ensures sound management as well as legal, appropriate, and efficient execution of business. We are also strengthening our system for monitoring and revising the aforementioned framework in an effort to raise corporate value.
Fully aware of our mission in society as a corporate entity, we will contribute to the sustainable development of society. We will do so through ongoing initiatives aimed at protecting the environment and reducing the environmental burden of our business activities.
Compliance
TECHNO ASSOCIE sees compliance as “meeting societyʼs expectations.” For us compliance goes beyond complying with laws and regulations; we are aware of societyʼs expectations of our company and expect all employees to have the mindset to meet those expectations. In order to continue to be a scandal-free group, we expect every single employee to act with honesty and integrity, and carry out initiatives to strengthen compliance throughout the entire Group to ensure that we comply with laws and regulations and fulfill our ethical responsibilities.
Compliance Promotion System (Risk Management System)
TECHNO ASSOCIEʼs Compliance Risk Management Committee handles risk and compliance matters across the Group. It carries out activities such as analyzing risks, discussing preventative measures, and issuing directions on specific recurrence prevention measures.
Examples of Compliance Initiatives
Whistleblower (Hotline) System
The Group provides internal and external points of contact for whistleblowing in each country to receive information on illegal acts, violations of laws, etc. We have formulated whistleblower system regulations to protect the confidentiality of those who report or consult and prevent them from being treated unfavorably.
Whistleblowing cases in FY2023: 6
Compliance Training
As an initiative to enhance compliance, we provide compliance training as a priority training program for each of the positions, which are new employees, general office work positions, managerial positions and managers, in Japan.
Initiatives for Anti-corruption
In order to maintain and strengthen our relationship of trust with business partners through fair business practices, we put utmost effort into activities to prevent corruption (bribery, illicit payoffs, and conflicts of interest) and competition law violations (influence peddling, dumping, price fixing, unfair trade practices, and unfair restraint of trade), and ensure that everyone in the Group is aware of these activities. We have also issued TECHNO ASSOCIE Group CSR Procurement Guidelines for business partners to promote fair business practices with our suppliers, who are our business partners, and grow together with our stakeholders.
Basic Philosophy on and Measures for Eliminating Antisocial Forces
In our Charter of Corporate Behavior, we clearly state a basic policy to stand decisively against anti-social forces that threaten the order and safety of society.
Our HR & Administration Department works to gather information from relevant government organizations and other sources, has established an antisocial forces elimination system in collaboration with other relevant departments in the company, and ensures that employees are aware of such information through efforts such as providing internal training courses.
Risk Management
With regard to various risks that may affect our business, Compliance Risk Management Committee plays a central role in risk management and other activities, and basic principles are established, risks are identified, systems to appropriately manage risks are maintained, and measures against risks are considered. For example, we prepared risk check sheets for each major site in East and Southeast Asia. These activities are supervised by Risk Management and Compliance Committee and the divisions in charge in accordance with their respective manuals and policies. Corporate Auditors and the Internal Auditing Department monitor the risk management status of Techno Associe and its subsidiaries. In particular, in the event of the emergence of a serious risk, a task force shall be established to construct a framework for minimizing loss and damage.
Risk Management System (Compliance Promotion System)
TECHNO ASSOCIEʼs Compliance Risk Management Committee handles risk and compliance matters across the Group. It carries out activities such as analyzing risks, discussing preventative measures, and issuing directions on specific measures to prevent the recurrence of risks.
Examples of Risk Management Initiatives
Actions Against Natural Disasters
In response to the risk of natural disasters, we have formulated disaster response guidelines based on the basic policies of ensuring safety of human life, stable supply of products and services, compliance, and corporate social responsibility. The guidelines stipulate the establishment of disaster response headquarters in the event of a major disaster, and in the event of an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 5 or higher, the safety confirmation system automatically sends emails to employees at the seismic center to confirm the safety of themselves and their families as well as damages to their residences. Disaster drills are also conducted on a regular basis, based on disaster scenarios according to the risk of crisis occurrence at each site, and in preparation for the occurrence of natural disasters, we stockpile emergency supplies, including food for three days per person, at all bases and regularly update them. We have also deployed emergency storage batteries as backup power sources that allow printers used in operation to operate at our headquarters, and emergency magnesium-air batteries, primarily for charging smartphones, at each of our sites as a countermeasure in the event of a power outage.
In fiscal 2024, four-part disaster drills were conducted at the headquarters to assume large-scale earthquakes or fires. The drills included 1) roll-call training, 2) tsunami evacuation training, 3) notification, early-stage fire fighting, and evacuation route training, and 4) evacuation drills. Additionally, in response to overflowing rivers due to severe rainfall in recent years, waterproof panel installation training was held after the evacuation drill in the northern public grounds on the first floor of the main building, as a measure against the rising floodwaters. Training for installing stockpiled sandbags and water-absorbing handy sandbags was also held.
As a result of these efforts and the review of reports from each location, we are verifying and updating our guidelines and incorporating non-scenario-based training, injured-person transportation by stretcher, and disaster preparedness video sessions. Our goal is to improve the training content to raise awareness of fire prevention and disaster preparedness, ensuring we are well-prepared for any emergency.
Disaster drills
Information Security
In order to ensure information security, TECHNO ASSOCIE has established Basic Rules for Information Security that are commonly applied throughout the entire company and govern its business activities. Based on these Rules, each division or department has a set of procedures on the handling of confidential information according to the unique nature of its business in order to implement meticulous information control. Information security measures include reinforced security measures for computers, servers, and networks to prevent information leaking from within the company and unauthorized access from outside. All laptop hard disks are encrypted as well, to prevent leakage of confidential information in the event that one gets lost or stolen. In the telework environment that has been introduced with the spread of COVID-19, VPN and multifactor authentication have been implemented to ensure security against unauthorized access during remote operations. As well, company data can only be copied onto encrypted USB memory devices provided by the company. We also work to boost employees’ awareness of information security by providing e-learning courses on information security on a regular basis, as well as training that simulates targeted e-mail attacks.
Furthermore, in an effort to counteract targeted attacks and daily evolving malware, we are introducing next-generation antivirus tools and managing computers (software) used at affiliated companies, both domestically and internationally. We are also strengthening security measures for servers for external use and improving the management of confidential information.
Security Export Control
In accordance with the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act and other laws and regulations, we have established “Security Export Control Rules” which the Foreign Trade Administration Office follows as it takes the lead in proper operation of Security Export Control. All personnel involved in cargo exports and technical assistance are required to participate in e-learning courses related to Security Export Control, and for employees engaged in trading operations, a separate training course is held on classifying the applicability of List Controls.
TOP