management
Greening of ManagementSAMSUNG Electronics recognizes that the environment, safety and conservation are central to all corporate activities. These considerations are fully reflected in company policy. At the same time, information on how well the company is performing is made public, helping to increase public trust in the organization.
Green Management CommitteesGreen Management Committees, chaired by the most senior executive at each work site, are responsible for establishing mid- and long-term Green Management strategies as well as detailed targets. Performances are periodically evaluated and improvements are continuously made. The Green Management Committees review environmental and safety management systems as well. Thus, the strategies for and performance of environmental safety mechanisms are constantly being inspected to safeguard environmental quality.
Domestic/Overseas Certification, International CooperationThe environment and safety are the first considerations in all work processes related to plant organizations, products and services. These efforts have been recognized with the granting of the international ISO 14001 certification, as well as by the Korean government's Environmentally Friendly Company designation. SAMSUNG Electronics has also joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the World Semiconductor Council and other international organizations to share information and cooperate with other leading corporations around the world. This effort is helping to elevate the standards of environmental safety practiced in Korea.
Responding to Customers' environmental and Safety RequirementsSAMSUNG Electronics freely discloses its environmental and safety data to any customers who that may wish to review this information. The company will respond to all inquiries regarding hazardous materials in use, how much of these materials are contained in specific products, whether an environmental management system is ISO 14000 compliant, or whether materials restricted by international agreements are being used. At SAMSUNG, we will continue to make every effort to satisfy our all customers' inquiries.
A variety of qualitative and quantitative methods have been employed to assess and analyze the dangers associated with handling large quantities of toxic or hazardous materials. Using these methods, we have identified over 3,000 risk factors, and each of these factors has been thoroughly addressed for each process.
Comprehensive Control Systems SAMSUNG Electronics' approaches for ensuring environmental quality and safety are diverse and systematic. They include environmental and safety audits, process safety management, environmental and safety awards, a Green Management information system, advance evaluation of raw and sub-material flows, advance approval for facilities, and education and training programs.
Audits for System Improvement
In-house auditors are assessed through special training programs offered by external institutions such as the ISO 14001 certification bodies and the Korean government. These auditors are responsible for correcting problems encountered during the operation of the environmental and safety systems. They conduct audits at all SAMSUNG Electronics plant sites.
- ISO 14001 Certification
- - Plant Site Certification Date
- - Kiheung September 1996
- - Onyang September 1996
- - Chunan June 1999
Process Safety Management
Process Safety Management (PSM) is a scientific and ongoing procedure that deals with all predicted risk factors related with process facilities. At SAMSUNG Electronics, PSM has been first implemented in semiconductor fabrication operations and processes handling large quantities of toxic and hazardous materials, especially harmful gases, since 1997. A process includes any activity related to the handling of raw or sub-materials, from input to output. All potential hazards related to a process are weighed and classified, then addressed in phases to minimize the danger posed by the release of toxic, reactive, flammable, or explosive substances. A variety of qualitative and quantitative methods have been employed to assess and analyze dangers related to handling large quantities of toxic or hazardous materials. These methods have identified over 3,000 risk factors, and each of these factors has been addressed completely for each process.
The Green Management Information System (GMIS) was built to support the environmental and safety program. GMIS provides systematic data on facilities and substance emissions, and can be used as a means to enhance company competitiveness.
The development and implementation of GMIS at SAMSUNG Electronics' semiconductor facilities has resulted in:
- Systematic management of expenses and results from environmental and safety programs,
- Proactive measures to address international environmental restrictions and respond to on-line business trends,
- Rapid provision of comprehensive data related to safety and environmental issues.
Infrastructure installation, the first phase of the GMIS project, was completed in 1998. During the developmental phase (October 1999 - February 2000), new functions were added to the system such as: managing the environment and safety cost and performance targets for each division, automatically issuing legally-required reports, and running a program that lists pollution-causing substances and the amounts released into the environment. These additional functions were implemented in March 2000.
Advance Evaluation of Hazardous Raw and Sub-Material
The environmental impact of raw and sub-materials used to make products as well as other supplies are evaluated prior to purchase. The purchase of substances found to be extremely hazardous is prohibited. To ensure greater all-around safety, employee training programs are provided and storage and handling facilities are controlled for substances that require special precautionary measures.
Advance Approval for New Facilities
The environmental and safety standards for SAMSUNG Electronics' facilities are reflected in its procurement policy, which addresses these issues at the fundamental levels of new facility design and fabrication. Suppliers must obtain safety certification for their equipment from a third party, and they must submit their inspection results to SAMSUNG Electronics before installation is permitted. At each stage, SAMSUNG will form teams of experts to reconfirm whether the facilities are fully compliant with environmental and safety standards. All advance approval documents must be obtained prior to operation startup of any new facility (at Kiheung).
Education and Training
Throughout their careers at SAMSUNG Electronics, employees receive training to heighten their awareness of environmental and safety issues. Separate training programs are designed for individuals and for organizational units. Employee performance in these programs is logged into a database and used in work performance evaluations. Specialized training programs are given to specific job categories to cultivate professionalism and raise overall environmental and safety standards. Persons who complete these courses are awarded certificates.
Environment & Safety Experiential Hall
The Environment & Safety Experiential Hall has been opened to improve upon SAMSUNG Electronics' classroom-based education programs. Workers and executives can get a first-hand look at the practical importance of these issues in real life situations. The m2 facility can be used by up to fifty persons at a time, and 70 different safety- and environmentally-related situations are covered throughout the programs.
Special Awards
Best practice competitions are held to raise awareness of the environmental and safety company-wide and provide models to emulate. Individuals and organizational units that have made exceptional contributions to environmental and safety issues are selected for special awards at the end of each year. Outstanding specialists in environmental and safety management are also cited for special recognition. These awards programs encourage all employees to be more active in Green Management and to constantly improve company performance in this regard.
