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Events and Deadlines
May 29: EICC-ON Webinar for Environmental Reporting
June 5: Member Survey Responses Due.
June 11 and 13: EICC-ON Webinars for Suppliers.
November 27-29: WMC Training Hosted by AT&S in Shanghai.
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Submit Information
Submit articles to Brad Cameron
by 5 PM EST on Fridays.
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Subscriptions
Contact Christina Dobbs to add
names to the distribution list.
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Molex Joins EICC!
Molex Incorporated joined EICC last week. The Lisle, IL components manufacturer will be represented by Jay Williamson, Vice President, QEHS, and Joel Eurich, Director, Global EHS.
Welcome aboard!
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Working Hours Pilot Program:
Working Hours Index Group and the Data Collection Template
The Working Hours Work Group has established two pilot initiatives for all interested EICC members.
EICC Working Hours Index Core Group
EICC members are encouraged to join the Working Hours Index Core Group. Participating companies will help develop data from their China facilities and China-based suppliers about working hours that can be used in aggregated form to establish an EICC Working Hours Index. The index will be used as a baseline to measure progress in the effort by participating companies to reduce excessive overtime.
A summary of the proposed index is available here. It can be used for internal discussion to determine if your company can join the Core Group. Members of the group will finalize details relating to the index, and will contribute data to develop the index.
EICC Working Hours Data Collection Template
The EICC Working Hours Data Collection Template is available to help EICC companies collect working hours data from their facilities. Data collected during the current pilot phase will be used to establish the Working Hours Index, and for discussion about next steps.
Interested companies may use the template immediately, and are asked to collect data retroactive to Jan. 1, 2013. Completed templates will be sent to EICC according to the membership compliance protocols that ensure confidentiality. All data will be anonymized and used only in aggregate form.
Help Make a Measurable Impact
These initiatives are part of the EICC strategy on working hours to "make a measurable impact" on this issue by 2014, as adopted by EICC members at the July 2012 membership meeting. EICC members will be encouraged after the pilot phase to use the template with their suppliers, and to use the data it provides to establish collaborative approaches to reduce excessive overtime.
Sign Up!
- Click here to register as a pilot program participant.
- Contact Brad Cameron for more information, or for a template and instructions.
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Webinars for New Environmental Reporting in EICC-ON: May 29/30
Invite your suppliers to learn more about the benefits of environmental reporting through a new EICC-ON tool. Two 90-minute webinar sessions are available on Wednesday, May 29:
The new tool will launch in EICC-ON in May. It will replace the EICC Carbon & Water Reporting tool, and will allow waste reporting. Companies that publicly report environmental information to CDP or through their own sustainability reports may still be asked by customers to report through EICC-ON, but will receive a shorter list of questions.
For more information, contact EICC-ONhelp@EICC.info. |
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2012 EICC Annual Report Member Survey:
Due June 5
The annual EICC Member Survey was sent to Full Members on May 15, and to Applicant Members on May 17. All companies that were EICC members at the end of 2012 are required to complete the survey by June 5, 2013.
The survey is designed to collect up-to-date, publicly reportable information from member companies about their progress toward meeting EICC objectives. The aggregated survey results will be a key component of the 2012 EICC Annual Report, and will be used to guide work group planning. More information can be found in Section 5.12 of the Membership Compliance Program.
Survey questions can be accessed here for Applicant and Full Members. The survey must be completed online. Contact Wendy Dittmer for more information. |
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ITIC Product Policy & Compliance Seminars:
June 6, 10, and 12
The Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) will host Product Policy & Compliance Seminars in June. The seminars will focus on EU regulatory approaches, and will include discussions with company officials and experts on product stewardship developments in Asia, Latin America, and the U.S. EICC members may attend any of the following seminars at reduced rates:
- June 6: Austin, TX (hosted by Dell)
- June 10: Santa Clara, CA (hosted by Intel)
- June 12: Schaumburg, IL (hosted by Motorola Solutions)
Click here for registration information.
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EICC-ON Webinar for Suppliers:
June 11 and 13
EICC-ON training webinars for suppliers will be provided on June 11 and 13. Suppliers will learn how to:
- Register your company on the EICC-ON platform.
- Activate account and pay fees.
- Answer SAQs for each facility.
- Provide customer access to SAQ results.
Registration
- US Companies: June 11 at 11 AM EDT. Register here.
- Europe and Asia Companies: June 13 at 9 AM CEST / 3 PM China. Register here.
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New Asia Network Subgroups
Register Now
The EICC Asia Network will form a new Steering Committee, and will expand the Student/Dispatch Worker Task Force.
- Steering Committee: Members will guide Asia Network activities. Participants will select the Asia Network co-chairs, hold quarterly in-person meetings, and host monthly conference calls.
- Student/Dispatch Worker Task Force: Members recently completed phase I activities, including a member survey and report. The task force will initiate phase II activities, including to identify best practices, integrate successful member initiatives, and other activities.
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Worker-Management Communication Training:
Feedback from Participants
The L&CB Work Group conducted the 6th Worker-Management Communication training course in Shenzhen on April 10-12. It was attended by 33 participants and hosted by Flextronics (thank you!). The EICC-GeSI Training Report is available here, and includes an overview of the training, participant feedback, and updates to the training delivery.
Two additional training sessions are will be scheduled in Q3 and Q4. Registration will open as soon as dates and locations are confirmed.
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Validated Audit Program: APM/CAP Price Changes
Using scheduled audits to assess conformance to the EICC Code is an important activity for EICC members and suppliers. Ensuring that suppliers address findings from audits is a critical next step. The Audit Program Manager (APM) offers a service to manage Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) after Validated Audit Processes (VAP). This is a good way to ensure suppliers conduct root-cause analysis and are ready for closure audits. Costs for the APM managed CAP process have been updated effective June 1, 2013 to cover the range of audit findings to be managed:
| Initial Audit Findings | CAP Management Charge | | 10 or fewer | $800 | | 11-25 | $1,100 | | More than 25 | $1,500 |
More information about how the process works can be found in section 10.4.1 of the new VAP Operations Manual 4.0.2. Direct questions to the EICC-VAP APM team at audits@vectra-intl.com.
New VAP Audits in Brazil Will Be Delayed
EICC members and suppliers will need to postpone new audits in Brazil, due to several factors with EICC qualified audit firm capacity. It is estimated that this postponement will be about 3 months.
Contact the EICC-VAP APM team at audits@vectra-intl.com for assistance.
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Guidance for EICC Members: Validated Audit Process (VAP)
The VAP Operations Management Team (OMT) encourages EICC members to follow this simple three-step process in order to reduce the number of non-member supplier questions going to the EICC Office and the Audit Program Manager (APM):
1. Get familiar with, and direct your suppliers to, the material on the VAP page of the public website:
2. Make one-on-one contact with your suppliers. EICC members should inform suppliers of your company's VAP requirements upfront and answer all supplier questions about next steps. Members should encourage suppliers to sign up in EICC-ON and work on their SAQs prior to undergoing the onsite audit.
3. Formally request your supplier to get a VAP, preferably in EICC-ON, by using this customizable introductory letter. Be sure to copy the EICC-VAP APM team on your email to the supplier and request to be included on Attachment B of the Auditee Agreement. This ensures that the EICC-VAP APM knows who is requesting the VAP and that you will receive updates as the audit progresses and see the final audit report.
The VAP OMT is working on several ideas to improve the existing material for both EICC members and suppliers. Contact the EICC-VAP APM team at audits@vectra-intl.com if you have questions on the VAP process before you engage with your supply chain.
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Protocol and Operations Manual 4.0.2 Released
The VAP Operations Management Team has changed the Validated Audit Program to reflect recent audit guidance decisions and enhancements. The updates include:
- Changes to the Working Hours rating matrix and corrective action timelines.
- Enhancements to the Emergency Preparedness guidance to align with fire and life safety standards.
- Elimination of the General Code Question.
- Removal of eight questions in the Ethics sections that were focused on Management Systems, and modification of remaining questions.
- Audit Protocol (the questions and guide used on-site to assess compliance): The audit questions have been streamlined and edited. There are three versions of the protocol for Manufacturing (version M), Labor Agent/Contractor (L), and Service Provider (S). An "Opportunities for Improvement" area has been added to allow auditors to pass on best practices (these are not findings but suggestions to the auditee, and therefore are not tracked).
- VAP Operations Manual (the guide used by all audit firms): The Code interpretation section has been edited to reflect the protocol changes. Clarifying details have been added to address how and when auditors and auditees need to respond in cases of Priority findings, which can have an impact on life, limb, facility, or community. Multiple definitions have also been added.
Effective May 1, 2013, the updated protocols should be used for any new audits scheduled outside of EICC-ON. The protocol will be loaded in EICC-ON by the end of May. All new audits in EICC-ON will then be required to use 4.0.2.
Click here for a more detailed summary of the 4.0.2 changes. Contact the APM/VECTRA for specific VAP questions.
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Need Help?
Contact AMS staff at 202-962-0167
Executive Director: Rob Lederer
Membership & Work Group Coordinator: Christina Dobbs
Membership Compliance: Anne Vogel-Marr
EICC-ON Support: eicc-onhelp@eicc.info
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