Apple’s Supplier Responsibility

The company holds a strict policy towards its suppliers. By 2014, Apple went deeper into the supply chain in order to disclose and correct problems, that cannot be fixed by action plans and audits. The main target is to broaden liability of schools, raise the education bar for interns and establish the validity of on-the-job training in the supplier chain (Lawrence & Weber, 2014). The Supplier Code of Apple is believed to be one of the most scrupulous and the toughest among the industrial electronics, as the company holds a strict policy towards its suppliers. The company focuses on training and educational programs in order to bring real changes into the supply chain.

Empowering workers

Attending special educational programs, which are provided by the company. Promoting the understanding of the workers’ rights. All employees must be treated with respect and dignity, and it is the worker’s moral right to work in an ethical environment. Workers in Apple are more than welcome to attend special educational programs, that are provided by the company. The programs are enhanced by the SEED, which is short for the “Supplier Employee Education and Development”. During these classes, employees are able to collect essential skills, both for advancing inside the factory and conversion to an entirely different field. The main point of the empowering policy is that all employees must be treated with respect and dignity.

Labor and Human Rights

The suppliers of the company have to stand by the highest guidelines of the human rights (Manuel, 2011). Policy: antidiscrimination, anti-harassment, prevention of involuntary and underage labor. One of the key positions in Apple’s policy is providing an ethical and fair workplace to all employees in the supply chain. The policy includes following such regulations as antidiscrimination, anti-harassment, prevention of involuntary and underage labor and juvenile worker protection. Moreover, the company is obliged to protect the rights of foreign employees and contract workers.

Health and Safety

While working with Nanjing University and the Institute for Sustainable Communities, Apple established Apple Supplier Environment, Health, and Safety Academy (EHS). An 18-month program that includes such subjects as ergonomics, fire safety, chemical handling. For Apple, safety is a primary question that should not be compromised. In 2013 Apple Supplier Environment, Health and Safety Academy was established. In order to assemble a management organization that would be more experienced and eager, Apple registers midlevel executives to the Academy. Moreover, the company is interconnecting with suppliers in advance so to ensure their facilities are working as required.

The Environment

Environmental responsibility is one of the most strongly developed directions of the company’s operation. Apple is providing help to make the companies of suppliers more resource profitable. Focused programs that preserve resources of the planet. Apple’s policy is quite strong towards the environment; thus, environmental responsibility is one of the most strongly developed directions of the company’s operation. The company would like to know that suppliers, whether all over the world or within home country, are exploiting processes of manufacturing, that are ecologically friendly and reliable. Moreover, the Clean Water Program was established, which already had made major improvements.

Accountability

Development and accountability are central intentions. Supplier Code of Conduct constantly changes in order to keep the bar high. The documents illustrate the strongest principles of safety, human rights, and environmental liability (Apple Inc, 2015). One of the main mottos of Apple is “It’s not enough to set high standards. We must work every day to make sure they’re upheld.” As development and accountability are central intentions not only about the company, but also the suppliers. Supplier Code of Conduct changes every year; moreover, the document already contains nearly 100 pages of requirements in more than 20 areas.

References

Apple Inc. (2015). Apple Supplier Code of Conduct. Web.

Lawrence, A. & Weber, J. (2014). Business and Society: Stakeholders, Ethics, Public Policy (Strayer). New York, USA: McGraw-Hill Education.

Manuel, V. G. (2011). Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases (7th ed.). Cambridge, England: Pearson.

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