Hitachi

Hitachi Solutions, Ltd.

Hitachi Solutions' CSR

We promote CSR management based on the global standard "ISO 26000".

Corporate Principle

*The "Hitachi Spirit" implies the Hitachi founding spirit of harmony, sincerity, and pioneering spirit, but it further enhances them and has the fundamental principles of making contributions to society via development of outstanding autonomous technologies and products.

CSR Policy of the Hitachi Group

Hitachi Solutions promotes CSR through its main business activities based on the CSR Policy of the Hitachi Group, which comprises eight policy items, and ISO 26000, an international guideline on organizational social responsibility.

The corporate principle of Hitachi Solutions, as may be gathered from the name "Solutions", is committed to making a contribution to the resolution of issues faced by customers and the global community through utilizing our various businesses, human capitals, and other management resources. We believe that realizing this corporate principle above all is our CSR. While constantly thinking of ways to contribute to the resolution of various social issues via IT, we will provide solutions that generate value together with society.

CSR Promotion Guidelines

With the objective of promoting the fusion of management and CSR, Hitachi applies ISO 26000, which is the global standard for social responsibility, as its guideline for promoting CSR throughout the entire group. As a member of the Hitachi Group, Hitachi Solutions also promotes CSR management based on ISO 26000.

CSR Roadmap

We aim to contribute to the sustainability of society while identifying our company's materiality in various social issues and pursuing what we can do. We will take concrete measures to build a framework for fusing management and CSR with a view to compiling the next mid-term management plan from fiscal 2016.

For Sound Corporate Management

In order to fulfill its responsibility to stakeholders while maintaining soundness and transparency in management, Hitachi Solutions is working to strengthen corporate governance as well as striving to thoroughly implement legal compliance and enhance its risk management structure.

1. Corporate Governance

Concept of Corporate Governance

Hitachi Solutions recognizes that the strengthening of corporate governance is an important management issue, and has established the Hitachi Solutions Code of Conduct for executives and employees to follow.

Transition to Company with Board of Auditors and Introduction of Executive Officer System

Following its delisting and conversion to a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., since April 1, 2010, Hitachi Solutions has become a Company with a Board of Auditors, providing simplicity in organizational structure and prompt decision-making. In addition, an Executive Officer System has been set up to ensure that management speed continues to be maintained.

Board of Directors and Management Conference

The Board of Directors consists of nine board members (including four external directors) and four auditors (including two external auditors). Meetings are in principle held once a month to carry out important decision-making and supervision of directors' and executive officers' performance. The management conference is comprised of senior managing and other higher ranking directors as well as full-time auditors. The meeting is in principle held once a month. At the meetings, important matters relating to decisions delegated by the Board of Directors to executive officers are discussed, reports are made, and final decision-making by the President and CEO takes place.

Board of Auditors

The Board of Auditors consists of four auditors (including two external auditors). Each auditor carries out auditing functions in accordance with the division of duties, and audits the performance of directors, reporting or noting the status or results of performance to the Board of Auditors and the Board of Directors.

2. Internal Control

The expansion and improvement of our internal control system not only enhances management efficiency and ensures the legitimacy of corporate activities (proper financial reporting, compliance, etc.) within corporate governance, but it is also critical to the fulfillment of our social responsibilities. Hitachi Solutions has adopted basic policies for internal control system building in accordance with corporate law and has established the Internal Control Committee as the executive organ for thoroughly implementing internal control within the Group. In addition, as a member of the Hitachi Group, we are appropriately building and advancing our system of internal controls relating to financial reporting, in compliance with the United States corporate reform law, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law (J-SOX).

3. Legal Compliance

Hitachi Solutions has been striving to thoroughly propagate legal compliance by establishing the Compliance Management Department as an office specializing in fair and transparent corporate conduct. In addition to doing this, Hitachi Solutions has established its Anti-Monopoly Law Observance Regulations. Furthermore, it has introduced a Legal Compliance Reporting System to prevent illegal and improper conduct and provide for prompt corrective action. The system is extensively applied to all employees of Hitachi Solutions, including former employees and temporary staff, as well as employees and temporary staff of the entire Hitachi Group and its business partners. Furthermore, since February 2003, Hitachi Solutions has regularly held legal compliance education for all its department and section managers and sales personnel. Starting FY2009, it decided to hold an Ethics Month in October of each year to promote further strengthening and thorough implementation of corporate ethics and legal compliance.

4. Risk Management

Hitachi Solutions has established a Business Continuity Management (BCM) Committee for reinforcing its risk management system, which determined the company's business continuity program. In addition, as part of our crisis management, we have introduced a support system to confirm the safety of employees and their families during a crisis.

5. Information Security

Hitachi Solutions has established comprehensive Basic Information Security Guidelines with the goal of properly managing all information system assets related to customer information, based on an awareness of the importance of their proper handling. All Hitachi Solutions employees are thoroughly versed in these guidelines. Making the prohibition of removing confidential information from the workplace the main rule of information security, Hitachi Solutions has set up the Confidential Information Administration Division and is striving to promote and enhance security measures.

6. Quality Assurance

Hitachi Solutions' policy is that quality is top priority in attempting to supply reliable solutions that meet the diverse needs of customers. The company operates quality management systems, and in the area of product development and services operates quality assurance (QA) departments that function independently from business divisions. The QA departments are responsible for pursuing quality assurance and quality control targeting processes, products and projects. These efforts cover the entire lifecycle from upstream processes to design, manufacturing and testing through to shipping, operation and maintenance and are conducted from a customer perspective. In addition, Hitachi Solutions implements a company-wide quality improvement program that is designed to enhance development processes and encourage employees to focus on quality.

7. CSR Procurement

Building Good Partnerships

Hitachi Solutions endeavors to build good partnerships with all suppliers and to improve the level of mutual understanding and trust. The company is committed to making positive social contributions by establishing strong ties and close communications with suppliers to realize win-win relationships at a higher level.

Emphasis on building good partnerships

Sharing business strategies

Hitachi Solutions regularly shares its corporate and business division strategies with suppliers, developing the strategies from a medium- and long-range business perspective.
We regularly engage in high-level information exchange with business partners to maintain and improve the level of trust with suppliers.

Business strategy briefing sessions
We conduct supplier briefing sessions for management to brief suppliers on our business strategies, and for business division GMs to explain their areas of focus and approach to working with business partners. Upper management shares their frank views on business strategies and meets with suppliers through informal gatherings to cement communications.

Tackling high-added-value segments

We share information on technology trends and new fields that are in line with our business strategies, implementing solution-based strategies, including the development of human resources.

Working with international business partners

We are strengthening our partnerships with international business partners as we seek to expand our business across the globe. We communicate with international business partners through regular meetings and leverage our PartnerLink Service communications platform, which enables personal communication across remote distances.

Socially Responsible Procurement

Hitachi Solutions incorporates socially responsible practices throughout its supply chains in contributing to a sustainable society as a member of the Hitachi Group. We work with business partners to gain their cooperation in our procurement strategies so that we all meet our social responsibilities.

Communicating our strategies for socially responsible procurement

We issue the Hitachi Group Supply-Chain CSR Deployment Guidebook to business partners so as to facilitate their understanding of our guidelines and promote socially responsible practices.

Guidebook Contents

I Human Rights and Labor
  • Prohibit forced labor
  • Prohibit inhumane treatment and infringements of human rights
  • Prohibit child labor
  • Prohibit discrimination
  • Pay appropriate wages
  • Regulate working hours
  • Respect the rights to freedom of association
II Occupational Health and Safety
  • Apply safety measures for equipment and instruments
  • Promote safe activities in the workplace
  • Promote hygiene in the workplace
  • Apply appropriate measures for occupational injuries and illnesses
  • Properly manage disasters and accidents
  • Be careful about physically demanding work
  • Promote safety and hygiene in all company facilities
  • Promote health maintenance programs for employees
III Environment
  • Control hazardous chemicals in products
  • Control hazardous chemicals in manufacturing
  • Establish and apply an environmental management system
  • Minimize environmental pollution (water, soil, air)
  • Obtain environmental permits
  • Promote resource and energy saving by reusing, reducing, and recycling (3R)
  • Promote green-house gas reduction
  • Promote waste reduction
  • Disclose environmental preservation activities
IV Fair Trading
  • Prohibit corruption and bribery
  • Prohibit abuse of a superior position
  • Prohibit the offering and receiving of inappropriate profit and advantage
  • Prohibit impediment to free competition
  • Provide accurate information on products and services
  • Respect intellectual property
  • Use appropriate export procedures
  • Disclose appropriate company information
  • Detect injustice promptly
V Product Quality and Safety
  • Ensure product safety
  • Establish and apply a quality management system
VI Information Security
  • Secure computer networks against threats
  • Prevent the leakage of personal information
  • Prevent the leakage of confidential information of the customer and third-party
VII Contribution to Society
  • Contribute to society and community

Guidebook

Self-assessment survey of major suppliers

Hitachi Solutions has asked its major suppliers to cooperate with a self-assessment questionnaire survey on socially responsible practices, sending it to suppliers with the Hitachi Group Supply Chain CSR Deployment Guidebook. The survey is designed to assess the degree to which suppliers are practicing the Codes of Conduct, standards, and socially responsible practices outlined by Hitachi Solutions. The survey responses are currently being collected from suppliers.

Preventing Improper Transactions

Hitachi Solutions takes measures to prevent improper transactions, in accordance with the Hitachi Group Codes of Conduct that outlines common expectations for the conduct of the Hitachi Group. Additionally, suppliers are expected to comply with all relevant laws and regulations in procurement transactions and execute their operations according to the letter and spirit of the law.

Procedures

Procurement departments at Hitachi Solutions are given exclusive authority to issue a request for quotation (RFQ) and a purchase order, in order to prevent improper transactions. In some instances, procurement departments inspect goods that are delivered directly to third-party locations to check for irregularities and problems.

Green Procurement

Procurement of components and materials for Hitachi Solutions products

StarBoard FX-DUO-50 interactive whiteboard for school ICT
StarBoard FX-DUO-50 interactive whiteboard for school ICT

Under the Hitachi Group Green Procurement Guidelines, Hitachi Solutions procures components and materials that are 100% compliant with the Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) Directive for regulation of chemical substances. These components and materials are used in core products such as StarBoard interactive whiteboards and other hardware products in our effort to supply environmentally friendly products.

Green procurement and elimination of hazardous substances in Hitachi Solutions products