AKEBONO REPORT 2017

43/48

Compliance As it expands globally, it is important that Akebono, beyond complying with the law and regulations, correctly understands and fullls its corporate social responsibility. Accordingly, we have set up the Compliance Committee, chaired by the president, and established the “akebono Global Code of Conduct” and “akebono Global Standard of Behavior” to be observed by each associate.To respond to the globalization of management, Akebono endeavors to correctly recognize and carry out its corporate social responsibility. To this end, we have established and promoted the akebono Global Code of Conduct together with the akebono Global Standard of Behavior, and we also work to improve awareness of compliance by conducting a variety of educational programs. Specic examples include training on Japan’s subcontracting act for workplaces that carry out outsourcing operations and training on appropriate accounting treatment for workplaces involved with sales and purchasing. Moreover, in our job level-based training program, we include compliance training to raise the level of awareness on general compliance issues such as information control and prevention of harassment. In addition to this, in scal 2016 compliance prociency tests were given to all associates in Japan, and in October we held a month dedicated to strengthening compliance, which generated thoughtful workplace discussions. Furthermore, in scal 2017, we introduced a global compliance e-learning program. To prevent compliance violations or to detect them at an early stage, and resolve them, Akebono conducts compliance hearings for associates selected at random, and has set up consultation counters, both in-house and outsourced, to provide counseling for all associates, including temporary employees and contract employees. Among these, some of the outsourced consultation has been entrusted to specialized agencies. At all of these counters, the personnel in charge keep the name of the person seeking the consultation and the nature of their consultation condential. Akebono also ensures that the person seeking consultation does not receive any prejudicial treatment because of making a report or seeking consultation.Risk Management SystemAkebono strives to identify the risks surrounding the Company and conducts risk control and monitoring to reduce them. We also conduct risk management activities aimed at minimizing the impact of any damage that might materialize. Akebono’s risk management activities are supported by the Risk Management Committee, comprising a group of directors chaired by the Representative Director & CEO, and the Risk Evaluation Committee a subcommittee of the Risk Management Committee that is chaired by the Representative Director & Executive Vice President. The Risk Evaluation Committee controls Groupwide critical risks. In scal 2016, the Company conrmed the implementation status and efcacy of countermeasures for critical Groupwide risks. In addition, the Company promoted a risk management plan for its major overseas locations. Information Security ActivitiesAkebono has established an Information Security Committee, as well as information security policies, guidelines and rules for the handling of information in order to implement appropriate measures to protect information assets properly. We clarify measures according to materiality and risk, in order to provide appropriate protection for data owned in-house or provided by customers or business partners from all kinds of threats, including negligence, accidents, natural disasters, and criminal acts. Under the Information Security Committee, the Company has also set up a working group and established a system where information security personnel or an information system administrator in each section carries out their own checks against the information security risks to which their respective operations are vulnerable. Using a PDCA cycle to raise awareness of and adherence to the various regulations and guidelines through education and training, the Company is working to ensure information security. In the unlikely event that a violation does occur, such as with regard to the Company’s rules of employment, it is strictly dealt with. The Company complies with all relevant laws and regulations and other social norms, and strives to achieve continuous improvement of its management systems, including in response to changes in the environment.Moreover, in recent years, in light of the increasing risk of information leakage due to global business expansion, growing dependence on IT and the increased liquidity of employment, the Company is further strengthening its information security. As part of these efforts, we implemented information security assessments by an external vendor in scal 2014-2015. Based on the results, we are continuing to bolster security, not only within Japan, but globally, based on benchmarks for our industry. In the future, at the same time as continuing to implement global education and awareness-raising activities, we will continue to regularly conduct information security assessments, adopt new security measures, and strengthen our countermeasures to cyber-attacks, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated.Management SystemsAKEBONO REPORT 2017 42Part 3 Sustainable Management