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Autoneum Annual Report 2016
Business Year at a Glance
Focus on employees
As a company committed to a clearly defined set
of values, Autoneum places a particular focus
on social sustainability. Within the Company this
especially includes supporting the development
of employees with training and development
programs. The existing broad range of develop-
ment programs was therefore extended in the
reporting year to include training courses on
products, technologies and complex production
processes for employees from different depart-
ments of the Company. In addition to this regular
dissemination of knowledge on specific topics,
continuous knowledge transfer and the global
networking of experts on the basis of state-
of-the-art digital forms of communication have
been a corporate standard since 2016. With
the “Digital Network Autoneum” launched in the
fall, the Company has created a system-inte
grating online workplace that ensures the global
and cross-functional knowledge transfer and
exchange of experts. In-house innovation
management was also significantly advanced in
2016 with the launch of a digital innovation
program. “Wave” comprises a Group-wide and
cross-functional platform in which the genera-
tion of ideas for future product innovations
is bundled and structured in a large number of
process parameters. The aim is to collect,
evaluate and potentially bring employees’
product ideas to market. Beyond development
and production expertise, this newly imple-
mented form of innovation management supports
the targeted expansion of Autoneum’s existing
technology leadership.
Be it work ethics or product quality –
Autoneum is committed to the highest standards
at all times. Specific guidelines on ethical
practices at the workplace are set out in the
Company’s Code of Conduct that was revised
and expanded in 2016. The Code of Conduct is
based on Autoneum’s values and principles
and clearly illustrates the obligations of each
individual toward the Company, colleagues,
business partners and the social environment.
However, the Code of Conduct cannot answer
every question arising in a highly competitive
business environment. It is for this reason that
a “Speak Up Line”, a web-based application,
was introduced in 2016 to create the appropriate
structure for the reporting and sanctioning
of infringements of the Code of Conduct. The
“Speak Up Line” enables employees, customers
and suppliers of Autoneum, as well as all other
external stakeholders of the Company throughout
the world, to report infringements of the Code
of Conduct securely, confidentially and on request
anonymously. By setting up the “Speak Up Line”,
Autoneum has created an effective and indis-
pensable reporting channel in the reporting year.