Protecting knowledge and acting in a dependable manner
Steinau, 22. February 2017. Undergoing constant and rapid change, the automotive market is calling for new solutions for future mobility. Key factors to success in this area include innovations and knowledge about products and processes. Competition for know-how and innovative solutions is increasing all the time, raising the general risk of setbacks such as loss of vital data. The diesel emissions scandal of 2016 was a worrying demonstration of how misconduct on the part of a few employees can endanger an entire company. On top of all this, reports of hacker attacks are continually on the rise as well. This is why compliance and data security have become two of the most important criteria for successful collaboration between OEMs and their partners. “It’s a situation that is making ever-increasing demands on suppliers”, said Olaf Hahn, the Managing Director of the Anvis Group, the specialist producer of anti-vibration systems. As a consequence, in December 2016, the company headquarters and central development centre for European OEM customers in Steinau an der Straße was certified in accordance with ISO 27001 for the first time. “Our certification delivers a clear signal to our customers.” The revised version of this standard was published in 2013. Anvis is one of the first companies in the rubber and automotive supply sector to comply with the ISO 27001 standard. “We have been working really hard on compliance issues as well”, explained Prasarth Rabindran, Director Compliance at Anvis Group, “and we are preparing for ISO 19600 certification in this area.” Published for the first time in 2014, ISO 19600 is an extremely complex and demanding standard that aims to provide internationally operating companies and organisations with a reliable and practicable system for compliant behaviour.
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Cyber attacks on international companies and public institutions have now become the norm rather than the exception. As IT networks and infrastructures continue to grow, the danger of data being intercepted becomes ever greater, particularly when working in global structures. Vital to international competitiveness, a company’s “intellectual property” is under constant and growing threat.
As a consequence of their efforts to protect internal know-how, automotive manufacturers are making greater demands on their suppliers. OEMs are increasingly asking their suppliers for evidence that they meet compliance and data security standards. However, the larger the company is, the more difficult it is to supply the necessary evidence. As a 100% subsidiary of Sumitomo Riko Group, the Anvis Group has started out by gaining ISO 27001 certification for its head office and European development centre. “We plan to gradually extend the certification process to our other sites”, said Hahn.
Certification brings security
The ISO 27001 standard is an important step in ensuring data security inside the company and making our conformity visible to the outside world. At Anvis, data security starts whenever someone steps onto the company’s premises. “We have a personalised access control system and video surveillance”, explained Hahn, “meaning employees and visitors can only enter areas for which they have authorization”. Important documents are kept in secure locations, and employees lock their office doors and computers whenever they leave the room. As Hahn stressed: “This philosophy is also extended to our corporate networks, applying to our own data, of course, but also and particularly to that of our external partners.”
ISO 27001 demands a whole range of additional measures. First of all, the goals and requirements with regard to information security need to be defined, and their implementation must be cost-effective and in conformity with applicable rules and laws. This is only possible when, as at Anvis, efficient information security management processes have been put into place. The company’s information and documentation structures have been analysed and suitably modified. Ongoing group training sessions ensure that employees receive the necessary instruction and develop a heightened awareness of the importance of data security. “Achieving improvements and identifying and countering threats is a permanent process”, admits Hahn. At the same time, employees learn what data security is all about, knowledge that is useful in their personal lives as well.
Compliance as a corporate philosophy
Compliance is equally as important as data security. “In this area too, globalisation is bringing an ever greater number of requirements. We have already made a good deal of progress with regard to compliance, particularly at our head office in Steinau, where a large portion of our development work and our central customer contact team is located”, said Compliance manager Rabindran in describing the efforts taking place at the Anvis Group. “We’re not just paying lip service to compliance – it’s a central element of our corporate philosophy and comprehensively practised by our Japanese parent company, Sumitomo Riko. We have drawn up a set of guidelines and organized training sessions for all employees throughout the Group.” Anvis has also set up a hotline for whistleblowers wishing to report breaches of conduct rules. “We can see our compliance rules taking effect throughout our business processes, and can sense that all employees have a heightened awareness of the issues involved”, added Prasarth Rabindran.
The ultimate goal is to gain certification in this area as well, and these efforts already demonstrate the progress towards this objective. Published in 2014, ISO 19600 is the international compliance standard, helping businesses set up a reliable and practicable system for compliant behaviour. In ISO 19600, the key element of compliance management is risk assessment. Risks are assessed and prioritized on the basis of how likely they are to occur, and effective measures must be put in place to control the factors that are identified as the greatest risks.
The ISO standard also covers the roles and responsibilities of the managers involved. “We are already well equipped to undergo the certification process, but Germany still lacks bodies that can carry out such an audit and grant the subsequent certification”, said Hahn in closing.
About the Sumitomo Riko Group
In addition to the Japanese company, the Sumitomo Riko Group also includes the German Anvis Group and the Italian company Dytech. The group has 105 production sites in 23 countries. With 12 research and development centres globally, the group develops innovative solutions for the mobility of the future. The products range from anti-vibration systems such as engine, gearbox and chassis mounts, exhaust system hangers and vibration dampers as well as hose systems through to components made of polyurethane such as engine covers. The group achieves a turnover of €3.3 billion annually. Its customers mainly include leading automobile manufacturers such as the VW Group, BMW, Daimler, Audi, Renault-Nissan, Mazda, Toyota or General Motors. The expertise of the Sumitomo Riko Group also flows into other sectors, however, such as the rail and IT industry as well as health applications.
About the Anvis Group
Whether engine, gearbox, and chassis mounts or exhaust system hangers and vibration dampers, Anvis components are installed in all parts of automobiles. Its main focus is the development of anti-vibration systems, i.e. systems to decouple vibrating parts in vehicles. The group achieves a turnover of over €300 million at its 13 sites around the world. Its customers mainly include leading automobile manufacturers such as the VW Group, BMW, Daimler, Renault-Nissan or General Motors. The company also has expertise in other industries such as the rail and aviation industry. In 2013, the Anvis Group was taken over in full by Sumitomo Riko Company Limited (formerly Tokai Rubber Industries). Sumitomo Riko is the global market leader in the automotive vibration technology sector.
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Herausgeber:
Anvis Deutschland GmbH
Karl-Winnacker-Str. 22a
36396 Steinau an der Straße
Deutschland
www.anvisgroup.com
Pressekontakt:
Guido Stanovsky
Tel.: +49 6663 9128-121
Fax: +49 6663 9128-4121
Mobile: +49 151 1881 0714
E-Mail: presse(at)anvisgroup.com