Vtech 2015 Annual Report Download - page 28

Sustainability
Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder engagement is the process through which we
stay connected with our customers, employees, shareholders,
investors, suppliers and the wider communities in which
we operate. We believe that the approach of stakeholder
engagement is integral to the development of our
sustainability strategy, and is a pre-requisite for our long-term
sustainable growth.
During the stakeholder engagement process, our
Sustainability Sub-Committees identified the broad topics
that the stakeholder groups are concerned with, and used a
materiality matrix to assess the material issues identified by
our stakeholders. An issue is classified as ‘material’ when it
substantially affects our long term commercial or operational
viability, with material impacts from economic, environmental
or social aspects. This matrix combines VTech’s approach
to identifying and assessing the material concerns of our
stakeholders, and our own materiality scoring methodology in
accordance with the principles outlined in GRI G4 Guideline.
Sustaina bility Strategies and Activities
Product Responsibility and Innovation
VTech strives not only to provide high
quality products and comply with the
highest international and local quality
and safety standards, but also incorporate
sustainability concepts into the product
design in order to enhance the well-being of our customers
and benefit the society.
VTech always considers addressing our customers’ needs as
our primary responsibility at the early stage of our product
design. We continuously use our technological expertise to
help improve the health and safety of our customers. Our well-
received baby monitor series and the newly launched wireless
monitoring system, which is a VTech Smart Home device to
connect users’ home with ULE and Wi-Fi technologies, are
the principal examples. In addition, we also use our global
leadership position in electronic learning products to design
many ELPs to inspire children’s creativity and develop the
valuable skills at each stage of their educational development.
In order to stay in harmony with the environment, we also
incorporate eco-design principles into our products and launch
many eco-friendly products such as our Digital European
Cordless Telecommunication (DECT) cordless phones with Blue
Angel and Energy Star eco-labels, and our wireless monitoring
system with ULE standard.
VTech is also committed to designing and manufacturing
products that meet the highest international and local health
and safety standards. All our manufacturing facilities are
certified with Quality Management System: ISO 9001. We
have implemented a stringent quality control system, from
incoming materials inspection, in-process quality audit, finished
products quality assessment, to after-sales quality management
in order to ensure that all VTech products meet the required
specifications and are free from defects in both materials and
workmanship at the time of delivery.
Our products are also designed to minimise the environmental
impact throughout the whole product life cycle from cradle
to grave. We continue to use the most eco-friendly materials
in our products and minimise the usage of resources and
materials in the manufacturing process.
Environmental Protection
VTech aims to operate its manufacturing
processes and facilities in a manner
that minimises the impacts to the
environment, and ensures that our
operations are compliant with all the
relevant environmental, legal and statutory requirements.
We have developed a high performance production chain to
maximise our resources efficiency and improve the productivity
while maintaining a green manufacturing practice. We also
adopt a green logistic management approach and use the
most environmentally friendly transportation modes for the
delivery of our incoming materials from suppliers and outgoing
products to our customers.
VTech’s continuous improvement in the manufacturing
process is driven by two key principles – “produce for quality”
and “produce for efficiency”. Without compromising quality in
our production, we have implemented the process of low cost
automation and adopted new manufacturing management
methods, such as lean manufacturing and small cell
production, to maximise our resources efficiency and improve
the productivity, while minimising the wastes and improving
product quality throughout the manufacturing process.
High performance production chain
26 VTech Holdings Limited Annual Report 2015