Sustainability
The Mikron Group acknowledges its responsibility towards people and the environment. Its Sustainability Report is guided by the globally recognized principles of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The Group’s aim in this respect is to ensure transparent, standardized, and comparable reporting.
GRI Generic Disclosures on Management Approach (DMA)
- Category Economic
- Category Environmental
- Category Social
Economic Performance, Market Presence and Procurement Practices
Why the aspect is material. The impacts that make this aspect material.
Long-term economic success is the basis which enables the Mikron Group to continue to develop and safeguard its continued existence. To this end, the Group pursues deliberately challenging, clearly defined quantitative and qualitative objectives.
A positive economic performance enables the Mikron Group to continue to develop not only as a company but also as a socially minded employer, a reliable capital acquirer and an environmentally compatible player. The aspect of economic performance is therefore very important – both for the Mikron Group and for all of its external stakeholders.
How the Mikron Group manages the material aspect or its impacts.
The financial performance of the Mikron Group and its business segments is monitored by Group Management on a monthly basis. The focus lies on evaluating order intake and net sales (book-to-bill), the productivity defined as added value (net sales plus/minus changes in inventories, plus capitalized own production, minus material costs) divided by personnel expenses, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and net working capital trade. As a measure of value-based management, Mikron applies the concept of return on invested capital (ROIC), with EBIT as the basis for the return.
The evaluation of the management approach.
Each year, the Board of Directors of the Mikron Group checks whether the measures for monitoring economic performance are appropriate for the current situation. If it detects any significant differences, it asks Group Management to adapt the monitoring measures accordingly.
Energy, water, emissions, effluents and waste
Why the aspect is material. The impacts that make this aspect material.
The increasing scarcity of raw materials and energy is a major challenge, as rising prices directly impact negatively on production costs. To keep costs low, the Mikron Group endeavors to minimize its consumption of energy and raw materials. Furthermore, like many of its external stakeholders, the Group feels a moral obligation to use these scarce resources sparingly and thus reduce the negative impacts on the environment.
How the Mikron Group manages the material aspect or its impacts.
All Swiss sites have ISO 14001:2004 (environment) certification; Agno additionally has OHSAS 18001:2007 (occupational health and safety management) certification. In both Agno and Boudry, quality managers ensure that these certification requirements are complied with and that the Mikron Group continually develops in the environmental field. At least once a year, the heads of the quality departments at the sites in Switzerland and in the USA report all environmental data to the Mikron Group's Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Any major differences compared with the previous year's figures have to be justified. Finally, thanks to its highly efficient manufacturing and automation solutions, the Mikron Group helps to ensure that its customers can produce in an environmentally friendly way.
The evaluation of the management approach.
On completion of each regular annual report, the CFO invites the quality managers for each of the Swiss sites to a review. During this meeting, the current environmental management method is critically examined and jointly adapted where necessary.
Why the aspect is material.
The impacts that make this aspect material. The Mikron Group builds its commercial success on qualified and motivated staff. In interpersonal relationships - be it with colleagues, customers, or business partners - Group Management promotes and demands respectful and loyal conduct at all times.
The health and safety of staff are extremely important to the management of the Mikron Group. One of Mikron's most important objectives is to minimize the risk of industrial accidents.
Like our customers, the Mikron Group is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit employees with both technical qualifications and language skills. Recruiting, keeping and developing employees and inspiring them to embrace shared goals and practices remains one of the principal challenges at all our locations.
The management of the Mikron Group is keen to promote diversity within the workforce. At the same time, however, those responsible for recruiting staff are dependent on the labour and training market. It is still the case in Switzerland, for example, that very many more men than women complete technical training courses.
How the Mikron Group manages the material aspect or its impacts.
Mikron staff benefit from attractive working conditions. All employees at the Mikron sites in Switzerland are covered by the collective employment contract of the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industries.
Employee satisfaction is very important to the Mikron Group, and regular surveys are conducted to establish its level.
Internal processes are regularly reviewed for potential negative effects on health and safety. One of Mikron's most important objectives is to minimize the risk of industrial accidents. The Mikron Group sets great store by the targeted and continuous training of its staff. Every year, employees of the Swiss locations receive individual feedback on their performance over the past 12 months from their line managers. One goal of this feedback is to identify any advanced training requirements.
The management of the Mikron Group is keen to promote diversity within the workforce. When hiring new employees, the HR managers guarantee equal opportunities.
The evaluation of the management approach.
Both the sustainability report and the regular internal reporting by those responsible provide the basis for a situation analysis drawn up by Group Management at least once a year to examine any measures to be taken.
Why the aspect is material.
The impacts that make this aspect material. The Mikron Group makes every effort to abide by the law, and conducts ongoing audits - both internal and external - to ensure that this is the case. Proper conduct is the essential foundation that enables the Mikron Group to operate successfully. The Group's global presence requires constant compliance monitoring.
How the Mikron Group manages the material aspect or its impacts.
Regular internal reporting, audits by internal auditors and the annual external audit ensure that Group Management can assess and monitor the degree of compliance.
The evaluation of the management approach.
Under the leadership of the Mikron Group's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), once a year - usually after the annual report and the external audit - Group Management checks whether the current compliance monitoring and controlling measures serve their purpose.
