Our Environment
Because any manufacturing process and the subsequent by-products can have
an impact on the environment, all our sites undertake environmental management
programs to address issues and minimize risk. AGS formalized all plant
environmental management systems into a corporate strategy in 1996.
The following is AGS’s Corporate Environmental Policy. This policy
is posted in each and every AGS location.
Our Environmental Policy
AGS Automotive Systems is a Tier 1 supplier of automotive parts. Manufacturing
processes at our facilities include stamping, various metal finishing
processes and assembly.
AGS Automotive Systems is concerned for the environment and to this end
we have developed a Corporate Policy to guide our operating plants in
their environmental behaviour. As a responsible corporation, the company
recognizes its duty to undertake on its own and to support others in actions
to safeguard the environment and bring about improvements in environmental
trends.
In order to support this code of conduct we are committed to:
- Abiding to the letter and spirit of all environmental laws, regulations
and government policies as well as specific corporate and plant policy
and procedures that effect business activities.
- Our commitment to pollution prevention, which shall include, but not
be limited to, managing renewable and non-renewable resources through
the responsible application of reduce, reuse and recycle principles.
- We will identifying significant aspects of our operations and where
practicable minimize the potential for adverse effect.
- Optimize the effectiveness and integrity of our environmental management
system through open communications, comprehensive educational programs,
and environmental audits and risk assessments.
- We will monitor our progress against targets and objectives; and review
training, procedures and resources, in order to continually improve
our environmental performance.
- Develop an understanding among our employees of their responsibilities,
and assigning the necessary authority.
Each AGS facility shall develop and implement site specific action plans
for their operations consistent with the foregoing principles.
AGS Automotive Inc. is committed to providing the necessary support to
ensure the foregoing objectives and principles are met.
Environmental Management Program
Every AGS employee has a role to play in ensuring responsible
environmental practices are followed at all times and in reporting any
potential environmental hazards. Within AGS’ formalized environmental
management structure, the following individuals or groups are accountable
for specific tasks in developing, implementing and maintaining the company’s
environmental programs:
Corporate
AGS’s senior management will support the plants in their efforts
to maintain compliance with current environmental regulations and legislation.
Corporate Purchasing will consult with Environmental Affairs on the pre-qualification
of potential suppliers wishing to provide environmental services. These
suppliers are evaluated on their environmental practices and support of
AGS standards.
Corporate Engineering will ensure that new developments and existing
structures comply with environmental regulations. Proposals for new projects
must be evaluated according to an environmental checklist and must include
any analyses of environmental impact as required by local or federal governments.
Corporate Environmental Affairs
Environmental Affairs will provide overall direction, program management
and be accountable for:
- Overseeing the environmental aspects of manufacturing operations;
- Developing policies and procedures to guide the plants in their environmental
activities;
- Measuring progress towards compliance through audits;
- Advising plant management on how to respond to environmental issues,
incidents or situations of non-compliance;
- Developing education and training programs;
- Handling any environmental complaints from the community or regulatory
agencies that cannot be resolved at the plant level.
Environmental Steering Committee
The Environmental Steering Committee (ESC) is comprised of members from
each AGS location and is responsible for the coordination of efforts of
individual plants toward meeting regulatory and policy-directed goals
for environmental performance. The ESC also plays an important role in:
- Developing AGS’ Corporate Environmental Program, including the
recommendation of policy and procedures;
- Supporting the implementation of environmental management systems;
- Communicating the AGS Environmental Program and establishing dialogue
among the plants regarding environmental issues.
Within their own plant, the Environmental Steering Committee members
are in charge of overseeing the environmental management program. The
following are some of the activities involved:
- Assisting senior plant management in defining environmental objectives
and targets;
- Implementation and management of their plant environmental system;
- Reporting on status and progress to plant manager and corporate manager
environmental affairs;
- Executing recommendations in audit reports;
- Conducting monthly plant inspections and maintaining documentation
regarding environmental matters;
- Enhancing environmental awareness of employees through education
and training
- Investigating and following-up complaints from employees, the community
etc.
Environmental Audits
Environmental Affairs audits the plants on an annual basis to evaluate
their compliance, risks to compliance, betterment opportunities and to
review their management systems for conformance with all elements of the
ISO 14001 environmental standard. The audit report details the findings
for plant management. Environmental Affairs will make recommendations
for improving the environmental performance of each operation. Upon receiving
the report, the plant management and the plant’s Environmental Steering
Committee member will review the recommendations and develop action plans.
ISO 14001
ISO 14000 is an internationally accepted set of standards for environmental
protection. ISO 14001 is the standard for environmental management systems.
A.G. Simpson is committed to being an industry leader in attaining ISO
14001 registration for all our manufacturing facilities.
ISO 14001 adheres to the plan-do-check-act type of model to improve environmental
performance. First, we must assess the “aspects” and “impacts”
of our operations on the environment. With this information, we then set
targets and objectives for our environmental improvement efforts. An impartial
third party (Registrar) audits our facilities for conformance with the
ISO 14001 standard. Our objectives in implementing ISO 14001 are to:
- Ensure all employees have the skills, knowledge and resources necessary
to protect the environment
- Become an environmentally proactive organization
- Communicate with all stakeholders
- Continuous improvement of our environmental performance
Our Oshawa facility was the first to be registered in 2001 followed by
Cambridge, Scarborough, Troy and Windsor. We plan to have newest facility,
Shreveport registered March of 2004.
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