Beyond Compliance

Audits play a crucial role in compliance monitoring, but we understand that they represent only a snapshot in time. Ultimate success hinges on our suppliers taking ownership of their obligation to implement fair practices, ensure a safe and healthy working environment, and treat workers with respect.

Supplier training

We believe training is most effective and the results more sustainable when our suppliers communicate directly to their workforce. Apple collaborates with suppliers to train workers on their rights — and to train management and supervisors on their social responsibility obligations.

Apple continues to support our suppliers in enhancing and extending their capability to deliver internal factory training on occupational health and safety, work-related prevention, and other social responsibility topics.

Accountability through business integration

In addition to audit procedures, Apple communicates the importance of social responsibility through regular business reviews. During this process, Apple executives review items such as audit results, audit cooperation, progress on corrective action plans, key performance indicators, and overall compliance status.

We recognize that many Apple employees — such as quality engineers and purchasing managers — are on site at supplier factories and can serve as ad hoc monitors of social responsibility. We are expanding our education program for Apple staff, training them to identify potential Code violations. We’ve also developed an online ticket system, making it easy for our employees to report any concerns or issues they observe.

Supplier Employee Education and Development

Many workers in supplier factories have aspirations to continue their education and grow their careers. To support these aspirations, Apple launched a pilot initiative called the Supplier Employee Education and Development (SEED) program. Working with one of our final assembly suppliers in China, we have made available a flexible, computer-based learning curriculum, set in a classroom environment on a manufacturing campus.

For more information about SEED, see the Supplier Responsibility 2009 Progress Report.