Supplier & Business Partner Code of Conduct
1. Purpose
Microboard seeks long-term business relationships with suppliers and partners that share consistent standards of integrity, quality, respect for people, safety, information protection and responsible supply-chain practices.
This Code sets minimum expectations. Technical, quality, security, product or customer-specific requirements may additionally be established in contracts, purchase orders, specifications or quality manuals.
2. Legal compliance
Suppliers and business partners must comply with applicable laws in the countries where they operate and in the markets for which products or services are intended.
3. Integrity and anti-corruption
Bribery, kickbacks, facilitation payments, fraud, extortion, misappropriation and any improper advantage are prohibited. Intermediaries may not be used to engage in conduct that would be prohibited if performed directly.
4. Gifts and conflicts
Actual or potential conflicts of interest involving Microboard must be disclosed. Gifts, hospitality or benefits must not influence, or appear to influence, business decisions.
5. Competition
Suppliers must compete independently and must not engage in cartels, price fixing, market allocation, bid rigging or improper exchange of competitively sensitive information.
6. Public officials
Interactions with authorities, customs, tax officials, regulators and state-owned enterprises must be lawful, transparent and capable of being documented.
7. Human rights and labour
Forced labour, human trafficking, abusive retention of identity documents, unlawful child labour, discrimination and harassment are not accepted. Working hours, compensation and working conditions must comply with applicable law. Freedom of association and collective bargaining must be respected as provided by local law.
8. Health and safety
Suppliers must maintain a safe workplace, identify risks, train workers, provide appropriate personal protective equipment where needed and maintain emergency procedures appropriate to their operations.
9. Environment
Suppliers must comply with applicable environmental requirements and responsibly manage emissions, waste, hazardous substances, wastewater, water, energy and relevant environmental impacts.
10. Product quality and safety
Products and components must meet agreed specifications, regulatory requirements and quality controls. Changes in material, process, manufacturing location, firmware, critical component or sub-supplier that may affect product, safety, compliance or quality must be disclosed where contractually required.
11. Traceability
Where applicable, suppliers must maintain appropriate traceability of lots, components, origin, processes and quality records.
12. Responsible sourcing and minerals
Suppliers are expected to apply risk-based due diligence to minerals and materials sourced from conflict-affected or high-risk areas. When requested, suppliers should provide reasonable information on origin and smelters/refiners using CMRT, EMRT or an equivalent format where relevant.
Publication of this expectation does not mean that every Microboard product is automatically declared “conflict-free”; any specific claim depends on due diligence and evidence from the actual supply chain.
13. Information security
Suppliers must protect Microboard and third-party data, credentials, designs, firmware, documentation, commercial information and intellectual property against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration or loss.
Relevant incidents affecting Microboard information or products must be reported without undue delay in accordance with contractual and legal obligations.
14. Privacy
Personal data processed in connection with Microboard must be handled for legitimate purposes, with appropriate security and in accordance with applicable data-protection laws.
15. Intellectual property and confidentiality
Unauthorized use, copying, transfer or disclosure of trademarks, designs, source code, firmware, documentation, trade secrets and other rights is prohibited.
16. International trade
Suppliers must comply with applicable import, export, sanctions, classification, origin, end-use/end-user and customs-documentation requirements. False origin statements, deliberate undervaluation, transshipment designed to evade controls and circumvention of applicable sanctions are prohibited.
17. Sub-suppliers
Where appropriate to risk, suppliers should flow equivalent standards down to critical sub-suppliers.
18. Records and cooperation
Relevant records must be complete and accurate. Microboard may request reasonable compliance documentation and perform due diligence proportionate to risk and contract.
19. Speak Up / Integrity Channel
Good-faith concerns related to the Microboard supply chain may be reported through the Integrity Channel. Retaliation against good-faith reporters is prohibited.
20. Corrective action and consequences
Where reasonable, Microboard will prioritize corrective action and improvement. Serious violations, lack of cooperation or unremediated risk may result in suspension, non-approval or termination, subject to contract and applicable law.