Supplier information

Siemens has established global principles and guidelines that apply across the entire company. According to this document, all employees and managers are obligated to act ethically and comply with applicable laws. These principles form the foundation of our work and guide how our employees interact with each other, our customers, and our business partners.

The Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct reflects the content of Siemens’ Business Conduct Guidelines. Our partners commit to adhering to the principles outlined in the Supplier Code of Conduct.

Read Siemens Terms and Conditions of Purchase

• PL: Ogólne Warunki Zakupu Siemens
• ENG: Siemens General Terms and Conditions of Purchase

Compliance with Applicable Laws

Compliance with applicable laws is one of our core responsibilities. This principle is part of our corporate responsibility, and we expect the same from our suppliers.

As a Siemens supplier, you commit to:

• Complying with the laws applicable in Poland

Respect for Fundamental Human Rights of Employees

Siemens expects its suppliers to respect the fundamental human rights of employees. These rights are defined in international conventions of the United Nations (UN), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the UN Global Compact.

This means that, as a supplier, you are obligated to:

• Respect the personal dignity, privacy, and rights of every employee
• Comply with the maximum working hours defined by the laws of the respective country

Occupational Health and Safety

You must have your own minimum occupational health and safety standards in place. During supplier selection, it must be ensured that your suppliers also meet these minimum requirements.

This means that, as a supplier, you are obligated to:

• Take responsibility for the health and safety of your employees
• Control risks and take the best possible precautions to prevent accidents and occupational illnesses

Prohibition of Child Labor

Siemens expects its suppliers not to employ workers under the age of 15. In exceptional cases, employment of workers aged 14 is permitted only if the minimum age of 14 is allowed under ILO Convention No. 138 in the country where the supplier operates.

As a Siemens supplier, you must not:

• Employ workers under the age of 15
• In developing countries with exemptions under ILO Convention No. 138, employ workers under the age of 14

Environmental Protection and Technical Safety

We comply with environmental protection principles wherever we operate—worldwide. We view environmental protection as a holistic process: from product design, through production, usage, and finally recycling or environmentally safe disposal.

Our environmental protection efforts also enhance the market potential of our products and help us achieve greater environmental compliance and ecological efficiency in our products and production processes. Cooperation with our suppliers is crucial in these efforts.

This means, for example, that we expect you to act in accordance with applicable internal and international environmental protection standards.

Implementation of Environmental Management Systems

The Siemens Management Board has set a goal to implement and maintain official Environmental Management Systems (EMS) based on the international ISO 14001 standard in organizational units that have an environmental impact. Criteria for determining environmental relevance include resource usage (e.g., energy), the amount of waste generated, and/or the presence of equipment requiring permits.

Product Oversight Throughout Its Lifecycle

Product-related environmental protection is not an end in itself. In many cases, it results in economic benefits that add value to environmental compliance. However, to achieve this, environmental aspects must be considered as early as possible in the product development process—starting from the planning and design stages. This topic is linked to hazardous materials, product returns, environmental product declarations, Siemens internal standard no. 36 350 (critical substances, packaging).

Environmental Protection in Industry

We are proud of our unique product portfolio and global presence, which also presents ongoing challenges in our efforts to protect the environment. Issues such as climate change and the responsible use of critical resources like water are relevant to our production facilities and offices.

Technical Safety – Hazardous Goods

Compliance with regulations concerning hazardous goods helps prevent risks to people or property, as well as damage to the environment, means of transport, or other goods—as far as possible. This is also our goal. Adhering to hazardous goods regulations ensures the elimination or minimization of risk.

To ensure compliance with our principles throughout the supply chain, we will implement periodic supplier self-assessments. Additionally, adherence to our requirements outlined in the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct will be monitored through supplier quality audits, which include a dedicated module on corporate responsibility.

Monitoring compliance with the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct

Since May 2007, the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct has been an integral part of supplier agreements and forms the foundation of our business relationships.

To ensure compliance with the principles of sustainable cooperation and ethics in the supply chain, we have introduced periodic supplier self-assessments. In addition, we will monitor compliance with the requirements outlined in the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct through regularly conducted supplier quality audits, using a dedicated Corporate Responsibility audit module.

Initiatives to ensure compliance with the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct

• Supplier Self-Assessments
• Supplier Quality Audits

Supplier self-assessments

In a short questionnaire consisting of 14 questions, we ask for information regarding the practical implementation of the requirements of the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct. These responses will be systematically evaluated and assigned to an appropriate category.

The categories consist of three levels:

• Green Category: The supplier has met all requirements and consistently implemented them in practice. Siemens will follow up within two to three years to reassess compliance with the Code.
• Yellow Category: Indicates minor potential deviations from the Code. In this case, an authorized Siemens procurement manager, supported by relevant functions and the supplier, may propose appropriate measures to reduce or eliminate the deviations. A follow-up self-assessment will be conducted within two to three years.
• Red Category: Indicates serious potential risk of non-compliance. An authorized Siemens procurement manager, supported by relevant functions and the supplier, will propose corrective actions to permanently eliminate the risk. A follow-up self-assessment will be conducted within two to three years.

Collaboration with the supplier

If necessary, and after consultation with the supplier to clarify any misunderstandings, Siemens-authorized experts in Corporate Responsibility (e.g., environmental or occupational safety specialists), or internationally recognized third-party experts, may visit the supplier’s premises to conduct an inspection and define corrective actions to be implemented within a specified timeframe (post-incident inspection).

The timeframe for implementing corrective actions will be agreed upon with the supplier. Implementation must begin immediately.

If corrective actions cannot be defined or implemented due to unwillingness or inability on the part of the supplier—despite support from Siemens experts—Siemens will attempt to resolve the issue in a management-level meeting with the supplier. If these efforts fail, Siemens may be forced to consider termination of the agreement as a last resort.

Supplier quality audits

As part of the regular supplier quality audit schedule, the supplier’s procedures will be reviewed for compliance with the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct using a dedicated Corporate Responsibility audit module. This enables a detailed analysis of the practical implementation of the Code’s requirements and identification of potential areas for improvement.

The list of questions from the Corporate Responsibility audit module will be shared with the supplier prior to the audit or, upon request, added as an annex to the purchase agreement. The supplier’s self-assessment may optionally be used by the quality auditor during audit preparation. It helps the auditor form an initial opinion and allows the supplier to prepare more thoroughly for the audit.

If the supplier demonstrates significant, critical discrepancies with the requirements of the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct, Siemens will define corrective actions in agreement with the supplier’s management to eliminate all discrepancies within a specified timeframe.

If corrective actions are not taken due to unwillingness or inability on the part of the supplier, despite support from Siemens experts, Siemens will treat this as a final step and terminate the agreement.

Sample supplier audit questions

• Does the supplier have regular training programs on compliance with applicable legal regulations, especially those concerning anti-bribery and anti-corruption?
• How does the supplier ensure equal opportunity and fair treatment during recruitment and employment?
• How is the age of young workers verified during recruitment, and how is the accuracy of their responses checked?
• How are occupational health and safety trainings conducted?
• Does the company take actions to continuously reduce or avoid environmental pollution?
• What actions does the company take upon receiving specific information about violations of the Code of Conduct by its own suppliers?

Post-incident inspections

Post-incident inspections are conducted in cases of:

• Serious suspicion of violations of the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct (e.g., media reports, information from recognized and credible sources)
• Supplier being classified in the “red” category based on self-assessment
• Need for expert assistance when the supplier fails to implement recommended corrective actions

A post-incident inspection is a local inspection focused solely on compliance with the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct. During the inspection, an authorized expert will visit the supplier and define corrective actions to ensure lasting compliance with the Code. Implementation of these corrective actions must begin immediately. Results will be reviewed during a follow-up inspection conducted by the authorized expert after the implementation deadline.

If the expert determines that corrective actions cannot be implemented or if the proposed actions are not carried out and/or the supplier shows no willingness to improve, the expert may recommend blocking the supplier. In such cases, Siemens will treat this as a final step and terminate the purchase agreement.

The role of the authorized expert overseeing compliance with the Siemens Supplier Code of Conduct is performed by a Siemens employee specially trained in these matters or by an external expert from a company respected internationally in the field of Corporate Responsibility.