Skip to content

Supplier Code Of Conduct

Ethics in Practice

Living our values through our ethical behaviour
Our values: Quality, Partnership, Ingenuity, Expertise and Energy, are at the heart of everything we do,
reflecting a vision that goes through the whole organisation, underpinning our business.
Sharp’s suppliers are an integral part of the overall success of Sharp, each day, together we make decisions that impact our ability to provide quality health care products and services to our customers.

This documents the principles, guidelines and expectations for establishing and maintaining a business
relationship with Sharp. Sharp is committed to having business relationships with
suppliers who share the company’s dedication to providing quality products and services and conducting business in a legal and ethical manner. Because our suppliers are an extension of our business, we have the same expectations for them.

Therefore Sharp expects our Suppliers to have their own Supplier code of conduct/ policy in place and that it be provided to Sharp on request. Also, we expect them to conduct their business to minimize
environmental impact and avoid having adverse health impacts on communities.
Sharp is aware of cultural differences and challenges associated with interpreting and
applying these principles globally. While Sharp believes these principles are universal, we
understand that the methods for meeting these expectations may be different but must be consistent
with the laws, values and cultural expectations of the different societies of the world.

All Sharp suppliers are expected to understand and comply with the “Sharp Supplier
Code of Conduct.” Suppliers are strongly encouraged to contact an Sharp procurement
representative with any questions.

Suppliers are also strongly encouraged to contact Sharp procurement whenever there are
questions relating to the appropriateness of any activity. Procurement employees can provide an
overview and further guidance on applicable Sharp policies.

Sharp reserves the right to verify a supplier’s compliance with the “Sharp Supplier
Code of Conduct”. If Sharp becomes aware of any actions or conditions not in compliance
with the “Sharp Supplier Code of Conduct,” Sharp reserves the right to seek
corrective action.

Ethics

Suppliers shall conduct their business in an ethical manner and act with integrity. Sharp
expects suppliers to comply with all legal and regulatory requirements regarding ethics including:

Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists whenever there is a competing interest that may interfere with our ability to
make an objective decision and act in the best interest of Sharp. Sharp, along with suppliers, are expected to use good judgment and to avoid situations that can lead even to the
appearance of a conflict that may undermine the trust others place in us.

Suppliers that do business with Sharp shall not have any competing interest that may
interfere with their ability to make objective decisions to act in the best interest of Sharp.
Good judgment is expected as well as avoiding the appearance of a conflict of interest.
All suppliers shall notify Sharp immediately in the event of a potential or actual conflict of
interest.

Business Integrity and Fair Competition

Suppliers shall conduct business competitively and in full compliance with all applicable laws, codes and
regulations. Suppliers shall not pay or accept bribes or participate in other illegal inducements in
business or government relationships. Suppliers shall employ fair business practices including accurate
and truthful advertising. Suppliers shall be informed of the applicable provisions of the Sharp
Code of Business Conduct, including the following concepts related to interactions with Sharp
employees:

  • Employees shall deal with all suppliers, customers, and all other persons doing business with Sharp in a completely fair and objective manner without favor or preference based on personal financial considerations or personal relationships.
  • Employees shall not accept or provide (directly or indirectly) gifts, prejudicial discounts, payments, fees, loans, entertainment, favors or services from any person or firm, which may influence or give the appearance of influencing purchasing decisions.
  • No employee shall do business on behalf of Sharp with a close relative or own any financial interest in a supplier’s business where the Sharp employee has the appearance or ability to impact the supplier’s relationship with Sharp. Such relationships must be disclosed per Sharp policies.
  • No employee shall grant permission for use of Sharp’s name and/ or logo without permission from Sharp

Sharp contract workers and agents (for example, consultants, contract sales forces, speakers,
distributors, clinical investigators, etc.) must also comply with the applicable provisions of the Sharp Code of Business Conduct.

Sharp employees and suppliers are expected to report violations or possible violations of the
Sharp Supplier Code of Conduct to Sharp Purchasing and Supplier Management or
to the Sharp Office of Quality and Compliance.

Identification of Concerns

Suppliers shall be encouraged to report concerns or illegal activities in their relationship with Sharp without threat of reprisal, intimidation or harassment. Sharp will review the
concerns and respond to them in a timely manner.

Suppliers shall not use or disclose Sharp confidential information other than with the express
prior written consent of, and for the benefit of, Sharp. In particular, suppliers shall not
exchange or otherwise disclose Sharp confidential information with any competitor or other supplier. Any information or data regarding Sharp operations shall always be treated as
strictly confidential unless that information is in the public domain. Confidential information includes,
but is not limited to:

  • Purchase material specifications and conditions
  • Requests for quotation
  • Cost sheets
  • Profit information
  • Asset information
  • Names of suppliers
  • Pricing
  • Purchase strategies
  • Contact details
  • Financial/sales/marketing information
  • Operating processes/formulas and other know-how which are Sharp property and have not yet been disclosed to the general public
  • Sharp Intellectual Property (IP)
  • Computer software programs
  • Personal information about employees, offices and directors
  • Wage and salary scales
  • The Sharp name or logo


Sharp shall require that suppliers confirm these obligations by entering into confidentiality
agreements with regard to any of the previously listed confidential information and to ensure that
company, worker and patient privacy rights are protected.

Sales Techniques

Suppliers are expected to interact with Sharp in an open and honest manner. The following
sales techniques are strictly prohibited:

  • Backdoor selling – circumventing the proper Sharp channels to convince an individual to purchase a specific product or service.
  • Making commitments to provide a product or service without having the capacity to meet the commitment.
  • Request for competitor information – asking for information regarding a competitor’s product, pricing, terms, distribution or other segment of their business.
  • Offering gifts in excess of nominal value.
  • Providing pricing structures that are less favorable to Sharp if the supplier is the single or sole source for the goods or services provided.
  • Requesting Sharp to accept a proposal after the closing date.
  • Suppliers and business partners are not permitted to directly or indirectly promise, offer or provide any improper advantage to any person or entity.

Supplier Visitation Process

Suppliers have limited access to Sharp facilities. The following procedures are to be followed
by all Sharp suppliers:

  • Suppliers should be properly registered.
  • All suppliers are required to register with the receptionist or site security for access to the facility.
  • Suppliers are to be accompanied by an Sharp employee at all times.
  • Suppliers are never to occupy an Sharp employee’s office or cubicle without displaying proper Sharp-issued identification.
  • Suppliers, upon departure of Sharp property, are to leave their visitor badges with the receptionist.
  • Sharp host/sponsor is responsible for suppliers while on site.

Labor

Suppliers shall be committed to fair treatment of their employees and to treat them with dignity and
respect. Sharp expects suppliers to comply with all legal and regulatory requirements
pertaining to the fair and equitable treatment of employees including:

Freely Chosen Employment

Suppliers shall not use forced, bonded or indentured labor, involuntary prison labor or human
trafficking.

Child Labor and Young Workers

Suppliers shall not use child labor. The employment of young workers below the age of 18 shall only
occur in non-hazardous work and when young workers are above a country’s legal age for employment
or the age established for completing compulsory education. Employee files should be maintained with
adequate data to verify ages of employees.

Non-Discrimination

Suppliers shall provide a workplace free of harassment and discrimination. Harassment or discrimination
for reasons such as race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, religion, political
affiliation, union membership or marital status is not condoned or tolerated. Sharp expects
suppliers to share its commitment to equal opportunity in employment and its commitment to
employee diversity.

Fair Treatment

Suppliers shall provide a workplace free of harsh and inhumane treatment. This includes, but is not
limited to, any sexual harassment, sexual abuse, corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or
intimidation of workers.

Wages, Benefits and Working Hours

Suppliers shall pay workers according to applicable wage laws, including minimum wages, overtime
hours and mandated benefits as per custom of the country of employment. Suppliers shall communicate
with the worker the basis on which they are being compensated in a timely manner. Suppliers are also expected to communicate with the worker whether overtime is required and the wages to be paid for
such overtime. Suppliers shall keep accurate records regarding employee working hours and vacation
hours. Open communication and direct engagement with workers to resolve workplace and
compensation issues is encouraged.

Freedom of Association

Suppliers shall respect the rights of workers, as set forth in local laws, to associate freely with one
another. Workers shall be able to communicate openly with management regarding working conditions
without threat of reprisal, intimidation or harassment.

Health and Safety

Suppliers shall protect workers in the workplace, and in any company-provided living quarters, by
providing a safe and healthy environment. Sharp expects suppliers to comply with all
standard, legal and regulatory requirements regarding employee health and safety.

Environment

Suppliers shall operate in an environmentally responsible and efficient manner and shall strive to
minimize adverse impacts on the environment. Suppliers are encouraged to conserve natural resources,
to avoid the use of hazardous materials where possible, and to promote activities that reuse and
recycle. Sharp expects suppliers to comply with all laws, regulations, standards, ordinances,
rules, permits, license approvals and orders regarding the environment and the use of restricted
substances.

Environmental Authorizations

Suppliers shall obtain all required environmental permits, licenses and approvals and comply with all
applicable operational and reporting requirements.

Waste and Emissions

Suppliers shall have systems in place to ensure the safe handling, movement, storage, recycling, reuse or
management of waste, air emissions and wastewater discharges. Any waste, wastewater or emissions
with the potential to adversely impact human or environmental health shall be appropriately managed,
controlled and treated prior to release into the environment.

Spills and Releases

Suppliers shall have systems in place to prevent and quickly respond to all accidental spills and releases
into the environment.

Restricted Substances

Suppliers are to adhere to all applicable restricted substance laws, regulations and customer
requirements including responding to requests for substance composition in materials/parts, prohibition
or restriction of specific substances, including labeling for recycling and disposal.

Conflict Minerals

Supplier shall ensure that all parts and products supplied to Sharp do not contain “Conflict
Minerals”, i.e., columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, wolframite (or their derivatives tantalum, tin and
tungsten) or gold sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or an adjoining country that
have directly or indirectly financed or benefitted armed groups in the DRC or an adjoining country.
Suppliers shall have systems in place that are designed to meet these objectives.

Procurement

Suppliers should have a sustainable procurement policy in place to ensure their own suppliers conduct
business to minimize environmental impact and avoid having adverse health impacts on communities.

Management Systems

Suppliers shall have a quality management system in place to facilitate continual improvement and
ensure compliance with the principles outlined in the Sharp Supplier Code of Conduct.
Suppliers are encouraged to maintain conformance to international standard ISO 9001 and local
regulations. Quality Management System elements include:

Commitment and Accountability

Suppliers shall allocate adequate financial, human, and technical resources.

Suppliers shall identify all applicable laws, regulations, rules, ordinances, permits, licenses, approvals,
orders, standards and relevant customer requirements and ensure compliance with them.

Risk Management

Suppliers shall have mechanisms in place to determine and control risks in all areas addressed by this
document. Suppliers shall have adequate financial resources to assure business continuity and maintain
financial solvency.

Documentation

Suppliers shall maintain documentation necessary to demonstrate conformance with these principles
and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, rules, ordinances, permits, licenses, approvals, orders,
standards and relevant customer requirements.

Training and Competency

Suppliers shall have an effective training program that achieves an appropriate level of knowledge, skills
and abilities in management and workers to perform the service that Sharp has requested and
is covered by a contract. Documented training must be available for all employees as evidence that
training was performed.

Continual Improvement

Suppliers are expected to continually improve by setting performance objectives, executing
Implementation plans and taking necessary actions to correct deficiencies identified by internal or
external assessments, inspections and management reviews.

Communication

Suppliers shall maintain open and direct communication with appropriate Sharp business
functions, including Purchasing.
Suppliers shall notify Sharp prior to making any change that may affect conformance to
defined requirements, product quality, or a regulatory filing outlined within a supply agreement and/or
quality agreement.

Data Requirements

Suppliers shall meet all data requirements prior to conducting business with Sharp.

Supplier Set-Up

Suppliers shall provide all key data (i.e., tax documents, banking information, etc.) to ensure proper set
up in Sharp’s systems.

Transactions

Suppliers shall not perform any services without a fully-executed contract and/or Purchase Order in
place. Suppliers shall provide all accurate information on submitted invoices, as instructed by Sharp.

Sharp Supplier Code of Conduct

I certify that our company has received, read, understood and will abide by the Sharp Supplier
Code of Conduct.

Company Name
__________________________________________________________________
Representative
__________________________________________________________________
Job Title
__________________________________________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________________________________
Date
__________________________________________________________________