Operations (EMS)

The SGI manufacturing and logistics operations are designed and conducted to protect the health of our employees while seeking to minimize environmental impact.

SGI operates an "eco-friendly" manufacturing process:

• Only small volumes of chemicals (e.g., alcohol, solder, flux, adhesives) are used in SGI's manufacturing operations.
• There are no operations or processes that are required to be authorized by a state or federal air permit.
• The facility is classified as a Very Small Quantity Generator of hazardous waste since it generates much less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste (e.g., solvents, corrosives, paint-related material) per month. Small quantities of used oil, spent batteries, etc. are shipped offsite for recycling.
• SGI does not conduct activities outdoors that would potentially contaminate storm water discharges. Therefore, it is not required to apply for or maintain a storm water discharge permit.
• There are no process wastewaters generated at the facility.
• SGI does not manufacture, process, or otherwise use chemicals in amounts exceeding the activity thresholds that would require submittal of a Toxic Release Inventory.
• SGI maintains an Emergency Action Plan and routinely conducts drills to ensure emergency preparedness.

Using EMS to Drive Environmental Performance
SGI formally established and implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS) at its manufacturing facility in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin in 2002. The EMS is used to ensure environmental protection and compliance, and continuously improve SGI's environmental performance. Applicable elements of the EMS are implemented at other SGI facilities and field offices throughout the world.

The ISO 14001 Standard is a voluntary international standard that prescribes specific elements for managing an organization's unique environmental aspects and impacts. It has become a widely accepted benchmark of environmental commitment and performance. SGI's EMS meets all of the elements of the ISO 14001 Standard.

The EMS provides the framework for SGI to meet all applicable environmental regulations and achieve continual improvement. The EMS requires performance monitoring, regular audits, management reviews, and an ongoing process for identifying and addressing corrective and preventive actions.

This EMS Manual (PDF 47K) serves as a roadmap to the various elements, documents, and procedures that describe SGI's EMS.

SGI's Environmental Aspects & Impacts

1. SGI evaluated their activities, products, and services to identify all of the ways their operations could affect the environment so that they could focus their resources on addressing any and all resulting environmental aspects.
2. The potential environmental impacts were defined for each environmental aspect of SGI's operations.
3. An objective scoring system was used to evaluate each aspect to determine which environmental aspects are most significant based on their potential environmental impact, possible concern to customers or the community, cost impact to SGI's business, and its associated regulatory requirements.
4. SGI focuses their continuous improvement efforts on addressing these significant environmental aspects.
5. SGI sets and meets operational goals and results to continually improve our environmental performance.

Environmental Aspects
SGI's environmental aspects include:

• material and chemical use
• energy and water consumption
• solid and hazardous waste generation
• automotive fuel / oil use
• scrap, excess & obsolescence

Examples of the environmental aspects associated with SGI's primary activities are:

Manufacturing Material Use sheet metal, printed wiring boards, plastics, paper, cardboard, foam, wood, cabling, packaging Solid Waste Generation foam, plastic film, corrugated, wood, paper, dust & particles, peanuts, metal banding, batteries, chemical waste Logistics Scrap, Excess & Obsolescence printed wiring boards, disk drives, plastics, metals, power supplies, cables, software Manufacturing Engineering Energy Consumption electricity, natural gas

Potential Environmental Impacts Material Use use of natural resources consumption of goods use of recyclable reuse of materials Chemical Use potential harm to environment if spilled or released waste disposal FA lab reduces scrap generation Water Consumption use of natural resources domestic wastewater disposal water conservation measures Hazardous Waste Generation potential harm to environment if released waste minimization/source reduction Solid Waste Generation landfill disposal potential for hydraulic/oil leaks from compactors recycling/reuse Automotive Fuel/Oil Use use of natural resources potential harm to environment if released commute programs Scrap, Excess, Obsolescence resources to manage scrap remanufacture/reuse

Operational Goals and Results
SGI manages its operations in an efficient and environmentally sound manner because it makes good business sense! Our customers, employees and the community all benefit from operational goals and results that support environmental protection and compliance.

• Materials Management
• Smart Packaging
• Resource Conservation
• Recycling Solutions
• Community Stewardship