HP Enhances Manufacturers’ Visibility across Global Supply Chain

Enhancement to the HP Compliance Data Exchange supports the deadline from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Palo Alto, Calif.Feb. 27, 2014HP announced a new enhancement to the HP Compliance Data Exchange (CDX) that can enable manufacturers to accurately and efficiently report the presence of conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries in their supply chains.

Publicly traded companies within the United States must file a declaration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by May 31, 2014, reporting their usage and sourcing of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold during the 2013 calendar year.

Manufacturers in the consumer goods space often work with thousands of suppliers to source their materials and reporting this type of supplier information can be challenging. However, using conflict minerals or failing to report can have a severe impact on a brand’s reputation.

The Conflict Minerals Declaration (CMD) Manager, an enhancement to HP CDX, offers a simple, reduced-error method to create CMDs. CMD Manager provides an operational managed system of record with critical CMD information, and facilitates the validation, importation and exportation of supplier information. A cloud-based solution globally accessible via the Internet, the secure, real-time CMD manager enables manufacturers to quickly review their reports and submit them to their customers within the supply chain. In addition, it assists manufacturers in becoming conflict-free by providing an extensive list of verified conflict-free mines in the DRC.

“With increasing national and international requirements related to recycling and the use of regulated substances, manufacturers must take an active role in knowing where their materials are being sourced from or risk putting their brand’s reputation on the line,” said Jay Celorie, conflict minerals global program manager, HP.

HP CDX supports manufacturers across diverse industries, including transportation, aerospace and electronics to meet compliance requirements relating to recycling and the use of regulated substances. In addition to easing reporting for the Conflict Minerals Rule, it also facilitates and accelerates compliance with other legislation, such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Hong Kong Convention (HKC). It also supports efforts to enable the sustainability of product lifecycles and design.

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