Product Safety
To fulfill its social responsibility, Wafer Works observes the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Code of Conduct and undergoes RBA-VAP verification by a third party. The Company has also obtained certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 14064-1:2006, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 50001:2018, and BS 8001:2017. Wafer Works identifies and formulates response measures for risks encountered at all levels of its operations, ensuring more stable and smooth business management. Wafer Works’products comply with regulatory requirements and are clearly labeled with detailed information such as origin, ingredients, and warnings. During the reporting period, there were no instances of violations related to product and service information and labeling, nor were there any breaches of regulations governing product marketing communications (including advertising, promotions, and sponsorships). Consequently, there were no severe penalties or significant fines.
The products provided by Wafer Works have no significant impact on health and safety and meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders. In 2023, the Company achieved a 100% recovery rate from suppliers who submitted RoHS 2.0 reports and declarations of compliance with the prohibition of hazardous substances.
Product Quality
Wafer Works has obtained ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certifications for its quality management system. Guided by the principles of these systems, we monitor the performance of our products, processes, and systems using a process-based approach. This involves continuous measurement, analysis, review, and improvement of all processes to ensure effectiveness.
As stated in Wafer Works' quality policy: "Strictly adhere to management procedures and operational standards, enhance the execution of the quality system, implement continuous improvement strategies, pursue optimal quality goals, and strive to meet current and future customer needs to achieve customer satisfaction." Wafer Works is dedicated to promoting continuous improvement activities within the organization, embedding a culture of quality improvement deeply within the Company. To this end, Wafer Works encourages all employees to suggest improvements in their work areas to boost the effectiveness of various processes, including product quality, cost efficiency, and lean production. Through these ongoing improvement initiatives, our objective is to bolster our internal quality capabilities and ethos, thereby delivering consistent, top-tier products to our customers and attaining excellence.
In 2023, 12 Quality Control Circle (QCC) improvement teams were formed by employees at Wafer Works. These team members collaborated to analyze the current situation using quality tools and proposed improvement solutions to optimize existing processes. Throughout the year, they completed 27 improvement projects, which significantly benefited the production line operations.
In addition to the QCC, Wafer Works encourages all employees to participate in the improvement proposal program. Every employee can submit improvement suggestions through the system. We value the wisdom and experience of every employee. If a proposal is deemed feasible after review and evaluation, it is implemented promptly to directly and quickly enhance or optimize current operations. Meanwhile, employees who submit proposals are rewarded accordingly.
In 2023, Wafer Works received 148 proposals, with 15 being recognized as highly effective and excellent suggestions.
Intellectual Property Rights
To strengthen Wafer Works' leadership position in the industry and ensure legal protection for advanced research and development results in the market, thereby preventing infringement disputes, reducing operational risks, and enhancing competitiveness, Wafer Works attaches great importance to intellectual property rights. In alignment with our technical R&D projects, we strategize our patent portfolio, filing internal patent applications using the Company's patent application system and adhering to patent application management regulations. Collaborating with patent law firms, we facilitate patent retrieval, application, and review processes to enhance the likelihood of patent approval. This strategic approach aims to prepare for future product rollouts and mitigate infringement risks. Wafer Works has established the "R&D Innovation and Creation Incentive Guidelines" to motivate employees to innovate actively.
In conjunction with the Company's development strategy, the output of intellectual property rights is increased to ensure the uniqueness of the Company's products and technology. Regular patent inventories are conducted to assess the value of each patent and to monitor the progress of each patent application, the validity period, and certificate filing. Over the past three years, we have exceeded 50 patent applications, and the target for the number of patent applications in 2023 had been met. Wafer Works will adjust next year's plan to analyze both our own patent map and that of our competitors.