VZCZCXRO0833
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHWR #1423/01 1711558
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201558Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4604
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHKW/AMCONSUL KRAKOW 1748
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 001423
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EEB/EPPD
EUR/NCE FOR DKOSTELANCIK AND BPUTNEY
EEB/PPD FOR NSMITH-NISSLEY
COMMERCE FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/EUR/JBURGESS, JKIMBALL, MRODGERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ECON EINV ETRD PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: CORPORATE EXCELLENCE NOMINATION FOR 3M POLAND
WARSAW 00001423 001.2 OF 002
1. Summary. Embassy Warsaw nominates 3M Poland for the Corporate
Excellence Award in the U.S. multinational corporation category. 3M
Poland began operations in Poland in the 1960's and began investing
in the country in 1991. Through acquisitions and growth 3M Poland
now employs 850, with plans for 1,000 employees by year-end, with an
investment of approximately $100 million. The company actively
supports local community efforts, has exemplary employment
practices, works with local and national government to improve road
safety practices, and is a model for ethical business practices in
Poland. End Summary.
2. Good Corporate Citizenship: 3M Poland created the City
Information System for Warsaw, a system of traffic control signs
with 3M Scotchlite Diamond Grade film that help move traffic safely
and efficiently. Another initiative, "Pay Attention to the Black
Points" supports local efforts to reduce road accidents by placing
large black cross signs warning careless drivers that they are
approaching a dangerous stretch of road. 3M Poland also sponsors an
Integrative Sports Club which is a wheelchair fencing team, two
local schools for disabled children in Kostowiec and Wroclaw, the
Junior Achievement Fund, an environmental NGO, and the Dr. Clown
Foundation which provides therapy for sick children in the hospital.
An innovative program is co-branding products with the local Red
Cross by placing the 3M logo on consumer health care products. A
percentage of the sales revenue is given to the Red Cross for a
program to support hot meals for poor children and families in the
poorest regions of Poland. To date, this program has provided
150,000 meals.
3. Exemplary Employment Practices: As of May 31, 2007, 3M Poland
employed 850 workers, and expects to employ 1,000 by year-end.
Employee turn-over is stable at only 5%. The company has very good
cooperation with trade unions and has not been involved in any
disputes with unions. Management conducts regular
employee-management communication meetings at each site. 3M
acquired the Viscoplast facility in 2001 and the Interchemall
facility in May, 2007 and has successfully integrated both
facilities into the operations of 3M Poland.
4. Provision of a Safe and Healthy Workplace: The company develops
and implements an annual Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Plan
and established a Safety Leader Competition. 3M employees are
involved in the EHS Plan so that 24 social work inspectors have been
trained and are active in production areas and 12 Pre-Medical Rescue
Teams are in place. 3M also reduced the number of high-risk work
stations to 2% of the total to better protect workers. The EHS Plan
is continually reviewed and improved and has enabled 3M to achieve a
Machine Safety Factor of 90%, implement 7 ergonomics projects. For
its efforts, 3M received the Polish National Work Inspection Award
for implementation of EU EHS directives. The Pre-Medical Rescue
Team won 19th place in the National Facility Rescue Team Competition
called "Safe Company 2006".
5. Responsible Environmental Stewardship and Practices: Since
1991, 3M Poland has invested $3.3 million in environmental
protection at its facilities. The company was ISO14001:2004
certified in 2001 and recertified in 2006. In addition, it has
completed 8 projects to date in its Pollution Prevention Pays
Program. 100% of asbestos removal is accomplished under the
Asbestos Free Facility Program. Recently, 3M modernized the sewage
system, water supply system and rain water treatment system.
6. Contribution to the Overall Growth and Development of the Local
Economy: 3M Poland's 2006 sales reached $118.7 million, of which
approximately $68.7 million of products were exported. The
company's five largest Polish customers are the Ministry of
Transport, the National Road Authority, TPSA (Polish Telecom), KGHM
Polska Miedz (Copper Mine), and Warsaw City Road Authorities. 3M
estimates that it has invested over $100 million in Poland in 2005
through 2007, significant investments for the towns of Kastowiec and
Wroclaw.
7. Compatibility, and if appropriate, contribution to local science
and technology policies: In 1998 3M Poland opened a Customer Center
in Kajetany, near Warsaw. The Center includes presentation rooms
and facilities where product application is demonstrated, training
courses are held, and new applications for Polish industry are
prepared and tested. 3M Poland also actively provides information
and technology to the government of Poland as well as of neighboring
countries. For example, it organized a workshop for the
International Labor Inspections Association with representatives of
the Serbian and Ukrainian Ministries of Labor. 3M also organized
and participated in workshops and initiatives of the Polish National
Road Safety Council such as Global Road Safety Week. 3M partnered
with Minister of Transport Polaczek and the Institute of
WARSAW 00001423 002.2 OF 002
Transportation on an exhibit "Road Safety is No Accident" in
Poland's parliament. The exhibit was designed to make members of
parliament and local government representatives aware of the
critical need to ensure safety and security of children. The
company also organizes regular seminars for the medical,
telecommunications, occupational health and safety, electrical
energy and industrial sectors, on new technology and applications.
8. Compliance with U.S., international, and local laws and
standards, especially in regards to anti-bribery, transparency, and
human rights and labor: 3M Poland is proud of its reputation as an
ethical producer and employer. The company was recently awarded
Superbrand status in Poland's business-to-business market for 2007
in a tough competition among 1,400 companies. In 2005, the American
Chamber of Commerce named 3M Poland its "Investor of the Year". In
2002, the company received the "Fair Play Enterprise" statuette and
in 2000, 3M was named "Company of the Year" by the Polish Business
Club. A testament to the company's image as a good corporate
citizen is the fact that its CEO and members of the Board of
Directors met with the President of Poland - an honor reserved for
company executives whose reputation is considered spotless by the
ruling Law and Justice party.
ASHE