Compliance and integrity are also a high priority in the development of our products. Through our technical Compliance Management System, short tCMS, we want to safeguard the legal and regulatory conformity of our products. At the same, we are thus taking into account the increasingly complex regulations, the changing requirements of our customers and society as well as changes within the automotive industry.
Our technical Compliance Management System (tCMS)
For us, technical compliance means adhering to technical-regulatory requirements, standards and laws. We have introduced a technical Compliance Management System (tCMS) in our automotive divisions, in order to preventively address the specific risks associated with the product creation process from the start.
The tCMS is based on the existing Mercedes-Benz Group Compliance Management System and was completed through various measures and processes. It defines a worldwide binding company standard for product creation that is geared toward national and international standards. We regularly monitor the effectiveness of our tCMS and continuously develop it.
Developing in a Compliant and Responsible Manner
Through the technical Compliance Management System, we want to safeguard legal and regulatory conformity during the entire product development and certification process. At the same time, the tCMS intends to provide our employees with orientation and guidance, especially for challenging questions of interpretation regarding technical regulations.
In order to support our employees and provide them with guiding principles for day-to-day work, we have, in addition to the Integrity Code, defined so-called commitment statements together with the development units. The main focus of these "Technical Integrity" principles is to strengthen awareness for responsible behavior during the product creation process – especially for technical regulations and standards that are unclear or leave room for interpretation.
Technology and Law Working Hand in Hand
Group-wide, the tCMS is managed by the Compliance, Legal Product & Technology unit, whose head reports directly to the Member of the Board of Management for Integrity and Legal Affairs. The tCMS team consists of employees with different areas of expertise, for example development, legal affairs, integrity and compliance. In addition to designing the tCMS, its tasks also include the provision of legal advice to the divisions.
In the development units of the vehicle-related divisions, we have also created specific organizational units with experts for technical compliance. A network of direct contact persons assists employees with questions regarding technical compliance. Complex questions are evaluated and decided in an interdisciplinary process that takes into account technical, legal and certification-relevant criteria. For reporting potential technical compliance violations, the Whistleblower System Business & People Protection Office (BPO) is also available as a contact partner.
Training and Information of our Employees regarding technical Compliance
Through an extensive training offering, dialogue events and various communication measures, we regularly inform our employees in the development and certification units regarding technical compliance, integrity and legal topics. This way, we help them behave in a compliant manner in daily business and provide information about supporting points of contact.
In this context, an explanatory film on the technical Compliance Management System was created, which shows employees in development who they can contact in case of uncertainty. Using a specific case as an example, the video also presents the central elements of the tCMS in the passenger cars and vans business divisions.
Additionally, we conduct in-depth discussions on safeguarding technical compliance with selected business partners and suppliers. The aim of the dialogue is, among other things, to raise awareness for the regulatory environment and to communicate how Mercedes-Benz Group implements technical compliance. At the same time, we make the company's expectations towards suppliers clear.
