Management system

A properly functioning and effective management system is essential for the effective implementation of corporate policy, environmental guidelines and hygienic standards. This is based on customer orientation, product quality, environmental protection, and health and safety at work.

Customer orientation and quality assurance

Customer orientation is at the very top of our list of priorities. To ensure that our customers are optimally supplied with our products in the specified quality, at the right time, at the right place, and in the right quantities, we have organised, networked and defined in writing a sophisticated system of procurement, manufacturing and logistics processes. The business processes are monitored and evaluated through internal and external audits.

Environmental protection

Environmental protection plays an important part in our strategy. It is essential to have an effective organisation in place to efficiently manage and implement environmental protection measures. The Nordzucker management system is an optimal platform for the documentation of implemented measures and the generation of continuous improvements.

Organisation

Our organisation has been established to ensure the targeted implementation of our corporate goals. All of the departments within the company have been integrated within business units. The strategy for each business process along with organigrams and process procedures – including targets and evaluation methods – are defined and documented within the management system and further developed on the basis of regular audits.

Certification

The integrated management system is structured pursuant to the international DIN EN ISO 9001 standard and also complies with the specifications spelled out by DIN EN ISO 14001 and the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) defined by EU directive 761/2001. The binding regulations defined in the management system include rules which apply to the whole company and individual factories.

All the separate measures integrated within the management system are specifically aimed at improving and optimising business processes in line with the principle of Continuous Improvement Processes (CIP).

CIP is primarily supported by:

• Internal audits aimed at analysis and process improvement
• Operational environmental audits
• Management reviews
• Annual external audits conducted by certification companies and environmental consultants
• Audits by Nordzucker customers, supplier audits
• Certification pursuant to emissions trading

Product standards

All of the German sugar factories comply with Kosher and Halal dietary laws. The sugar factories producing sugar products for the retail industry are also certified according to the International Food Standard (IFS).

For our animal feed, we have implemented the Dutch GMP 13 standard since 2002, GMP B2 since 2006, and the German Q&S standards of Qualitäts & Sicherheit GmbH since 2003. HACCP concepts for the minimisation of potential risks affecting food and feed have been implemented. This includes transport and storage as well as production.

For the quality assurance of our raw material “sugar beet”, our beet growers are obliged by the supply contracts to document all of their beet farming procedures and to adhere to good agricultural practice.