Quality

 
Quality policy

Through clear management focus and commitment, to comply with requirements and to continually improve the effectiveness of the quality management system by continued investment in training, systems, and state of the art equipment, IQE will deliver continued quality improvements in all aspects of its business.”

IQE shall maintain and continually improve a well-implemented QMS, enabling us to profitably manufacture products that satisfy our customers.

It is fully acknowledged by the senior management that the future success of the organization depends upon the company’s ability to maintain and enhance its reputation as a quality supplier. Such policies will be communicated, understood and reviewed for their continued suitability. Top management meetings will review and establish new quality objectives with the aim of continually improving the Quality Management System.

DR A W Nelson

November 2008

 

 

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Third party accreditation

Click here to download copies of third party certification of IQE's Quality Management Systems. 

Commitment to quality

IQE's ongoing commitment to provide the highest quality of service ensures customer satisfaction covering the entire customer relationship experience — from order inception right through to delivery and after-sales support.

As a reflection of the company's steadfast dedication to quality, each operating division within IQE is certified to the ISO9001:2008 internationally recognised Quality Management System standards. IQE's quality assurance program includes wafer evaluation using the most advanced measurement techniques applied specifically to its customers' structures, thereby ensuring consistent delivery of the highest-quality products. Rigorous data logging and documentation of all manufacturing processes and procedures maintain a system of total traceability. IQE's thorough characterization processes ensures excellent repeatability and reproducibility. By offering "process ready" epiwafers, customers save both time and money by reducing redundant incoming epiwafer inspection.

 
 
Commitment to total customer satisfaction

Customers strongly value the trust and confidence they have established with IQE as a "pure play" supplier with whom they share their most confidential and proprietary device design information. The IQE strategy is to consolidate its position as the pre-eminent supplier of epiwafers rather than vertically integrate into device or component manufacturing. This philosophy protects customer interests to the fullest and facilitates excellent customer-supplier working relationships.

Employing its extensive wafer production experience, IQE continually maintains its technological leadership through the development and implementation of new growth and characterization technologies and new materials solutions. IQE is actively involved in partnerships with its suppliers of crystal growth and characterization equipment to develop the next generations of epitaxy and metrology equipment with specific focus on increasing production efficiencies, reducing epiwafer costs, and maintaining its technological leadership.

Partnering with IQE is the natural choice for outsourcing of compound semiconductor epiwafers. Any device manufacturer with a clear vision of business effectiveness should team up with IQE — the best in custom epitaxy.

 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

 

The IQE Group actively promotes a philosophy of corporate social responsibility across all of its operations and engages in a number of local, national and international initiatives working with a wide range of third party organisations and authorities in areas such as ethical employment policies, educational and community work.

Every effort will be made by all Group companies to ensure best business practice is deployed by:

  • Respecting the need for confidentiality across our global customer base by ensuring that any references to customer's names, products or services are not disclosed to third parties without the customer's consent

  • Being open and honest about our products and services and communicating with customers all appropriate information they need to make informed decisions

  • Ensuring that any issues or problems are dealt with efficiently, with fairness and in a timely manner

  • Working closely with customers and potential customers to help us improve the value of the products and services we offer them

  • Ensuring that we benchmark and evaluate what we do in order to constantly improve products and services in the marketplace

  • Communicating with all stakeholders as and when appropriate, effectively and transparently subject to ensuring confidential information is not compromised

  • Identifying and selecting suppliers using fair and reasonable methodologies

  • Identifying and using suppliers who operate to ethical business standards

  • Identifying and using local suppliers wherever possible

  • Working closely with suppliers to help us improve the value of the products and services we offer customers to the benefit of the supply chain

  • Ensuring that our terms and conditions are fair and reasonable

  • Ensuring employment practices throughout the Group are fair and in full compliance with employment legislation

  • Working with and supporting local and national charities

  • Encouraging volunteer work in community activities

  • Supporting local academic establishments

  • Participating in voluntary business advisory services via professional bodies

Each of the Group's subsidiaries is responsible for communicating and applying group policies within their businesses taking account of local legislation and potential risks.

Although not eligible to participate in the London Stock Exchange FTSE4Good programme, IQE nevertheless maintains standards and applies the principles of this index.

The group also actively engages with a number of industry groups, educational bodies and charities to promote science and technology and to help contribute to community causes.

 

Environment

 
Commitment to the environment

The IQE group of companies specialises in the manufacture of advanced semiconductor materials and is fully committed to protecting the environment in which we live and work. The Group strives to continually improve our environmental performance and actively promotes environmental responsibility by reducing our environmental impacts. IQE will:

  • Comply with all legal and other requirements to which the company subscribes
  • Prevent Pollution of our local and global environment by implementing Best Available Techniques for our plant and processes
  • Prevent or reduce environmental impact of our operations, products and packaging in their manufacture, distribution, use, and disposal.
  • Reduce, Reuse or Recycle our waste where possible or dispose of it ethically
  • Promote the efficient use of energy in all areas.
  • Minimise the use of raw materials wherever practicable.
  • Implement Environmental management systems in our facilities with the aim to having them externally verified
  • Adopt best practice in the handling, storage, use and disposal of all chemicals that we use
  • Integrate Safety, Health, and Environment considerations into business planning and decision-making.
  • Increase shareholder value and reduce our business risks through excellence in Safety, Health, and the Environment.
  • Minimise any disturbance to the local community and areas of special scientific interest.
  • Encourage all staff to participate in the EMS and provide adequate training for them to do so.
  • Ensure that contractors working on behalf of IQE adhere to the relevant IQE environmental standards,and procedures
  • Appoint a board member as responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented across the Group

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Third party accreditation

Click here to download copies of third party certification of IQE's Environmental Management Systems. 

 
Compliance with RoHS

The Restriction Of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment is a European Directive that that takes effect from 01 July 2006. (http://www.rohs.gov.uk/).

IQE has analysed samples of its GaAs and InP based materials and confirms that all products supplied by the Group are fully compliant with the regulations:

 

Certification of compliance and chemical content

IQE certifies that to its knowledge, products manufactured by all divisions of the IQE Group (all subsidiaries of IQE plc) are deemed to be "Pb-Free" and conform to the requirements of the European Union's Restriction on Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Eu RoHS) Directive, 2002/95/EC.

Furthermore, IQE Group Companies' products do not contain and are not manufactured with substances subject to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer.

Substances listed below are not intentionally added to IQE Group Companies' products or packing materials.

 

Table of banned substances:
  • Cadmium and cadmium compounds
  • Lead and lead compounds
  • Mercury and mercury compounds
  • Hexavalent chromium compounds
  • PBB (polybrominated biphenyl) and PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether)
  • PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl and naphthalenes
  • Asbestos
  • Azo compounds
  • Ethylene glycol ethers and related compounds
  • Halogenated dioxins and furans
  • Ozone depleting substances
  • Radioactive substances

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