Thank you for your support and partnership with the IBM Procurement Organisation.
As a supplier, you should be aware of the following which we think will be helpful to all concerned when doing business with IBM.
For more than a century, IBM has based its business model on fundamental values that define our company and guide all of our relationships—in areas from corporate and social responsibility to business ethics and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
IBM's values are reflected in the IBM Supplier Conduct Principles, which IBM expects our suppliers adhere to as a condition of doing business with IBM. These Principles, which are available on the IBM Supply Chain Social Responsibility website, establish for our suppliers minimum standards of conduct in areas including fair labor practices, respect and dignity in the workplace, environmental responsibility, business ethics and compliance with laws, and other similar fundamental principles of socially responsible businesses.
IBM's goal is to work with our suppliers to foster full compliance as our suppliers, in turn, apply these principles to their extended sources of supply involved in the production of goods and services for IBM. We will consider a supplier's adherence to these Principles in our supplier selection process and will seek to ensure ongoing compliance by actively monitoring performance.
These principles are embedded in our supplier selection process, and we will actively monitor suppliers' existing performance against them as a means to promote sound business practices across IBM's extended supply chain. IBM plans to use the services of an independent third party to review supplier facilities and to report to IBM on your compliance with these principles.
IBM also has strict limitations on gifts and entertainment with suppliers. IBM employees and members of their families cannot solicit or accept gratuities from suppliers or prospective suppliers. And IBM employees can only accept meals and entertainment when the expenses are reasonable, do not violate any laws, and would be offered to other customers of the supplier in a similar business situation. Please see IBM's policies regarding gifts and gratuities and business meals and entertainment on our Policies and Procedures page.
We want to hear from you if you believe these principles, policies, or procedures are not being followed in our relationship. An important resource that our suppliers can use to communicate with IBM is the IBM Procurement Global Ombudsman office. The Ombudsman office helps IBM suppliers address concerns and issues relating to their supplier relationship with IBM, including concerns regarding ethical issues, which may be difficult to resolve satisfactorily through normal business channels. The purpose of IBM Procurement Global Ombudsman office is to deal with precisely those types of issues—with care, respect, and integrity.
We encourage you to read and use the information and resources on our IBM Global Procurement internet site. And we look forward to growing a mutually beneficial relationship with your company—one built on the fundamental values reflected in the IBM Supplier Conduct Principles.
We would also like to ensure that you are aware of the following:
1. The IBM Purchase Order Number must be stated on your invoice and be addressed to Accounts Payable
2. Please ensure you receive a Purchase Order or written authorization to proceed from a Procurement Personnel before delivering goods or commencing any performance of services. Failure to comply will risk non-payment by IBM for unauthorized orders.
Let us know if you have any feedback or queries related to this letter. If you do, you may reach out to myself as the IBM country procurement manager in your country within 7 working days from when this letter was sent. Beyond that, we will gather that you do not have feedback or queries for this letter. And have acknowledged your receipt and agreement to comply with our principles.
Sincerely,
Kawida Srikram
Thailand IBM Country Procurement Manager
Email: kawida@th.ibm.com