Training on supply chain management and Smart ecoDesign (c) 
for the electronics industry in India

12-13 February 2001, New Delhi, India

Organised by
Commonwealth Science Council , UK
Electronics Components Industry Association, India
Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, India
Centre for Sustainable Design, UK

Funded by
Commonwealth Fund For Technical Co-operation (CFTC)
Commonwealth Science Council (CSC), London, UK

Venue
Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

 
Introduction

The electronics industry in India and other Asian countries is one of the 
most dynamic export sectors contributing significantly to economic growth 
and progress. However, the industry, like most other export sectors is 
increasingly being required to meet stringent environmental and social 
standards in export markets. These pressures are coming from policies and 
regulations (for e,g, the Waste from Electronics and Electric Equipment 
Directive of the European Commission) as well as from actors in the supply 
chain, notably large buyers of components such as Philips and Siemens who 
source from small component manufacturers in developing countries. The 
supply chain can be a powerful influence on small and medium sized
companies 
to improve their environmental performance. The challenge is to make sure 
that this does not happen at the cost of profitability and long term 
competitive advantage.

One of the key problems facing electronic component manufacturers in 
developing countries is that very often they are unaware of the 
environmental and social requirements in export markets, of business and 
environment issues in general, and of the concept of eco- design.

Background

The electronics industry is characterised by rapid technological change, 
complex supply chains and high rates of product obsolescence. It is also 
faced with a number of sustainability constraints relating (for example) to

the following:

"       Environmental and social impacts at different stages of production:
This 
may include:
O       Integrated circuit packaging and the use of solvents for cleaning 
circuits, chemicals, and other materials used
O       Printed wiring boards and assembly and the use of materials,
chemicals, 
solvents used in etching, plating, soldering etc.
O       Displays and the environmental impacts of cathode ray tube
technology

"       Disposal, recycling and reuse: this is a crucial issue in the
electronics 
industry. The rapid obsolescence of computer and electronic products 
combined with the plummeting prices for new generation systems, create a 
significant consumer incentive to dispose of old systems and buy new ones. 
This will continue to accelerate the entry of electronic systems into the 
waste stream unless viable technologies and infrastructures for recovery, 
and viable markets for the sale of recovered systems and materials, are 
developed. Designs that encourage recycling, purchasing systems that accept

reused products and materials, and data tracking of product or component 
histories and performance are important developments in this area.

A study conducted by the DGXI of the European Union and the Centre for 
Sustainable Design, UK identified the following four issues as crucial for 
sustainability and eco product design in the electronics industry:

v       Supply chain management
v       Communications
v       Links with environmental management systems (ISO 14000 and EMAS)
v       Innovation

Training

The CSC and its partners are organising 2 day workshop be held in New
Delhi, 
India (with participants from Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and

Brunei) to focus on:

(a)     sensitising entrepreneurs and policy makers on:
v       market pressures arising through the international supply chain in
the 
electronics industry
v       EUs Integrated Product Policy (IPP) and Environment Product Policy
(EPP) 
for the electronics sector

(b) providing training on tools and techniques on:
v       supply chain management
v       Smart ecoDesign


Participants

Participants in the workshop will be policy makers and entrepreneurs from 
the Indian electronics industry as well as foreign participants from 
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

Trainers

The training will be conducted by experts from the Centre for Sustainable 
Design in the UK and the Commonwealth Science Council, UK. The Electronics 
Components Industry Association (ELCINA), India and the Rajiv Gandhi 
Foundation in New Delhi will also provide relevant inputs and
organisational 
support. A list of other speakers and discussants is given in the Agenda 
below.

Outcome

v       Entrepreneurs and policy makers will be sensitised and trained on
the 
sustainable management of supply chains and eco product design in the 
electronics industry.
v       Participants will be provided with a tool kit on sustainable
management of 
the supply chain for electronics, including techniques related to eco 
design. This will also be available in the form a user active CD Rom, which

will also be disseminated through the Commonwealth Knowledge Network (CKN).

Registration

To register please contact:

Mr. Mohammad Saqib
Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi
Tel: + 91 11 3329005/3755117
Email: [log in to unmask]


 
Agenda

Training workshop on supply chain management and Smart ecoDesign for the 
electronics industry in India, 12-13 February 2001

Venue: Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi, India


12 February 2001

0900-0930:      Registration

0930-1030:      Opening session

1030-1045:      Coffee/tea break

1045-1145:      Trade and Environment: the WTO system and its implications
for 
Indian manufacturing

        Speakers:?? and Wilson, World Bank??
        
Questions and Discussions

1145-1230:      Overview of Electronics Component Manufacturing in India 
(emphasis on exports, supply chain pressures, sustainability constraints)

        Speakers: ???? RGF, ELCINA???

1230: 1245:     Review of Indian legislation

        Speakers: Govt.??

        Questions and Discussions

1245-1400:      Lunch

1400-1530:      Training Module 1: Supply chain management and drivers for
change

        Lecture/presentation by Martin Charter

        Work book/case study exercises: Martin Charter, Ritu Kumar, Saqib
Mohammad

1530-1545:      Tea/coffee break

1545-1730:      Training Module 2: Legislation: WEEE/ROS/European national 
directives/ EEE and their potential impacts

        Lecture/presentation by Martin Charter and Herbert Enmarch-Williams

        Work book/case study exercises: Martin Charter, Ritu Kumar, Saqib
Mohammad



13 February 2001

0900-1000:      Training Module 3: Integrated Product Policy

        Lecture/presentation by Martin Charter

        Work book/case study exercises: Martin Charter, Ritu Kumar, Saqib
Mohammad

1000-1100:      Training Module 4: Business Issues and Corporate Strategies

        Lecture/presentation by Martin Charter

Work book/case study exercises: Martin Charter, Ritu Kumar, Saqib Mohammad

1100-1115:      Tea/coffee break

1115-1300:      Training Module 5: Smart ecoDesign

        Lecture/presentation by Martin Charter

Work book/case study exercises: Martin Charter, Ritu Kumar, Saqib Mohammad

1300-1400:      Lunch

1400-1600:      Training Module 5 (continued)

1600-1630:      Wrap up