Back to basics: how industry leaders enable sustainable, safe operations

[Former Member]

In the ocean of great work SAP is doing in corporate social responsibility and improving its own sustainability, it can be easy to overlook the impact of our software solutions that enable customers to operate in a more safe and sustainable manner.   If you read the sustainability and integrated reports of SAP customers in heavy industries, you will see almost without exception that one of the main areas by which corporate sustainability performance is measured is environment, health and safety (EHS).  For example, in the materiality analysis in the 2012 BASF integrated report, EHS-related issues dominate the high-importance sustainability topics.

Sustainability depends on a license to operate

This is particularly true of companies in asset-intensive and high risk industries such as oil & gas, chemicals, mining, mill products and utilities.  It's pretty tough to be "sustainable" if you are blowing up the plant, injuring your people, damaging the communities in which you operate, recalling your products and getting a lot of bad press in the process!   In such industries, running safe operations, protecting the environment, optimizing the use of energy, and ensuring safe and complaint products are the table stakes needed to protect the license to operate.  In many cases, EHS performance and sustainable operations are THE highest business priority.  If you don't think so, just ask the CEO of a mining company what keeps him awake at night!

Showcasing customer value from EHS management

As well as avoiding costly "bad stuff" like production interruptions, injured people, fines and penalties, and brand damage, effective EHS management creates a lot of upside in the business…faster innovation, operational excellence, improved productivity…in short, if done right EHS contributes to profitable, sustainable growth.

This kind of business value that comes from going beyond compliance and proactively managing EHS risks and opportunities will be showcased by many of our top customers on February 18-19, 2014 in Houston, TX at the SAP Conference for EHS Management.  SAP customers who will be presenting EHS case studies include:  ExxonMobil, Air Products,  Reliance Industries, Ecopetrol,  TransCanada,  Chemtura,  Nalco Champion, NOVA Chemcials, Lundin Mining, and Southern California Edison.   

If you are a stakeholder in your company for sustainability, EHS systems and process improvement, you should consider attending this event.  It will be the single largest gathering in 2014 of SAP customers, partners, and experts focused on the topic of EHS management and solutions. This opportunity to network with and learn from fellow SAP customers is outstanding! 

For more information, visit the conference website and download the conference brochure now.  

Please share this information with colleagues with an interest in EHS, and how it can help drive sustainable business results! We look forward to seeing you in Houston on Feb 18-19^th.

Pete Bussey

SAP