Stakeholder dialogue
The KION Group and its operating units are in regular dialogue with a wide range of stakeholder groups, either directly, via surveys or at events (Table Stakeholder dialogue). This enables it to identify their requirements of the company at an early stage and incorporate them in decisions.
The KION Group’s key stakeholders are customers, employees, investors, shareholders and suppliers. In addition, the company and its operating units are members of industry associations and international institutions. The KION Group is actively working on sustainability issues, for instance in the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA), the Federation of German Foundry Industry (BDG) and the European Materials Handling Federation (FEM, Fédération Européenne de la Manutention). The KION Group is also involved in developing environmental standards such as ISO, CEN or DIN. Last but not least, the company is an active member of the Umweltpakt Bayern (Environmental Pact of Bavaria), Umweltpartnerschaft Hamburg (Environmental Partnership Hamburg) and numerous other public initiatives.
The KION Group identifies stakeholder groups that are particularly relevant to sustainability management according to clear criteria. In doing so, the company focuses on the importance and contribution of stakeholders to the KION Group’s success and on their specific requirements with regard to the company’s sustainability performance. The Sustainability Steering Committee is continuing to develop this assessment. The stakeholder survey conducted as part of the 2018 materiality analysis has yielded around 2,400 responses from employees, customers, investors and suppliers, some of them with in-depth feedback, which are currently being evaluated.
The form and frequency of dialogue is adapted to suit particular needs. Findings obtained from stakeholder dialogue are used to develop the company further. Of particular significance is the dialogue with customers, as understanding their requirements is central to the company’s success. The central target parameter defined here in 2018 was the Net Promoter Score (NPS), which had previously been applied for the STILL EMEA (see section on Products and solutions – Management approach to products and solutions).
In keeping with the KION Group Code of Compliance, the KION Group does not maintain any political relationships beyond its association work.
Table 4 Stakeholder dialogue
Stakeholders
Format
Topics in 2018
General public
Journal articles, social media, campaign days, the section on Sustainability in the KION Group Annual Report 2018, Sustainability Report
Sustainability management, social aspects, environmental protection, transparent reporting on sustainability
(Industry) associations
Participation in symposiums and working groups, membership of numerous associations such as ISO, DIN, VDMA, FEM
Energy efficiency, product specifications, product safety, product lifecycle sustainability
Financial market
Section on Sustainability in the KION Group Annual Report 2018, answering questions in the context of investor discussions, online stakeholder survey, Sustainability Report
Sustainability management, social aspects, environmental protection, important sustainability topics for KION, transparent reporting on sustainability
Legislative bodies/policy makers
Dialogue with authorities, association work
Approvals, inspections
Distributors
Distributors’ Board, regular meetings (annual kick-off and year-end events)
Zero Accident Philosophy at LMH EMEA
Customers
Regular customer visits, service helpdesk, complaints management, customer events, trade fairs and in-house exhibitions, consulting, customer magazines, Internet, LMH Product Clinic, image brochures and one-pagers for key account customers, online stakeholder survey, Sustainability Report and sustainability brochures
Product features, e.g. efficiency and safety, service offering, ergonomic design of vehicles and systems, important sustainability topics for KION
Suppliers
Supplier negotiations, EcoVadis supplier assessments, supplier audits, online stakeholder survey
KION Group Principles of Supplier Conduct, important sustainability topics for KION
Local communities
Local events such as the ForkliftCup federal state preliminary rounds, Training Day, regular exchange with local authorities at the locations
Social and cultural engagement, products, safety standards
Media
Section on Sustainability in the KION Group Annual Report 2018, press events, Sustainability Report
Sustainability management, social aspects, environmental protection, transparent reporting on sustainability, efficient energy systems, safety technology, sustainability activities
Employees
Management and employee survey, KEEP employee participation programme, suggestion scheme, employee magazine, intranet, online stakeholder survey, Sustainability Report
Company development, important sustainability topics for KION
Non-governmental organisations
Dialogue forums with NGOs (e.g. Linde China)
Environmental education
Science and research
Collaborations with education institutions, research projects, information days, internships, collaboration with students on dissertations and theses
e.g. alternative drive technologies