“Conflict Minerals” refers  to gold, as well as tin, tantalum, and tungsten that are used in manufacturing goods across many industries. These minerals are extracted primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo  (DRC) and surrounding region. For many years, armed groups have fought to control mines within the DRC and adjoining countries, have benefited financially from the proceeds of mineral trade, have committed violent crimes against locals and perpetrated human rights abuses. As a result, these minerals are also known  as “conflict minerals”.

Respect for human rights and the environment are commitments of Advanced Assemblies as a responsible corporate citizen. We are especially concerned about the human rights violations that may be associated with extracting, trading, handling and exporting minerals from the DRC and surrounding countries.  It is our policy that our products shall not contain  any “conflict minerals” derived from sources that finance or benefit armed groups in the DRC or adjoining countries.

Advanced Assemblies is committed to sourcing materials from suppliers that share our values around human rights, ethics and environmental responsibility. We are requiring the following from our suppliers, if any of the conflict minerals are intentionally added and are necessary to the functionality or production of any applicable product:

• A completed EICC-GeSI Conflict Minerals Reporting template.
• Provide a certification that the products supplied to Advanced Assemblies that contain tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold, if they do come  from the Democratic Republic of Congo or adjoining countries, are certified as conflict-free.
• Provide the names and pertinent information of the smelters they use.

Advanced Assemblies further advises its suppliers  to take similar measures with their own sub-suppliers to ensure alignment and traceability  throughout the supply chain and back to the smelter. We expect our suppliers to perform due diligence on the source and chain of custody of minerals used in the manufacturing of products they supply to Advanced Assemblies. Advanced Assemblies will reconsider our willingness  to partner with suppliers that fail to comply with this policy.