From being the audit firm who conducted the first tantalum smelter audits under the EICC-GeSI Conflict Free Smelter (CFS) program* to being the only HSSE consultancy invited by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a panelist in their October 2011 Conflict Minerals Roundtable, The Elm Consulting Group International is one of the foremost authorities on conflict minerals programs under Section 1502 of the US Dodd-Frank Act.
Our practice is based on client project work, so we offer more than theory or opinion – we provide pragmatic and objective approaches that come from client experiences.
Our services reflect a range of completed and on-going client engagements and presentations specifically supporting conflict minerals, including:
- Awareness and training. We have provided awareness and training programs for audiences ranging from the general public to senior management and in-house procurement staff at client sites, industry groups and webinars. Custom scope and content can be developed to reflect specific needs.
- Strategy development and assessment. With the unprecedented scope of conflict minerals program, it can be daunting to determine where to begin and how to approach the topic. We assist clients in breaking down applicable elements/needs to help create a strategy appropriate for their business and place in the supply chain.
- Gap analyses/program reviews. Elm can review current internal programs supporting CM traceability, due diligence and reporting to help identify possible improvements. In addition to these client-specific advisory engagements, we offer our CM CheckPoint tool, which we facilitate within companies while limiting consulting costs for initial program reviews/development.
- Facilitation/development of Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiries and due diligence programs. Generally beginning with a gap analysis of existing programs, we assist clients with developing conflict minerals program elements supporting an framework. This includes steps to ensure the reliability and credibility of information submitted to customers or in SEC reporting – whether you are responding to conflict minerals information requests or are reviewing those submitted to your company.
- Audit preparation. Across the myriad national and industrial traceability frameworks, process stages and reporting steps, there is an emphasis on third party auditors providing critical information verification and program credibility in. Questions are arising as to what constitutes an “audit” versus other types of less formalized reconnaissance, investigations and assessments. With our perspective as professional auditors, we help clients understand – and prepare for – various audits, and understand the differences between an audit and other investigatory activities.
We invite you to contact us or call with questions on how we can assist you.
* Elm voluntarily withdrew from the EICC relationship at the end of 2010 to provide advisory or auditor roles with the highest level of independence.