Annual Report Sustainable Development Report ... - Groupe SEB

Protecting inventions,
to stay ahead of rivals
The Group pursues an active and interactive policy
of intellectual property protection, for which clear procedures
have been laid down jointly with the research, development
and marketing teams. This policy calls for strict discipline
in recording and centralizing all advances in research.
– Preliminary patent applications: this initial stage
in patent protection involves filing a set of technical
specifications with the French national patents office
(INPI*). This also enables detailed management
of knowledge and skills within the Group. In 2005,
Groupe SEB filed 340 preliminary patent applications.
– Full patent registration: with an annual average of
85 full patent registrations in the last three years,
the Group has documented its inventions and protected
its intellectual property.
The Group also takes active steps to prevent the
counterfeiting of its brands, models and registered patents
in order to guarantee the reliability and authenticity of its
products. In the last few years, the Group increased its efforts
in this area in China, where more than 50,000 articles were
seized in 2005.
* Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle
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Controlling costs,
to be more competitive
Rationalization of production processes also involves
strict management of costs. The Purchasing department
monitors suppliers and their conformity with the Group's
standards and demands. It has drawn up a panel of
381 suppliers (including 60 Chinese) which account for 85%
of our purchases. The reliability of panel members is regularly
reviewed. Close liaison with its suppliers, who are involved
at an early stage in projects, means that the Group can reap
substantial benefits in terms of quality, delivery deadlines,
rates and conditions of payment.
Despite the increased price of certain raw materials
in 2005, the Group performed well in this area, limiting to 1%
the year-on-year rise in its purchasing index, while it improved
its purchasing conditions in Europe and in low-cost countries.
Is-sur-Tille – Electric fryer test laboratory.
Increased use of sourcing
In recent years, Groupe SEB has been increasing its use of sourced components, sub-assemblies or finished products. This practice
of sourcing basic or low added-value products makes it possible for the Group to meet competition from low-priced products, while
it also frees the Group to concentrate on its strong point: high-tech innovation and the creation of value for the consumer.
In 2005, sourced products accounted for 25% of total Group sales, a rise on the previous year. The growing use of sourcing calls for
close liaison between the Group's research and development, industrial patents and purchasing teams. Together, they must
accurately define needs and monitor strict adherence to specifications by suppliers, while at the same time ensuring protection
of the Group's intellectual property.
Product Lifecycle Management
Idea u Research u Prototypes u Preliminary study u Detailed study u Market survey