The new Conflict Minerals Training program from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is now available. The AEM program helps OEMs and companies all along the supply chain more easily comply with complex minerals-reporting rules mandated by the US Dodd-Frank Act. The CFSI (Conflict Free Sourcing Initiative) and equipment industry leaders have reviewed content for AEM’s unique training program. A key feature is an exclusive interactive exercise that guides participants through filling out the CMRT (Conflict Minerals Reporting Template).

The AEM Conflict Minerals Training uses the association’s custom learning management system – MAP (Market Access Pathway) – for convenient training throughout the internal and external supply chain. Suppliers can take one training and communicate participation to multiple OEMs in a secure format. OEMs can trace training and program completion to better understand their supply chain’s level of understanding. The new AEM Conflict Minerals Training focuses on establishing a due diligence reporting process within the supply chain and emphasizes the importance of supply chain transparency.

“AEM’s Conflict Minerals training available on our exclusive AEM MAP learning platform will allow companies to offer high-quality training opportunities to their supply chain,” stated John Wagner, Director, Materials Management. “Suppliers will be able to take advantage of the high-quality industry-endorsed training to cascade down their supply chain and report progress up to multiple OEMs, leveraging the training investment.” AEM developed the MAP learning platform for its EU REACH regulatory-compliance training. All companies selling into the European Union (EU) must comply with REACH, the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances regulation. AEM expanded the scope at members’ request to cover Conflict Minerals training and is also developing a RoHS training program. “Because members are requesting REACH and RoHS data at the same time from suppliers, they would like to offer training on both at the same time as well; members are also requesting Conflict Minerals training for both internal staff and their supply chains,” stated Wagner.