Tag: 3BL

In any workplace setting, ensuring the safety and well-being of employees is of paramount importance. One essential tool that aids in this is conducting office risk assessments. By identifying potential hazards and assessing associated risks, your organization can take proactive measures to mitigate risk and demonstrate a culture of safety.

In this blog, we will delve into the concept of risk assessments, highlighting their significance, and explore when and why they should be conducted. We also provide a risk assessment template to help you take the first steps in assessing risk at your facility.

What is a Risk Assessment? 

A risk assessment is a systematic process that involves identifying potential hazards in the workplace and evaluating the associated risks they pose to employees and the organization as a whole. The assessment aims to identify areas of concern, implement appropriate measures to control or eliminate risks, and ensure a safe working environment for everyone.

Many countries in EMEA require the completion of a risk assessment, which is often the first step in establishing a health and safety program for your site. Other jurisdictions may require a job hazard analysis (JHA), which focuses on specific tasks, breaking down each step to identify and mitigate task-related hazards, enhancing worker safety through task-specific guidance. A risk assessment evaluates overall risks in a workplace or project, considering various hazards and their potential impacts, aiding in strategic decision-making.

Download our Risk Assessment Template: 

Not sure where to start? Our Risk Assessment Template will help you identify risks, assess their severity, and outline a corrective action plan. Download your template here. 

Why Do I Need to Conduct a Risk Assessment? 

Legal Compliance: Conducting risk assessments is often a legal requirement in many jurisdictions such as France, England, Brazil, etc. Organizations must adhere to occupational health and safety regulations to ensure compliance and avoid penalties. Failing to conduct risk assessments can lead to legal repercussions, financial liabilities, and damage to the organization’s reputation. This is true even for office environments or when employees are working remotely.Employee Safety: The primary objective of conducting risk assessments is to safeguard the well-being of employees. By identifying potential hazards, such as faulty equipment, electrical issues, or poor ergonomics, organizations can take preventive measures to minimize accidents, injuries, and illnesses. This not only protects employees but also promotes a positive work environment and boosts morale.Financial Impact: Workplace accidents and incidents can result in significant financial implications for an organization. Medical costs, compensation claims, increased insurance premiums, and productivity losses due to employee absence can strain the financial resources of a business. Conducting risk assessments helps mitigate these risks and reduces the likelihood of costly incidents.Reputation and Brand Image: A company that prioritizes the safety of its employees demonstrates a commitment to responsible business practices. By conducting risk assessments and taking appropriate actions to address identified hazards, organizations can enhance their reputation and build trust with employees, clients, and stakeholders. This, in turn, can attract top talent, foster customer loyalty, and contribute to long-term success.

When Do I Need to Conduct a Risk Assessment? 

Risk assessments should be conducted under the following circumstances:

New Workplaces: When establishing a new office or workspace, it is crucial to conduct a risk assessment before operations begin. This ensures that potential hazards are identified and addressed from the outset, setting a solid foundation for a safe working environment.Changes in Work Environment: If significant changes occur in the workplace, such as the introduction of new equipment, alteration of work processes, or modifications to the physical layout, a risk assessment should be conducted. This helps identify any new risks associated with the changes and enables appropriate measures to be implemented promptly. This is especially important for organizations implementing return-to-work plans or developing hybrid/flexible work plans.Regular Reviews: Risk assessments should be conducted periodically, even in established work environments, to ensure ongoing safety. This allows organizations to stay vigilant, identify emerging hazards, and adapt safety measures accordingly. Some countries require a risk assessment to be reviewed and updated at least annually. Regular reviews also enable compliance with evolving legal requirements and industry standards.

Conducting office risk assessments is a vital aspect of maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. By identifying potential hazards, evaluating associated risks, and implementing effective control measures, organizations can protect their employees, comply with legal obligations, and safeguard their reputations.

Regularly reviewing and updating risk assessments ensures continuous improvement and reinforces a culture of safety within the organization. Prioritizing risk assessments demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of employees and contributes to a more productive and harmonious work environment.

Need help creating a safe, healthy, and sustainable workplace? We’ve got you covered!

Get in Touch Today

About Antea Group

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com. 

Inogen Alliance is pleased to announce the addition of a new Associate company, Sustainera Solutions in Azerbaijan. This allows us to continue to provide strong EHS and Sustainability support expanding coverage in the EMEA region for our multinational clients. In choosing new Associate companies to join the Alliance we have a thorough due diligence process to ensure alignment in values, services and complimentary coverage with our existing companies.

Sustainera Solutions is a consulting and research firm, with registered offices in Azerbaijan and Georgia. Sustainera provides exceptional advisory, research, and capacity-building services to businesses, IFIs, DFIs, government agencies, and international organizations. Their mission is to help clients transform their challenges into long-lasting and sustainable solutions. They recognize the urgent need to address climate change and sustainability issues in today’s world. The team at Sustainera is well-versed in the risks and opportunities associated with these issues and can assist clients in navigating the complexities of sustainability initiatives. Their key services include sustainability, climate change solutions, geo solutions, research & evaluation, data analytics & business intelligence, technical safety, and risk management.

“We are excited to embark on this journey with the Inogen Alliance, as it aligns perfectly with Sustainera’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and collaboration. Joining the Alliance will enable us to combine our expertise with like-minded partners, multiplying our collective impact and accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient future for all,” Ilkin Haji, Executive Director.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

SAC Executive Vice President Andrew Martin recently gave a keynote speech at the 92nd Textile Institute World Conference (TIWC) 2023, which took place in Queensgate, Huddersfield at the University of Huddersfield on July 3-6, 2023.

Speaking on the topic titled, Vigilance and influence: The role of academia in transforming industry, Martin took to the stage to share specific challenges currently facing the industry in achieving effective and rapid change, which members of the academic community and professional experts have a great opportunity and important role in addressing.

Martin opened his keynote by giving a brief history of the SAC, including the challenges the industry faced while working in silos and the inspiring idea from two unlikely companies that brought the sector together around a universal approach to measuring sustainability performance. Launched as the Higg Index suite of tools, this approach set the industry on a collaborative path towards driving collective action. Reflecting on the progress achieved including in areas such as collaborating with data, insights, capacity building, and more, Martin noted there were still obstacles the industry was facing, which also presented an opportunity for motivating even deeper collaboration.

Martin highlighted persistent challenges in the increase of reports, campaigns, and media stories, based on poor science and unsubstantiated research, which sometimes lack transparency regarding funding or authorship. He explained that this often results in the creation of sustainability and circularity narratives that are not always scientifically sound and do not truly reflect the complexities and nuances of sustainability and circularity, while also lacking the integrity and accuracy critical to drive credible actions.

Acknowledging genuine efforts by stakeholders to contribute to and accelerate change in order to build a sustainable future for the industry and the world, Martin highlighted the risks of employing narratives that create division, pit industry players against each other, and influence civil society, stakeholders, policymakers, and consumers with flawed information.

As an example, Martin highlighted the challenges we face with oversimplification, leading to binary messaging – i.e. “this thing is good and this thing is bad” – and the threat that this poses to slowing or even halting the urgently-needed holistic progress needed across the whole industry.

“The world has reached a critical point in the climate crisis,” Martin said. He then shared three key areas in which we believe the academic community could contribute to solutions with the nuance and clarity that’s necessary to achieve effective progress: materials, policy, and processes, which ensure that rigor, transparency and credibility are upheld. He challenged academics to come together and collaborate on the development of a framework to help expose and eliminate flawed, counter-productive narratives in reports, campaigns, and the media. Finally, he called upon them to leverage their voice and expertise to become active influencers, calling out bad science, spotlighting the more nuanced work, and providing the insights needed to drive positive action.

“We can’t go on relying on shallow soundbites,” Martin said. “We need your knowledge, experience and credibility to drive the change we all want and need to see.” He completed his keynote speech with a clear call to action: Members of the academic community and experts should get involved and to share their knowledge, experience, and credibility to help drive collective change, support collaboration, and ultimately deliver real progress for a better future.

Read more in Andrew’s opinion piece in environmental journal.

Covia is the responsible steward of over 80,000 acres of land across our footprint. Planning for responsible land use is embedded throughout the life cycle of our operations – from our careful approach to early development and operational planning, to our production phase, all the way through our collaborative reclamation process aimed at protecting, restoring, and nurturing the land and biodiversity. Over the decades, we have helped restore a wide variety of ecosystems including wetlands, forests, ranchlands, shorelines, prairies, and more.

Examples of the many biodiversity and conservation efforts are included below.

Best Sand Chardon, Ohio: In 2017, a pair of ospreys built a nest on a utility pole located on site at our Best Sands operation. The nesting location of these once-rare birds of prey not only posed threats to the birds from the live electricity, but it also compromised the integrity of the local electrical grid. Realizing the need for an environmentally friendly solution, Team Members worked with the local Geauga Park District to build a new platform to support the bulky nest of the ospreys, protecting it from predators. The platform was installed approximately 200 feet from the original nesting site, and Team Members were able to carefully remove the old nest fully intact from the utility pole and place it on the new station. Since first being installed, this new location has successfully served as a safe haven for the ospreys without disrupting the birds or their young.

Hephzibah, Georgia: Protecting and preserving bluebird habitats has been a focus at our Hephzibah location since 2004. For almost 20 years, Team Members have worked on a bluebird project at the 3,000-acre site to support the nesting of the birds as well as the safety of their eggs — from the time they are laid through the process of incubation and hatching. This includes placing bluebird boxes around the site in low-traffic areas where the birds can nest safely, as well as preserving parts of the property not used for mining with native trees and grasses that are friendly to wildlife. Some areas are even managed with controlled burns to encourage healthy forest growth, promoting the long-term viability of the species.

Menomonie, Wisconsin: Team Members at our Menomonie site remain focused on incorporating additional resources into Covia’s site-wide stormwater management program by maintaining a 40-square foot rainwater garden on site. The garden, developed with guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, aims to capture and filter water runoff until it can be slowly absorbed into the ground to eliminate standing water, which attracts mosquitoes. The rain garden provides a safe habitat and source of fresh water for pollinators and other native species. Pollinator activity, as well as plant health, survival rates, and blooming periods are regularly monitored by Team Members. The Menomonie wildlife team maintains the habitat with regular weeding and watering, and by replacing plants and mulch as necessary to help the site thrive.

Empowering Our Sites to Champion Biodiversity Efforts

Our work in protecting the natural environment of our communities is a company-wide initiative, and our approach to responsible land management is highly localized and targeted to the unique needs of our sites’ respective communities. Every Covia site is required to submit a Community Action Plan (CAP) that specifies areas of priority for tackling environmental opportunities and upcoming reclamation projects in the neighboring communities. These plans are evaluated on a site-by-site basis to have the greatest impact at a local level. 
For more on our CAP requirements and process, please see the Responsible Governance and Ethics section of this report.

We solicit regulatory and community input for restoring the land in our care to its best, most sustainable use, and our incremental reclamation projects prioritize proactive restoration. During the year, our cross-functional Reclamation and Land Rehabilitation Steering Team developed formalized procedures and workflows to more appropriately budget for reclamation. This new, centralized approach aims to ensure our plants have the resources they need to prioritize safeguarding their local ecosystems.

We are committed to being stakeholder-inclusive by engaging with neighbors, governments, indigenous groups, and cross-disciplinary experts to fully consider ecological, social, and economic factors in our land use.

Goals that Inspire Environmental Stewardship

Preserve, Restore, and Improve Biodiversity 
During the year, we re-prioritized our commitment to biodiversity and reclamation, aligned with UN SDG 15: Life on Land.

TARGET: Implement a conservation biodiversity initiative at all sites, with 50% of our mining and processing sites holding Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) certification or equivalent.

2022 Progress: In 2022, 16 of our active mining and processing sites held WHC certification and currently, our total percentage of such site certifications remains flat year over year at 33%. To drive additional certifications, we have identified nine sites that will begin the WHC certification process with support from the Biodiversity Conservation Steering Team.

Furthermore, we have established a formal framework and process for our conservation biodiversity initiative, which we will begin piloting in 2023.

Finally, we created a dedicated, cross-functional Steering Team to oversee our biodiversity preservation efforts in pursuit of our 2030 goal.

TARGET: Develop and implement a conservation plan for 100% of our mining and processing sites that have a species-at-risk present.

2022 Progress: During the year, we partnered with a third-party consultant to begin developing conservation plans for sites with species-at-risk present, and we expect to begin a phased rollout at select sites beginning in 2023.

TARGET: Improve ratio of land rehabilitated to land disturbed (compared to the 2021 baseline).

2022 Progress: At the end of 2022, our ratio of land rehabilitated to land disturbed was 1:25, compared to 1:8 in 2021. Our 2022 performance was impacted by additional land disturbances at several of our mining and processing sites, which more than offset the reclamation progress we made during the year.

To address our 2022 performance, we have established clear land management expectations as well as more effective, centralized budgetary support across our sites to improve our ratio. We also created a dedicated, cross-functional Steering Team to oversee our land reclamation efforts in pursuit of our 2030 goal.

For more information on our WHC partnership, please watch this video.

View the full Covia 2022 ESG Report here. 

As the recovery efforts continue following the devastating wildfires in Hawaii, local T-Mobile employees and those sent to provide aid share their stories of resilience and gratitude for those who have come to support the surrounding communities.

Members of the T-Mobile Community Support team have come to Maui to join the entire Emergency Management Team in an effort to support first responders, customers and communities.

Business Manager Monika Thornton is one of those people.

Monika has been in touch with us along the way to share the personal stories of local employees and others those on the ground as T-Mobile bands together to restore connectivity and supply essential tools such as devices and charging supplies.

Meet local Maui resident Mark Ceyatano and other T‑Mobile employees who are helping the surrounding community after recent wildfires.

Network Update

As of August 18th, our Network and Emergency Management Teams have fully restored coverage and are now working to deploy more microwave connectivity which will further improve data. We have two COWs in place to provide temporary coverage where a tower was damaged by the fires.

Our teams are continuing to set up Starlink equipment generously donated by SpaceX, including at Royal Kahana Maui, the Kaanapali Beach Club, and the Lahaina Gateway National Guard Post.

More Ways to Give

Join us in supporting the American Red Cross. Help people affected by the Hawaii wildfires. Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters.

Donate here.

Originally published in Owens Corning’s 2022 Sustainability Report

While pursuing her undergraduate degree in civil engineering, Courtney Rice became interested in asphalt paving and pavement performance, and she’s worked in the asphalt industry for 12 years. The last six years have been spent at Owens Corning, working in the specialty paving business and with our circular economy team. Courtney chose Owens Corning because of our work in paving and our efforts to create a circular economy model for our roofing shingles. Courtney is eager to share her perspectives about the innovations and collaborations that are helping to advance Owens Corning’s circular economy ambitions.

”Asphalt is 100% reusable and recycled at a higher rate than any other material in America. I think that’s an awesome story to tell.“

On what it takes to develop a circular economy

With our 2030 sustainability goals, Owens Corning has set a bold and ambitious goal to drive the bottom line on the circular economy. We’re aligning the right people and the technical experience to really understand how recycled materials incorporate into pavement designs and how to take the asphalt itself from a recycled shingle. We’re also working on how that will impact recycling down the line in our environment. We’ve aligned ourselves with industry leaders to have a positive influence on this initiative. I think having that intentional focus and the right people in place can bring about change within the company and the world. Innovation is key across the board and especially within the asphalt industry. It’s a huge push right now.

On Owens Corning’s accomplishments in specialty paving

In the last few years, we’ve successfully diverted nearly 20,000 tons of shingle waste from landfill — just in our small specialty paving group. With this initiative, we’ve reused both postconsumer and manufactured single waste into paving. There are also innovative technologies that have come onto the market that have the potential to drive product innovation. There’s a way to incorporate recycled asphalt shingles at the appropriate percentage to get a sustainable pavement that lasts just as long as a road without recycled materials. We partnered with some of our key customers in two different markets. Those customers are looking to incorporate more recycled materials, so we were able to tailor an asphalt that allowed them to do so.

On the emphasis on sustainability throughout our industry

You can’t go to an industry meeting without somebody talking about sustainability and how important it is, not just for recycled shingles into paving. Third parties are creating chemistries that we can use in paving, which will allow us to recycle more. Recently, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association started putting roofing manufacturers and asphalt industry leaders together and working toward a common goal. And I think that, by extension, leads to some conversations to where there are key stakeholders at the table making decisions that will help push these sustainability goals. It gives me hope that we’re going to see the pendulum swing — because we have to do this for ourselves and for our environment.

Read more

SAVE-THE-DATE: Aug. 23 at 1:00 p.m. | California State Capitol – West Side Steps

Key Speakers

Senator Scott WienerSenator Henry SternAssemblymember Tasha BoernerMelissa Romero, CA Environmental VotersSarah Sachs, CeresJ.J. Huggins, PatagoniaMelanie Morelos, Greenlining InstituteCatherine Atkin, Carbon Accountable

Legislative, corporate, and environmental leaders will be joined by concerned citizens who support climate transparency at a rally and press conference at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, as they advocate for passage of two first-in-the-nation climate disclosure bills, SB 253 and SB 261.

The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) would require large public and private companies operating in the state and making more than $1 billion in annual revenue to report their greenhouse gas emissions across their operations and supply/value chains. The Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261) would require companies making $500 million to report on their climate-related financial risks.

The message from both bills is clear: climate risk is financial risk. Legislating for robust carbon accountancy and disclosure is imperative for ensuring California manages climate and financial risk by providing information that consumers and investors demand and remains a leader in the clean energy economy.

Notable attendees at Wednesday’s event will include the bill’s authors, Senators Wiener and Stern, along with Assemblymember Boerner, and representatives from organizations including Ceres, Patagonia, California Environmental Voters, the Greenlining Institute, and Carbon Accountable.

“As the climate crisis unleashes new horrors day after day, it’s critical that corporations be transparent about their emissions and financial risk from climate change,” said Senator Wiener. “Whether they’re consumers, investors, or employees, Californians are stakeholders in these businesses and deserve to know how they are navigating one of the greatest challenges of our time. SB 253 will set the standard for climate disclosures for the entire nation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Assembly and with the Governor to continue California’s global leadership on climate,” said Sen. Scott Wiener (SD11).

“This is crunch time for California climate leadership. While policymakers in other places are working to conceal crucial information about the risks of the climate crisis to corporations and workers — not to mention our future — I am confident that the Assembly and the Governor will recognize the urgency of this moment and the need for transparency to get these bills passed,” said Sen. Henry Stern (SD27).

“SB 253 and 261 is a bold action that helps us combat the climate crisis by providing transparency and ensuring accountability for those emitting greenhouse gasses,” said Assemblymember Tasha Boerner. “We can only mitigate the impacts of climate change if we shine a light on who is polluting and maintain comprehensive data on how much they’re polluting. I’m proud to support these bills and thank my colleagues in the Senate for bringing them forward.”

“Corporate accountability and leadership are crucial pillars of our climate action and broader approach to drastically reduce emissions that fuel the intense wildfires and extreme weather already impacting Californians,” said Melissa Romero, Senior Legislative Manager, at California Environmental Voters. “SB 253 and SB 261 are essential to addressing the climate crisis — we can’t afford to push emissions transparency and climate risk disclosure further down the road.”

“We’ve seen a growing cascade of business support for SB 253 and SB 261, because businesses see the clear financial impacts of climate risk and the benefits of measuring that risk,” said Sarah Sachs, Manager, State Policy West at Ceres. “Climate disclosures are now simply a fact of doing business around the globe, and California must take advantage of this opportunity to ensure it remains at the leading edge by passing this key legislation.”

“Patagonia is pleased to support SB 253 and SB 261,” said J.J. Huggins, a spokesman for the Ventura-based outdoor apparel company Patagonia. “We need government leaders to enact and enforce regulatory standards mandating industry to measure greenhouse gas emissions and disclose risks associated with climate change, because finding solutions to the climate and ecological crisis requires consistent and quality data.”

“California’s low-income communities and communities of color consistently shoulder the worst impacts of pollution exposure and climate change. Corporations are a big part of our climate problem and it is time they are also a big part of our climate solutions. SB 253 lays the groundwork for holding corporations accountable for their impact, and sets a gold standard for the rest of the nation to follow. We thank Senator Wiener for his commitment to protecting our communities and holding corporations accountable. The Greenlining Institute applauds the legislative champions that have already voted in favor of this momentous proposal, and we look forward to working with the rest of the legislature to turn SB 253 into historic state law,” said Melanie Morelos Senior Program Manager of California Strategy at the Greenlining Institute.

“In the more than 2 years since Senator Wiener first introduced this bill global GHG emissions have risen 7%. You can’t turn on the TV or open up the paper without news of some climate related disaster – heatwaves and fires, floods and hurricanes – in places that have rarely experienced them and with increasingly devastating impacts. The time for waiting is over. The California legislature and the Governor must step up and boldly lead on climate action. This game changing law will inform smart decarbonization, address climate risk and shine a light on greenwashing and hold corporations accountable for their carbon pollution reduction pledges” says Catherine Atkin, Director of Carbon Accountable, a co-sponsor of SB 253.

Corporate support for the legislation has accelerated dramatically this year. More than a dozen companies have submitted a letter to lawmakers in support of SB 253, including: Microsoft, IKEA USA, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Patagonia, Adobe, Avocado Green Brands, Dignity Health, Grove Collaborative, REI Co-Op, Everlane, Eileen Fisher, Recology, Atlassian, and Seventh Generation. In a separate letter, a dozen companies signed in support of SB 261, among them: Microsoft, VF Corp., Patagonia, REI Co-Op, Sierra Nevada, Alter Eco, DSM North America, Seventh Generation, Grove Collaborative, Avocado Green Brands, Atlassian, and Everlane. Salesforce also issued a letter of its own in support of SB 253.

All citizens committed to climate and financial accountability are urged to attend and rally support for the passage of SB 253 and SB 261.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Helen Booth-Tobin, Ceres: 617-247-0700 ext. 214Anna Maldonado, Persefoni: 520-981-4736

Keysight solution enables researchers to characterize sub-terahertz amplifiers and other components in active transceiver front-endsTechnology advancements lay the foundation for next generation ultra-high data rate, energy-efficient radio systems

SANTA ROSA, Calif., August 22, 2023 /3BL/ – Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) is enabling the University of Stuttgart to conduct foundational research essential to development of new integrated circuits (IC) for 6G technology with the new Keysight 6G Vector Component Analysis (VCA) solution. This is the latest collaboration from Keysight and the University of Stuttgart’s long-time research relationship.

The collaboration has supported the University of Stuttgart in establishing Crosslink, a versatile multiplexing platform for synchronous time-and frequency-domain analyses of ultra-broadband communication channels. The Keysight VCA solution supports Crosslink by integrating sub-terahertz (sub-THz) vector network analysis with wideband modulation capabilities. This combined capability enables unprecedented radio frequency (RF) component characterization under full complex modulated conditions. The result is industry-first, best-in-class noise and linearity performance for analysis of wideband, high-frequency modulated performance of components, circuits, and transceivers. By using VCA, researchers can make significant leaps in the development of the next-generation amplifiers, filters, antenna systems, components, and the channel modeling and sounding needed for 6G networks.

The Keysight VCA measurement solution used for Crosslink integrates an N5245B PNA-X Microwave Network Analyzer, an M8199A Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG), broadband modulation distortion vector network analyzer (VNA) application software, and vector signal analysis (VSA) software with Virginia Diodes (VDI) frequency extenders up to 330 GHz.

The Keysight and University of Stuttgart collaboration supports a large-scale equipment initiative funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The initiative aims to prepare for a future of massive data rate increases, new types of electro-optical fiber and wireless communication systems, and the possible use of sub-THz radio frequency bands. It supports the industry’s vision of rolling out sustainable, agile, low latency and high-speed 6G wireless communication networks through the development of energy-efficient, next-generation ICs.

University of Stuttgart Professor Ingmar Kallfass said: “In collaboration with Keysight, we’re creating an innovative measurement platform that covers a large variety of measurement configurations that lets us evaluate the suitability of ultra-wideband channels for wireless THz communications.”

Giampaolo Tardioli, Vice President for Keysight’s 6G and Next Generation program, said: “Keysight is excited to collaborate with cutting-edge research teams using the latest measurement capabilities for the sake of advancing sub-THz technology, shaping the future of digital technology and driving innovation. By playing an active role in accelerating 6G research, we’re helping the wireless industry in Europe and other regions achieve competitive technological proficiency, essential in attaining economic prosperity.”

About Keysight in 6G 
Keysight creates the runway that enables researchers to launch evolutionary and revolutionary technology platform solutions based on 5G-Advanced and 6G technologies. A cohesive set of design and development building blocks across multiple interconnected technology domains enables innovators to spark new insights. Keysight plays a pivotal role in bringing to life 6G use cases that have the potential to transform society, enhance human interactions, enable enterprises to achieve greater efficiencies, and accelerate life-changing innovations.

About Keysight Technologies 

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product lifecycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.

Keysight Contact:

Paul Erwin, Americas/Europe 
+1 248 430–9075 
paul.erwin@keysight.com

Fusako Dohi, Asia 
+81 42 660–2162 
fusako_dohi@keysight.com

Originally published on HARMAN Newsroom

STAMFORD, CT, August 22, 2023 – HARMAN, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., announced that its Digital Transformation Solutions strategic business unit has been recognized as a leader in “Design and Development” and “Integrated Customer/User Engagement” as well as a rising star in ’Platforms and Applications Services’ in the ISG Digital Engineering Services Provider Lens™ 2023 US study.

HARMAN Digital Transformation Solutions has been acknowledged for its strong strategy, methodology and proven implementation capabilities for:

● Platforms and Applications Services: HARMAN’s strengths lie in cloud and infrastructure technology platforms, data engineering platforms and AI/ML-focused solutions.

● Integrated Customer/User Engagement: HARMAN’s expertise includes predictable and innovative CX development, performance at the Edge and ESG-aware customer experiences, backed by its deep internal capabilities in digital design powered by Edge analytics and cloud optimization.

● Design and Development (Product, Services and Experiences): HARMAN, along with its in-house, award-winning design agency, HUEMEN, helps enable clients to adopt DevOps best practices and achieve innovation agility with continuous integration, deployment, configuration management, testing automation, release management and site reliability engineering.

Nick Parrotta, President – Digital Transformation Solutions & Chief Digital and Information officer at HARMAN said, “We deeply appreciate the esteemed recognition we have received from ISG in all categories that hold significant value for us. These accolades highlight our strong commitment to client partnership and collaboration, to continuously adapt to evolving customer demands and assist enterprises in harnessing the vast potential of engagement, empowerment and growth. As a tech leader and pioneer, we continuously strive to utilize our internal strengths in digital design, edge analytics and cloud optimization so we can consistently and cost-effectively deliver exceptional experiences.”

Commenting on this, Ashwin Gaidhani, Lead Analyst at ISG said, “HARMAN is a leading player in cloud engineering with a customer-first human-centred digital experience design and delivery, focusing on developing and providing top-notch digital experiences to users. Their expertise in this area has enabled them to stay ahead of the curve and be at the forefront of innovation in the technology industry with their cutting-edge solutions and commitment to excellence.”

Additionally, HARMAN has also been identified as a leader in the “IoT Services and Solutions” 2023 ISG Provider Lens Study – U.S., across all four categories- Strategy Consulting, Implementation and Integration, Managed Services, and Data Management and AI on the Edge.

Previously, HARMAN was recognized as a leader in the ISG Provider Lens Study 2022 in the EU.

About HARMAN Digital Transformation Solutions 

HARMAN’s Digital Transformation Solutions is a strategic business unit dedicated in blending the physical and digital to make technology more dynamic in order to serve the ever-changing human needs. Leveraging our unique Life-ware approach, our team of over 7,000 employees, spread across 12 countries in 45+ locations, with their expertise across hardware, software, and industry domains are transforming everyday experiences for our 200 clients globally. Compliant and certified with international standard/ management system EN 9100:2018 / AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2013, ISO 13485:2016 and appraised at CMMI-DEV 2.0 ML5, HARMAN aims towards helping customers deliver a holistic experience to their customers – through the convergence of digital, cross channel user experience, cloud, mobility, insightful data, and internet-of-things backed by scalable underlying IT platforms. Healthcare, Communications, Industrial, Retail, Software, and Hospitality being our key focus areas, we have made significant investments into this space. Leveraging our global delivery approach, IPs, platforms and people, we deploy next generation technology platforms across industries, offer cost savings and deliver innovative solutions to help our clients on their digital journey. To know more, please visit https://services.harman.com/

About HARMAN

HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In 2017, HARMAN became a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

For more information, contact: 
Soumi Bhattacharya 
Soumi.Bhattacharya@harman.com

Originally published on principal.com

Kimberly Etchings has never been afraid to take risks. 

From finding her own way to attend a college she’d never visited across the country, to building her own financial advising firm, to taking two years off to reevaluate her career, Etchings has never led with fear. And so far, it’s led her to success. 

“I can look back and say, yes, every time that I’ve either paused or took a risk, it has proven to be the right decision,” Etchings says.

It’s this risk-taking confidence that landed her a regional managing director role—leading an effort to build a financial advisor network from the ground up—at Principal® nearly 10 years ago. And what drove her to rise in the ranks to a national vice president with the company just six years later.

Starting from scratch

Growing up in Boston, Etchings was surrounded by a big family with a lot of love and little means. After her parents’ divorce, Etchings watched her mom work three jobs—never complaining. 

“A big motivator for me early on in life was making sure that she never had to worry,” Etchings says, “and that I never had to depend on anybody else financially.”

Without money for a plane ticket, Etchings found her own way to university, arranging rides from Boston to Tuscan, Arizona, with friends and family. An avid athlete fascinated by how the body works, she began her college career studying nutrition biochemistry. But after being approached by an acquaintance who worked in the financial industry, she shifted her focus to financial advising. 

“I’m so grateful for him because he saw something in me that never would have been on my radar.” Etchings says.

After graduating, Etchings worked for eight years as a financial advisor under a corporation before deciding to go out on her own as an advisor in the Tucson area. Hustling for a couple years, it was clear to Etchings that for greater opportunity, she’d have to move. So, she packed up for Los Angeles, leaving behind her book of business, knowing she’d again be starting from scratch. 

“I took that risk and networked nonstop,” Etchings says. “And that’s when I started to build out my team, brought in two business partners, and then we started to grow and built out a team of 11.” 

As business hummed along, Etchings relocated to Boston and managed her practice flying from coast to coast monthly. Eventually, it caught up to her. “I kind of lost my passion for the day to day of being an advisor,” Etchings says.

“After about nine months of hemming and hawing about what I wanted to do, I sold my book of business to my partners, and I took some time off.” 

Etchings gave herself a strict timeline—no less than six months and no more than 24 months—to figure out how to translate her passions to her next career. 

Was she scared? Sure, she was worried about being able to connect to and find her purpose. But did she fear that she wouldn’t be successful? Absolutely not.  

Focusing on long-term potential 

After about two years of reflection and conversations with her business coach, Etchings realized her passion: leadership. She cold called a financial company and earned a leadership position. It was a huge financial step backward, “but I knew that if I took that risk, and I doubled down and just believed in what I could accomplish, ultimately I’d get to where I want to go,” Etchings says. And she did.

Through this success, Principal got Etchings’ name and tapped her to help build and lead a group of advisors in the New England area. Understanding she was stepping into another career gamble with no immediate financial upside, Etchings wanted to make sure she got to know the people she’d be working with. 

Talking to her potential future colleagues, Etchings says, “I remember thinking there was one person that was there for less than 15 years—only one. And I thought, wow, Principal must be doing something right if all these people are still here.”

Etchings took the job on one condition: If she delivered on the expectations, she’d be given the opportunity to take on more.  

“I delivered after two years. And to the company’s credit, I was asked to take on a regional vice president role,” Etchings says. “Two years after that, I was promoted to national vice president.”

Etchings credits her ability to see past the short term as a key factor in her success. 

“The short-term decisions really can help dictate that long-term growth,” Etchings says. “And I feel like a lot of people step over dollars to pick up dimes because they’re more concerned about immediate gratification versus the opportunity to look at what a future opportunity can be.”

Creating more equal opportunity 

Etchings’ success is somewhat of an anomaly in the financial world. If not educated by an acquaintance all those years ago, Etchings says, she may have never even known about financial advising as a career possibility. 

And even with this exposure, Etchings recalls being the only female and one of only three out of 32 trainees in her class who successfully became licensed to practice. “There was always something fundamentally outdated in bringing people on,” she says. 

So, Etchings and colleagues created the Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship within the Principal Financial Network, a program designed to create an additional runway for diverse financial advisor candidates. 

“We need to create opportunities and a pathway to bring people into the industry so they can help create financial stability for individuals and families from all different backgrounds,” Etchings says. 

She thinks about her own family and the difference a financial advisor could’ve made for them. Getting out ahead despite this is “gratifying for sure,” Etchings says. But that doesn’t mean she’s satisfied. 

“I’m always looking at what impact I can make next,” she says.

Find a career that fits your skills and passions at principal.com/careers.

Disclosures and compliance number
​Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Company (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company®, and the companies available through the Preferred Product Network, Inc. Securities and advisory products offered through Principal Securities, Inc. Member SIPC. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392. Kimberly Etchings, Principal National and Principal Life Financial Representative, Principal Securities Registered Representative and Financial Advisor. 

Principal®, Principal Financial Group®, and Principal and the logomark design are registered trademarks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a Principal Financial Group company, in the United States and are trademarks and service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., in various countries around the world.

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