These are the values that have formed the foundation
of the Gerdau Group for more than 100 years.
Integrity, Correctness and Consistency
As the Gerdau Group reaches our 100th anniversary, we feel the need to preserve our heritage and values, while keeping the company energetic and dynamic. To these ends, we have compiled these Ethical Guidelines, which are the result of a careful analysis of our long-held values. More than a mere code of conduct, these Guidelines are a living document - built from a century of experience - that we hope to carry forward through future generations.
The Gerdau Group expects integrity from all of our employees, so that we are correct and consistent in all our actions and relationships with our stakeholders. Our values are the basis of our integrity.
Satisfied Customers
Gerdau believes that the quality of its products and services is measured by our customers. Their perceptions are based on the value that our products and services add to their businesses. Our quality drives customer satisfaction, preferences, and loyalty.
Understanding our customers' current and future needs is the starting point in Gerdau's quest for performance excellence. All of us must be committed to meeting customer needs.
Accomplished People
Gerdau's success depends on the knowledge, abilities, creativity, and motivation of our teams. Personal accomplishment depends on the individual's efforts, opportunities and education. Gerdau provides an environment that fosters each person's continuous development. People must be encouraged to work as a team, taking part in all aspects of the work, and be granted the autonomy and responsibility to meet defined targets. When defining strategies, plans and organizational practices, we consider our employees' various needs and concerns. This practice promotes the development, well-being and satisfaction of all the people who are part of Gerdau.
Safe Work Environment
For Gerdau, the individual as a whole is the company's first priority. No emergency, production situation, or result can justify jeopardizing the safety of our employees.
The company is responsible for providing the appropriate means and resources so that all work can be conducted safely. The company and each individual must ensure that every effort is made to guarantee the safety of the people involved.
The manager is responsible for the safety of all the people in his or her area. The Workplace Safety Team should operate in a preventive manner, with encouragement and technical support from the managers.
Individual employees are responsible for taking care of their own safety and that of their teammates. It is everyone's duty to identify unsafe tasks and persevere to find a solution.
Quality in Everything We Do
The quest for quality in all its dimensions - product, cost, delivery, ethics and safety - demands that all of Gerdau's teams desire to be the best and have a long-term vision.
The long-term success of the organization depends on our ability to foresee new market trends, scenarios, customer needs, technological developments, legal requirements, strategic shifts in the competition, and social concerns. The company must outperform the competition, both by increasing our value to the customer and by attracting the most qualified and talented employees. In this competitive environment, the company must be able to balance conflicts such as volume vs. price, prompt delivery vs. low stocks, and economies of scale vs. flexibility in operations and maintenance.
Solidity and Security
Long-term survival is Gerdau's highest goal. The company balances our short- and long-term requirements to meet the current and future needs of all stakeholders (shareholders, customers, team members, and our communities).
Alternatives are valued when they lead to synergy and expand our existing businesses. Our operations work best when we find the perfect balance between centralization and decentralization for each situation, ensuring flexibility and stability for the business. Gerdau evaluates each new step to ensure that it will strengthen the company's activities, improve product quality, and bring long-term benefits.
Commitment to All Stakeholders
Conscientious of our responsibility for helping our communities and protecting the environment, Gerdau fulfills all legal obligations related to our operations. We also take it a step further by actively demonstrating our moral and civic conscience through charitable giving. Gerdau also takes proactive, preventive measures to protect public health and the environment.
As a corporate citizen, Gerdau leads and sponsors philanthropic activities related to education initiatives, community improvement, protection of ecosystems, adoption of non-discriminatory policies, promotion of the arts, sport and leisure and active involvement in national, regional, and local development. Gerdau encourages our employees to take part in volunteer activities and promotes partnership with other organizations.
Profit as a Measure of Performance
Profit is the measure of Gerdau's performance and is fundamental to the Group's growth and development.
Profit is forcefully pursued, through strategies, action plans and challenging targets for revenues and costs that are objective and clearly defined. Each employee is involved in the creation of the targets and plans and is committed to achieving them and acting in accordance with the Gerdau goals and values.
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