At the Tata Group our purpose is to improve the quality of life of the communities we serve. We do this through leadership in sectors of national economic significance, to which the Group brings a unique set of capabilities. This requires us to grow aggressively in focused areas of business.r heritage of

Five core values

The Tata Group has always sought to be a value-driven organisation. These values continue to direct the Group's growth and businesses. The five core Tata values underpinning the way we do business are:

• Integrity : We must conduct our business fairly, with honesty and transparency. Everything we do must stand the test of public scrutiny.

• Understanding : We must be caring, show respect, compassion and humanity for our colleagues and customers around the world, and always work for the benefit of the communities we serve.

• Excellence : We must constantly strive to achieve the highest possible standards in our day-to-day work and in the quality of the goods and services we provide.

• Unity : We must work cohesively with our colleagues across the Group and with our customers and partners around the world, building strong relationships based on tolerance, understanding and mutual cooperation.

• Responsibility : We must continue to be responsible, sensitive to the countries, communities and environments in which we work, always ensuring that what comes from the people goes back to the people many times over.

Management of business ethics

The management of Tata Metaliks is guided by business ethics, which in itself is an organised process. The Tata Code of Conduct serves as a binding principle for the Company and all the employees as a whole in matters of legal and ethical behaviour. Appointment of an External Ethics Counsellor serves as the first step in this direction that creates awareness among all employees by means of communication sessions and also among the Company's suppliers/partners in the regional meets held by the Company. There is a robust complaint mechanism for the employees, suppliers and shareholders. Complaints are placed by means of phone calls, letters, e-mail and even meetings with EEC. The EEC in consultation with MD or even Chairman and the independent directors processes these complaints and the resolution is done either through personal counselling or punitive action towards the concerned employees. The action taken is communicated to the stakeholder raising the concern. In order to protect everyone's interest, there is an effective "Whistle Blower Policy". The process efficiency is reviewed by means of stakeholders' perception surveys, MBE assurance, etc., on the basis of which improvement actions, if desired, are planned and implemented.

Business opportunity

Tata Metaliks has a Business Opportunity Group responsible for defining future strategic direction of the business. This group defines future opportunities for Tata Metaliks, articulates its scope, carries out business analysis and pre-feasibilities studies using internal and external resources.

The opportunities being examined are further expansion of pig iron business, forward integration into castings (including conversion through partner foundries), steel, etc., both through greenfield projects as well as merger & acquisition. Parties interested in pursuing any of the above activities or a new business opportunity in strategic partnership with Tata Metaliks may contact the Business Opportunity Group.

As a product diversification effort, Tata Metaliks has entered into strategic partnership with several foundries to offer various kinds of raw as well as finished castings to Indian and overseas customers. The products offered include auto components, motor bodies, compressor parts, pumps & valves, counter-weights, ductile iron cast products, machinery components, construction equipment, power plant equipment, etc. All these products are offered at competitive prices as they are produced from our high quality customised pig iron under complete supervision of our qualified and experienced foundry technical experts. We extend our quality assurance process in manufacturing and related areas to the partner foundries (all of whom have been ISO certified) for strengthening further their processes and give customers higher degree of quality assurance of the castings they buy. On the other hand the partner foundries are benefited from increased capacity utilization with low working capital and technical support thus making their operations more efficient.