Compliance

Olander’s Application of Copy Exactly, Process of Record, and Change Management

Copy Exactly (CE!), Process of Record, and Change Management are quality control methodologies that excel in environments where products are custom-designed or purpose-built according to specific engineering specifications and drawings. These principles involve strict replication and documentation of every detail in the manufacturing process to ensure consistency and traceability. Because Olander is a distributor of commercial off the shelf (COTS) products, we are not engaged in the process of manufacturing or raw material acquisition, nor do manufacturers flow information through the supply chain in the event of machine, tool, or process changes.

CE!, Process of Record, or Change Management cannot be applied to COTS hardware due to the following:

1. Fastener Quality Act (FQA): The FQA is a United States federal law enacted in 1999 and requires manufacturers and distributors to ensure the quality and safety of certain fasteners used in critical applications. The FQA supersedes individualized customer controls for COTS products.
2. Lack of Control: With COTS items, we rely on external suppliers who may have their own manufacturing processes and quality control measures. We do not have direct control over the production of these items, making it difficult to enforce strict replication and documentation. Additionally, COTS products are often not purchased directly from the original manufacturer and are only available for purchase through a myriad of importers and other distributors. Further, COTS products are often manufactured in mass quantities in advance of customer order, or are already in inventory, thus eliminating any opportunity to flow down customer specialized requirements or controls. Further, manufacturers of COTS products reserve the right to change raw material suppliers without notification.
3. Variability: Although considered to be equivalent or interchangeable, COTS hardware and fasteners may vary slightly from one supplier to another, even if they meet industry standards. This variability can make it challenging to maintain a strict copy-exactly approach.
4. Standardization: COTS items are designed to meet industry standards and specifications, which often do not require the same level of detail and customization found in built-to-print or custom-designed articles.

Instead of applying CE!, Process of Record, or Change Management controls to COTS items, we focus on rigorous supplier evaluation and collaboration with trusted suppliers to ensure that the products we source meet our customer expectations for quality and performance standards.

Controls that can be applied to COTS products include form-fit-function, dimensional specifications, material/mechanical properties, surface plating, and other modifications. Articles can be limited to a single source or specific manufacturer upon customer request. Quotes can be generated for articles with access to a variety of manufacturer certifications and declarations. Additionally, articles can be limited to a specific country of origin to meet customer specifications.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Statements

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Olander is dedicated to ethical, fair, and vigorous competition. Olander will sell its products and services based on its merit, superior quality, functionality, and pricing. Olander will make independent pricing and marketing decisions and will not improperly coordinate its activities with its competitors. Olander will not offer or solicit improper payments or gratuities in connection with the purchase of goods or services for Olander or the sales of its products or services; nor will Olander engage or assist in unlawful boycotts of particular customers. Olander prohibits the payment of bribes to government officials, as well as payments to third parties who may bribe a government official on the company’s behalf. (A bribe is the offering of anything of value, including but not limited to: cash, meals, entertainment, or company products, in exchange for influence for a discretionary decision.) Olander will not retaliate against any employee who reports a violation of this policy.

Health and Safety
It is Olander’s intention to provide safe and healthy working conditions; and to insist upon safe practices, at all times, by all employees. Injury and illness prevention are of primary importance in all phases of operation and administration of Olander. The prevention of accidents affects all levels of the organization and its activities. Managers are required to make the safety of employees an integral part of regular management functions. Equally, it is the duty of each employee to accept and follow established safety regulations and procedures. Regular safety training is implemented and compulsory for all employees.

Data Security and Privacy
All personal data users provide to Olander via the company’s website is encrypted with 128-bit secure sockets layer (SSL) software which encodes the information upon entry, and decodes it only after it reaches the company’s secure servers. The site may use cookies (small data text files, which a website stores on a user’s hard drive) in order to facilitate and customize the use of the site. These cookies store randomly assigned user identification numbers for each session and do not contain any personal information. Users who do not authorize cookies on their browsers may still access the core features of Olander’s site. Olander does not provide any third-party access to users’ personal information. Olander may provide third parties with aggregate statistics about customers, traffic patterns, and related site information. This data reflects site usage patterns gathered during thousands of customer website visits each month, but it does not contain behavioral or identifying information about any individual user.

Environmental Standards
Olander recognizes the universal human responsibility to contribute to the health and safety of both our community and our planet. The company is focused on continuous improvement in reducing its global footprint and responsibly sourcing its products and materials. The warehouse team has implemented a practice to reuse and recycle packaging material, and have transitioned from plastic packaging products to paper. In addition, Olander looks for strategic ways to combine shipments into fewer containers. Olander’s VMI specialists are continuously reviewing routing options to keep vehicle emissions low. The accounting department has moved to paperless transactions in all reasonably appropriate areas, and paperless solutions are encouraged via the company website. Olander encourages all of its trusted suppliers to invest in developing environmental programs.

Combating Human Trafficking and Slavery
Olander is dedicated to the zero-tolerance policies adopted by the United States and other national governments to combat slavery and trafficking of persons for any purpose. Olander prohibits trafficking-related activities throughout the supply chain, and we expect our suppliers and contractors to implement programs to uphold these essential principles.

Community Engagement

Olander is proud to sponsor several school-based robotics clubs and programs, by donating materials each year. The company works closely with community agencies to promote volunteerism and donation-matching opportunities. Additionally, Olander has implemented an educational funding program for its employees, to encourage continuous learning in support of reaching their goals personally and professionally.

Olander RoHS Compliance Statement

The Olander Family of Companies is committed to complying with ever-changing, global, regulatory, and consumer environmental, health, and safety (EHS) requirements, including the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substance Directive (RoHS) and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemical substances (REACH).

As a service to our customers, we may provide information on the RoHS and REACH status of our products. For compliance inquiries, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

California Proposition 65

At Olander, we take product safety and regulatory compliance seriously. We understand the importance of providing our customers with clear and accurate information regarding the safety of the products we distribute, including compliance with California Proposition 65.

We are pleased to inform you that our fasteners, including screws, bolts, nuts, washers, rivets, and other fastening hardware, qualify for an "exposure exemption" under California Proposition 65. This means that although some of our products may contain chemicals listed under Proposition 65, they do not pose a significant risk of exposure during normal and foreseeable use.

Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires businesses to provide warnings about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. However, the law also recognizes that not all products containing these chemicals necessarily result in exposure to users.

The fasteners we distribute are designed and manufactured in a way that ensures any listed chemicals are either present in such minimal quantities or are fully contained within the product, preventing any significant exposure during typical use. As a result, no Proposition 65 warning is required for these products.

We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety for our customers. If you have any questions or need further information about our products and their compliance with Proposition 65, please do not hesitate to contact us.