3 Ways to Diversify Supply Chains in Arizona
This episode’s theme: Supplier diversity.
Can inclusion fix supply chain challenges?
Most Americans have felt the effects of product shortages and significant shipping delays.
Some believe that making notices of new supplier opportunities more accessible can help remedy this growing issue.
In episode 43 of the Community Collaborative, we're joined by producers Monica Villalobos, CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Robin Reed, CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona. We're also visited by Chris Rodriguez President and CEO of Ability360; Conrad Smith, Founder and CEO of Graphite Systems and Courtney Moore, Director of DEI and Supplier Diversity of Southwest Gas.
Here are three things you need to know from the episode.
领英推荐
Make Opportunities Visible to Small Businesses
Small businesses can't participate in the supply chain if they don't know what's going on. Smith notes that most supplier decisions are made in conference rooms. He also says that this method lacks visibility. According to Smith big businesses aren't always the best choice when it comes to choosing a supplier. He says that small businesses can usher in more possibilities for innovation. One way that Smith's company, Graphite, has attempted to make its roster of suppliers more diverse is by sharing directories and making information more accessible "like a social network," says Smith. ?
Seek Out Suppliers Who Commit to DEI Practices
According to Moore, Southwest Gas chooses to work with many Arizona suppliers for its local operations. Arizona businesses account for a large percentage of their supplier partnerships. Southwest Gas has achieved this partially because it includes "supplier diversity" as one of its core Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) commitments. The company also seeks out suppliers that uphold high DEI standards within their own organizations.
Keep DEI Commitments Simple
Organizations can experience burnout when it comes to fulfilling their DEI goals. One way to overcome this is to keep initiatives simple and to commit to following through. Moore recommends reframing DEI messaging to emphasize a culture of respect; since inclusion is fundamentally a practice of respecting others.
Watch episode 43 of the?Community Collaborative.?
SUCH an important priority for business... not just to 'do good'... but to bring speed, innovation and value to the enterprise. INCLUSIVE and fair supplier selection delivers breakthrough to the enterprise, AND enables individual and economic growth of talented individuals and businesses. Openly posting opportunities accelerate visibility to small and diverse businesses and automates today's relationship-based matchmaking. Graphite Systems (graphiteConnect) has committed our full technology to any non-profit, small business, or enterprise for the purpose of enabling diversity and inclusion programs.