Supplier Diversity Management

Today, more businesses are recognizing the value of a diverse supplier base. Supplier diversity initiatives and an increased attention to different cultures by businesses are no longer about feel-good programs. It is about consumer buying power. Diversity is about market share.

As a certified woman-owned enterprise, MDI recognizes the value of supplier diversity. We also understand that many of our clients require assistance in managing their supplier diversity initiatives. Our Supplier Diversity Management service can help.

Our service helps you develop a Supplier Diversity Program that is tied to your ROI goals, public relations campaigns, increased market share targets, and improved workforce productivity goals.

This service has three primary components as follows:

• Supplier Diversity Planning and Implementation – MDI can help you develop your Supplier Diversity Program. By working with your leadership team, our consultants will help you implement a program with the following major components:
  • Supplier diversity goals & objectives
  • Criteria for supplier identification, evaluation, and selection
    • Ability to support organizational needs (geographical and technical)
    • Supplier specialization and core competencies
    • Minority certification status
    • Financial stability
  • Diversity spend tracking & reporting for Tier 1 / Tier 2 suppliers
  • Management and Internal Awareness
• Supplier Management Office – MDI can be your primary supplier responsible for all diversity sub-suppliers. MDI would take on full responsibility for the following activities and provide regular reporting and communications to your line management and diversity office.
  • Contract management
  • Requirements clarification / distribution
  • Customer orientation
  • Candidate screening
  • Supplier performance management
  • Supplier disengagement policy
  • On-going tracking of Tier 1 & Tier 2 spend
• Supplier Coaching & Mentorship – In order to maximize the participation of diversity suppliers, MDI can provide coaching and mentoring services. By sharing the knowledge gained from successfully growing MDI to its current stature, MDI can help your other suppliers deliver higher quality services. This development may include the following:
  • Executive Mentoring - Customized executive education, with highly intensive training and technical assistance for CEOs of minority-owned firms.
  • Tracking and Measurement - Monitoring and reporting progress towards achieving supplier diversity targets with emphasis on continuous improvement.
  • Certification assistance - Certification training for suppliers and partnering with recognized certifying organizations to help facilitate the certification process.
  • Outreach - Assistance in identifying diverse suppliers through active involvement with minority development organizations.