SUPPLY CHAIN D & I
Andrea adds : “ It is imperative to recognise that investing in supplier diversity can result in longer-term benefits .”
How to make it a reality That deals with the what and the why – now how about the how ?
Ken argues that the starting point is to ask : “ What is the risk inside your supply chain when we look at it from a diversity and inclusion perspective ?”
He adds : “ I think understanding the geographic location , the type of organisations that are your major suppliers and putting that into a risk context , I think is number one .”
Number two necessitates holding up a mirror .
Ken says : “ If you want to look at diversity and inclusion , you need to look at your own leadership and management people inside your own organisation first to give that element of diversity .
“ My advice at this point to the clients that we work with is to define your requirements on diversity and inclusion and do that at the higher end of risk in your supply chain process .
“ Do it in an engaging , collaborative , educational way , rather than mandating some very broad rules that may not be appropriate for certain types of supply chain .”
Only then should a company work with its supply chain , Ken says , to “ define those requirements and then define the policy and the mechanism by which you will implement that policy and requirements with your supply chain ”.
138 December 2024