Delphi Recognized for Minority Supplier Development
28 June 2000
Delphi Recognized for Minority Supplier Development
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Delphi Automotive Systems today received Governor Bob Taft's
2000 Minority Business Development Recognition Award for continuous involvement
in the area of minority business development and investment in the minority
community.
Gerald Meier, director of Ohio Operations for Delphi accepted the award
this morning at the Governor's Chief Executive Officer Breakfast here.
Delphi has strategies to develop a diverse supplier base. According to
Deborah Rhynehardt-Pickens, manager of Minority Supplier Development, Delphi
believes diversity in the supply base ensures high quality competitive sources
of supply and gives little known entrepreneurs a chance to succeed.
"Delphi strongly believes in partnering with minority business
entrepreneurs to bring high-tech, innovative products to our customers," said
Rhynehardt-Pickens.
Delphi's many minority supplier development initiatives have led to an
average growth rate of 13 percent annually for minority expenditures over the
last three years. Key to Delphi's program are minority coordinators
throughout Delphi who serve in various capacities on the regional councils in
their respective communities.
Another successful program is the Automotive Matchmaker conference that is
sponsored by Delphi. The conference, which has been in existence for five
years, brings together purchasing agents from major automotive suppliers and
manufacturers, with minority business entrepreneurs specializing in the
automotive industry. The conference is held annually in Ohio and continues to
be the largest minority supplier conference in the United States.
Since the conference's first ribbon cutting ceremony in March 1996, the
Automotive Matchmaker has generated over $83 million in purchases to minority
business entrepreneurs throughout the country. The conference has grown to
include more than 200 of the nation's top minority suppliers, and
participation in 2000 jumped by almost 10 percent.
"The huge success of this conference exemplifies the importance of having
a program that brings an engaged audience of buyers to a forum where minority
suppliers can showcase their capabilities," said Rhynehardt-Pickens.
In a move to further enhance minority supplier development, in May 2000,
Delphi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with M-Xchange.com Inc. to
participate as their first equity partner. M-Xchange.com is an online
marketplace for minority business entrepreneurs and is the first business-to-
business Internet exchange focused on minority procurement and the advancement
of minority businesses. It provides a number of strategic advantages to
minority supplier development managers as well as minority companies.
"To Delphi, diversity isn't just a philosophy -- it's a necessity for
global competition," said J.T. Battenberg III, chairman, CEO and president of
Delphi. "We want innovative solutions from the best people -- no matter where
they are. That is what drives our minority supplier development program."
Delphi has received numerous awards over the past years including a
nomination for the "1999 Corporation of the Year Award" through the Michigan
Minority Business Development Council, "Corporation of the Year" award from
the Upstate Minority Purchasing Council in 1997. The Dayton Minority Supplier
Development Council selected Delphi for the "Corporate Impact Award" for the
years 1995, 1997 and 1999. In addition, The Dayton Minority Business
Enterprise Input Committee (MBEIC) awarded a scholarship to honor Delphi's
commitment to minority supplier development and the Automotive Matchmaker.
Multi-national Delphi Automotive Systems, with headquarters in Troy,
Mich., USA, Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a world leader in
transportation and mobile electronics components and systems technology.
Delphi's three business sectors -- Dynamics & Propulsion; Safety, Thermal &
Electrical Architecture; and Electronics & Mobile Communication -- provide
comprehensive product solutions to complex customer needs. Delphi has
approximately 213,000 employees and operates 176 wholly owned manufacturing
sites, 41 joint ventures, 53 customer centers and sales offices and 30
technical centers in 38 countries.