Supplier Diversity
Supplier Diversity
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
Supplier diversity means ensuring that businesses owned by women and minority groups are included in a company’s supplier selection process
In the U.S., the government and many of our business customers require that we source from diverse suppliers. Beyond compliance, we recognize that supplier diversity promotes innovation and creativity and allows us to meet the needs of customers and consumers around the world.
Our supplier diversity team identifies diversity-owned businesses that can potentially bid on procurement opportunities. We have set goals to increase the proportion of our procurement spend with diversity businesses.
For inquiries regarding our supplier diversity program, e-mail us at supplier.diversity@motorolasolutions.com.
How We Find Diverse Suppliers
We review the databases of the following organizations to identify small and diverse suppliers
• National Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
• National Minority Supplier Development Council
• U.S. Small Business Administration
• Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
U.S. state and local Government certifying agencies for minority-owned, women-owned and disabled-owned businesses
Definitions
In the U.S., diversity suppliers are defined as businesses that are at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by one or more persons who are:
• A racial or ethnic minority, including African American, Asian Indian American, Asian Pacific American, Hispanic American or Native American
• Female
• Gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender
• U.S. veteran or U.S. service disabled veteran
In other countries, definitions vary. In general, to be considered a racial or ethnic minority, persons must be citizens of the country where their business is headquartered and be of an officially recognized socially or economically disadvantaged ethnic minority group.
Additionally, businesses certified as Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) by the U.S. Small Business Administration are considered diversity suppliers.
In the United States
We promote diversity in tier-one suppliers (those from which we buy directly) and tier-two (those that supply tier-one).
We participate in the Technology Industry Group (TIG) with other supplier diversity professionals from U.S.-based telecommunications companies. Through the TIG, we advocate the expansion of supplier diversity initiatives among our customers, our peer companies and our suppliers.
Outreach
We work with diversity suppliers to make sure they are aware of opportunities to supply Motorola Solutions. We are a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, WEConnect International and the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and our supplier diversity manager serves on advisory committees at these organizations.
Outside the United States
We began to expand our supplier diversity programs outside the U.S. in 2003. Our supply base includes diversity suppliers in China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa.
Before we can establish a supplier diversity program in countries without defined diversity programs, we need to identify the minority groups in that country. This can be a challenge. For example, laws or culture may prohibit asking questions about the ethnicity or gender of the business owner. Some countries have no agreement on how to define a minority group, and other countries have large numbers of different minority groups. For example, China has 55 ethnic minorities.
We work with local diversity organizations to identify minority categories and to contact diversity suppliers. In 2008, we became a founding member and provided seed funding to the Minority Supplier Development (MSD) China, which aims to certify ethnic minority-owned businesses in China.
We are a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s international advisory committee. The committee is helping to develop organizations in Australia, Canada, China, South Africa and the U.K. that will certify ethnic minority-owned businesses in those countries.