IBM Corporation, the world’s largest information technology company, initiated its Minority Supplier Development Program in 1968. Now known as the Global Supplier Diversity Program, IBM spent $1.63 billion in 2001 with diverse suppliers and is poised to reach $2 billion this year.

“The growth of IBM’s investment with diverse suppliers demonstrates that suppliers in this program meet or exceed IBM standards for price, quality, and delivery, says
I. Javette Jenkins, Program Manager, Supplier Diversity at IBM.

Over the years, IBM’s definition of “supplier diversity” has expanded to include ownership by seven constituencies: women, African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, gay and lesbian, and people with disabilities. In 2001 alone, IBM invested over $1.4 billion with minority- and women-owned enterprises. IBM works with nonprofit organizations like the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council who certify the businesses.

IBM makes supplier diversity goals a personnel performance measurement for buyers and managers charged with procurement.

In addition to doing business with its diverse suppliers, IBM also provides education with its Mentoring Program. In the Program, senior IBM executives are assigned to participating suppliers to work with them on the supplier’s business and operational challenges. IBM executives review business plans, financial statements, projections, current and future strategies, and develop a mentoring relationship with the principle owners. The mentoring program itself is a win-win: it builds the business acumen of diverse suppliers and enhances their value-added to the marketplace and to IBM.

IBM is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for its commitment to supplier diversity. In 2000, IBM became the first technology company to join the prestigious “Billion Dollar Roundtable” – an elite group of 10 companies who all spend in excess of $1 billion annually with diverse suppliers. Other members include Lucent, Verizon, AT&T, SBC, and General Motors.

For more information, please contact I. Javette Jenkins, Program Director, Global Supplier Diversity, IBM Global Procurement at (914) 766-2376.

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Read more about IBM's Supplier Diversity program in DiversityInc.