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NMSDC Names Johnson Controls 'Corporation of the Year'
Johnson Controls, Inc.
2008-10-30
Company recognized for its continued achievements in supplier diversity; Reginald Layton named Minority Supplier Development Leader of the Year
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has presented Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE: JCI), a global leader in energy efficiency and sustainability, with its "Corporation of the Year" award in recognition of the company's achievements in minority business development. Johnson Controls is the only business-to-business company to receive this honor twice since NMSDC's founding in 1972.
Johnson Controls' spend with diverse suppliers grew from $1 billion in 2006 to more than $1.5 billion in 2007. Of the 2007 total, $1.29 billion was spent with minority suppliers (Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American) certified by the NMSDC. That number, up from $880 million in 2006, represents a 46 percent increase in one year.
While many major companies are working to consolidate and reduce their number of suppliers, Johnson Controls nearly doubled its number of minority suppliers from 140 in 2006 to 276 in 2007.
"This award is a testament to our commitment to sustainability, which includes being a leader in supplier diversity," said Stephen A. Roell, chairman and chief executive officer of Johnson Controls. "Partnering with organizations like the NMSDC, our customers and innovative diverse suppliers is not only good business, it's a smart approach to advancing our global competitiveness in an increasingly diverse marketplace of new ideas."
Harriet R. Michel, president of the National Minority Supplier Development Council agreed, saying, "Recognizing excellence in minority business development is important, because it spotlights our collective efforts to ensure that it continues to grow and perform at the highest levels for the long-term success of the society at large."
Johnson Controls has consistently implemented best practices recommended by NMSDC for world-class supplier diversity performance, including:
-- Corporate supplier diversity policy and top management support;
-- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) involvement in strategic planning
and market alignment;
-- Internal and external communications to employees, suppliers and
customers;
-- Measurement and accountability systems driven by senior management; and
-- Leveraging the supply chain via second tier/prime supplier involvement
with MBEs.
Additionally, over the past few years, Johnson Controls implemented new initiatives that develop minority suppliers and enhance their use, including:
-- A management focus initiative whereby spend with minority suppliers is
automated for review each month and discussed in local operations
meetings;
-- A leveraging initiative that gives growth opportunities to MBEs
supplying one location with capacity to serve neighboring regions;
-- An engagement initiative whereby Johnson Controls personnel in New
York, Detroit, Nashville, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Atlanta and Chicago
lead minority supplier mentoring relationships; and
-- A training initiative that works to increase understanding among
Johnson Controls employees of the company's minority outsourcing,
minority spend performance tracking, and deal development opportunities through supplier diversity education sessions.
"Fostering supplier diversity is a critical element of our commercial strategy and company values," said Keith Wandell, president and chief operating officer of Johnson Controls. "Being honored by NMSDC is a strong statement that we are putting our values to work in a manner that brings significant benefits to our customers and the minority business community."
Reginald K. Layton, diversity business development director at Johnson Controls, received the Minority Supplier Development Leader of the Year award from NMSDC in recognition of innovative supplier development activities and leadership across industry groups and across the country. He serves on the advisory board for minority business education programs at the Tuck Graduate School of Business at Dartmouth College, and is chair of the Central & South Texas Minority Business Council board of directors.
"Supplier diversity is crucial to our continued corporate success," said Layton. "Not only do our diverse suppliers bring business expertise and a fresh perspective, thus increasing our competitiveness; they also allow us to realize cost efficiencies. In turn, our support helps to strengthen the suppliers and their local economies. In these difficult financial times, the economic benefits of a robust supplier diversity program truly stand out."
All awards were presented on October 29 in Las Vegas at the NMSDC Conference.
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.
About the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC):
The NMSDC Network includes a national office in New York and 39 regional councils across the country. There are 4,000 corporate members throughout the network, including America's top publicly owned, privately owned and
foreign- owned companies as well as universities, hospitals and other buying institutions. The regional councils certify and match more than 15,000 minority-owned businesses with member corporations that want to purchase goods and services. For more information, visit http://www.nmsdc.org/.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081030/AQTH055A
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081030/AQTH055ALOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN12 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
SOURCE: Johnson Controls, Inc.
CONTACT: Stacey Stark, +1-414-248-3626, stacey@gcom-inc.com, for Johnson Controls, Inc.; or Dennis Kois of Johnson Controls, Inc., +1-414-524-2501, dennis.c.kois@jci.com
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