Qualifying minority-owned automotive suppliers can receive tools and training necessary for increased capabilities and competitiveness.

SOUTHFIELD, Michigan, May 2, 2018 — In support of automotive manufacturers’ efforts to boost minority supplier development and industry participation, the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) is collaborating with the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) to better prepare minority businesses for direct part sourcing. AIAG defines a direct part supplier as one whose  material, component, secondary and finishing, packaging, labeling, tooling and equipment, or logistics service touches or becomes part of the finished vehicle.

“The development of minority businesses for direct part sourcing is mission critical for OEM and Tier One suppliers,” says Frank Ervin, vice president, Specialized MBE Services of MMSDC, an organization that connects certified minority business enterprises (MBE) with corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions in an effort to improve procurement opportunities for minority entrepreneurs. “MMSDC and AIAG share a singularity of purpose and speak with a common voice.”

MMSDC and the Detroit Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) have partnered with AIAG and are sponsoring FREE AIAG memberships for qualified direct minority-owned suppliers of any size. 

“We want to make it easy for minority suppliers to participate in the AIAG experience,” says Nancy Malo, who leads AIAG’s minority supplier development strategy. Minority-owned businesses that meet AIAG’s sponsored membership criteria will receive:

• Free unlimited access to practitioner and enterprise knowledge self-assessments, guidance documents, best practices, and associated e-learning
• Participation on members-only committees and access to industry subject matter experts in quality, supply chain, and corporate responsibility
• Discounts to any AIAG industry event and training
• Free company listing in AIAG’s Supplier Connect database

“AIAG can provide the tools and training to accelerate development of minority suppliers and deliver more predictable manufacturing outcomes at minimal cost,” says Malo. “Now, in partnership with MMSDC, who represents minority business enterprises, we can make that happen.”

MMSDC will focus on advocacy, personal development, and access to capital, while AIAG’s emphasis will be quality management systems, supply chain management, corporate responsibility, and environmental compliance. “We look forward to showing minority supplier businesses what AIAG can do for them,” says Ervin. “The automotive industry needs more minority direct part sourcing, and we intend to prepare and provide them.”

AIAG is planning to exhibit at the Michigan Minority Procurement Conference (MMPC) on May 10 at Cobo Center in Detroit, MI. For more information, contact skarber@minoritysupplier.org.

About MMSDC

The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council is a non-profit, corporate services organization. Its members include major corporations and public entities in manufacturing, education, finance, professional services, construction, consumer products and healthcare organizations that are tapping into the growing multicultural market. Through its rigorous MBE certification process, MMSDC assures the corporate member that an individual business is truly minority-owned, operated and controlled. Visit https://minoritysupplier.org.

About MBDA

The Detroit MBDA Business Center is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and operated by the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. The focus MBDA Centers is companies with annual revenues of $1,000,000 or more, high potential start-ups, mergers and acquisitions and alliances. Client business ventures must be majority owned, managed and controlled by an individual or a group of individuals that are Black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American or Hasidic Jew. Visit https://www.mbda.gov.

About AIAG

The Automotive Industry Action Group is a unique not-for-profit organization where OEMs, suppliers, service providers, government entities, and individuals in academia have worked collaboratively for more than 35 years to drive down costs and complexity from the supply chain. AIAG membership includes preeminent manufacturers and many of their parts suppliers and service providers. Visit www.aiag.org.