Case Studies
Promoting Women's Economic Empowerment:
The Learning Journey of The Boeing Company
Company: Boeing
"We have found that working with diverse companies is good business. By using the skills, ideas, and innovations of a diverse supply chain we strengthen local economies, enhance our ability to provide creative business solutions, and maintain The Boeing Company's position as the world's premier aerospace company."
- Henryka Bochniarz, President, Boeing Central & Eastern Europe |
Introduction
Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and one of the largest manufacturers of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined, with customers in more than 90 countries. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Boeing employs more than 157,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries. This represents a highly diverse, talented and innovative workforce. More than 90,000 Boeing employees hold college degrees, including nearly 29,000 advanced degrees, in virtually every business and technical field from approximately 2,700 colleges and universities worldwide. This global enterprise also leverages the talents of hundreds of thousands more skilled diverse people working for Boeing suppliers worldwide.
Main Lessons
- Executiveleadership support and communication are essential for the success of asupplier diversity effort.
- Decisionmakers throughout the organization need to understand their role andaccountability for achieving these company goals to ensure initiativetake-up and success.
- Supplierdevelopment and mentoring provides an opportunity for growth and long termsuccess for both the company and its suppliers.
|
|
Win-Win Situation for Business and for Women
- Supplierdiversity is both a business imperative and a corporate responsibility forBoeing, ensuring strong communities and a viable, sustainable supply base.
- In 2008 Boeing placed between $3 and 5 billionwith small companies and about $2 billion with businesses owned by womenand minorities. Its supply base includes over 1,000 women-ownedbusinesses.
- These small and diverse suppliers have been acompetitive discriminator because the pool of prospective ideas andinnovations is expanded by having a diverse supply base. Boeing partnerswith the best of industry, and regardless of a prospective supplier's size.
|
|
