Industrial Solutions - Chrysler Matchmaker

3 Reasons Why This Event Is So Important

Last week, we posted a link to the 14^th Annual Chrysler Matchmaker event. We have been participating in this event since Telamon Industrial Solutions was created.  Over the last 30 years and even through various ups and downs of their ownership, Chrysler has taken the biggest initiative of the Detroit 3 automakers in supporting minority (MBE), women (WBE) and veteran (VOBs) owned businesses get a fair chance to earn business with some of the world’s largest corporations.  The Matchmaker is one of the largest and most innovative supplier diversity events in the automotive industry.

Reason #1 – Opportunity

Chrysler mandates that their internal Purchasing Department spends a certain percentage of their yearly spend on MBEs, WBEs and VOBs.  This figure has grown over the years to be well over 10% of their annual spend since the first Matchmaker.  Beyond just their internal initiatives, Chrysler has also mandated that their Tier I suppliers create and drive supplier diversity programs through their Purchasing Departments.  However, just creating a program is not sufficient for Chrysler.  They have created goals for their suppliers that parallel their own.  This in turn creates even more opportunities for diverse suppliers.

Reason #2 – Credibility

Chrysler screens all of the diverse suppliers that are allowed to attend the Matchmaker to make sure that they are real diverse companies with enough credibility to earn an invitation.  Not just any diverse company can attend and display at the Matchmaker. Suppliers who want to attend have to apply to Chrysler online for their review.  Only those that Chrysler specifically invites to their headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan can display at the Matchmaker.  This gives the people at Chrysler and their Tier 1s a sense of peace and confidence about working with those specific diverse suppliers.

Reason #3 – Accountability

When Chrysler created diversity goals for their suppliers, they created the Matchmaker as a way to help them find companies that will help them reach Chrysler’s targets.  Chrysler also holds the suppliers accountable on an annual basis for their diversity spend as part of their annual performance review.

Chrysler also went one step farther with the Matchmaker as they also hold those who attend accountable for the connections and business generated from each year’s event.  Everyone has to report opportunities and sales on a monthly basis.  This gives Chrysler not only the information they need to validate the effectiveness of the Matchmaker but also to serve as a constant reminder that Supplier Diversity is not just “the flavor of the day” or “just another metric”, but that it is a part of their culture and their desire that it become part of their supplier’s culture as well.

The Chrysler Matchmaker is one of the most significant supplier diversity events of the year.  It is a place where major corporations can see and learn of the significant value that diverse companies offer to help them improve in virtually every category.  I look forward to this event every year as I know that I will learn something from it and also to see what new and exciting opportunities will develop for Telamon.

-John Weeks

Director of Sales

Industrial Solutions - Telamon Corporation

About Telamon Industrial Solutions:

Telamon Industrial Solutions provides Assembly, Kitting and Third Party Logistics (3PL) services in a culture of quality and efficiency that reduces our customer’s total cost of ownership using robust, unique design processes, creating a worry-free, cost effective purchasing experience.