Original Date: 02/19/2007
Revision Date: / /

The Raytheon Supplier Diversity Focus programs not only helps the company comply with law, rules and regulations, and customer requirements for utilizing a diverse supplier base, it helps to develop and build strong suppliers that can meet the company’s needs for products that meet the company’s requirements for successful business operations. The company’s Network Centric Systems Largo program’s four-pronged approach helps to ensure a win-win program for both Raytheon and its suppliers.

Maintaining a strong supplier base of preferred and certified suppliers who are willing to partner with a company is a challenge. Companies strive to develop suppliers who are responsive to their needs for reduced cost, minimal or no inventory at the company’s facilities, just-in-time deliveries, and willing to own all inventory until the company uses the parts and sells its product to its customers. While developing this supplier base, the company must also be sensitive to the needs of developing a strong supplier diversity program that is designed to drive supplier source selection strategy and ensure compliance with public law, Federal Acquisition Regulations, customer requirements, and company policy.

The Raytheon Network Centric Systems (NCS) facility in Largo, Florida, has developed a strong strategy to be more aggressive in the area of Supplier Diversity by taking a four-pronged approach to ensure Supplier Diversity in its supply chain. The first focus area is a comprehensive, small business subcontracting plan for use in all Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. The second focus area is a master scheduling plan for use in all government contracts. Third is the establishment of a set of Raytheon Largo Supplier Diversity strategies that include participation in state and national trade shows, participation in industry conventions pertaining to supply chain, establishment of a mentor- protg program with prospective suppliers, awards and recognitions for small business suppliers, and establishing individual buyer goals for material. The fourth and key element of the Raytheon Largo Supplier Diversity program is the effort toward outreach being the number one method for sharing Raytheon strategy and objectives. The company has received a significant number of requests to support customer, industry and advocacy organization initiatives and events.

This four-pronged approach has been accepted and signed by the Raytheon Supplier Diversity vice president and by representatives of the Defense Contract Management Agency. These efforts will collectively help to ensure Raytheon’s compliance with public law, federal acquisition regulations, customer requirements, and company policy.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.