Johnson Controls Inc., manufacturer of automotive seating and interiors, held a one-day conference recently to encourage business development between its minority-owned suppliers and other vendors to the company. Twenty-five of Johnson Control's minority-owned suppliers exhibited products and interacted with executives from about 125 suppliers, looking for ways in which to build strategic business relationships.
The company's formal business development plan calls for it to buy at least 5% of annual total purchased goods and services from qualified minority vendors--$36 million in 1996 and a projected $86 million in 1997--and Johnson Controls is urging its suppliers to develop similar minority-supplier targets.
