Ahead of the Curve: MEMA OE Suppliers 2023 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Barometer

According to the 2023 MEMA OE Suppliers DEI Barometer, 82% of firms showed improved DEI performance in the past year. Improvements, as reported by respondents, ranged from slight gains to significant improvements, while navigating notable market headwinds related to supply chain and labor availability.

About the MEMA OE Suppliers 2023 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Barometer:

The MEMA DEI Barometer is a survey of the top executives of MEMA regular member companies and measures the direction of the suppliers' twelve-month DEI progress. In addition, it provides a detailed overview of industry benchmarks, DEI initiatives, and future guidance of the automotive supply base. The 2023 MEMA OE Suppliers Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Barometer was completed in December with our partner CADIA. The results indicate:

• Responding firms saw growth in DEI in three key domains: Diverse Hourly Workforce, Company Culture that Embraces DEI, and Corporate DEI Strategy or Action Plan.
• On average, over fifty percent of suppliers have undergone some amount of training in four crucial areas for DEI, including Unconscious Bias, Inclusive Leadership, DEI Fundamentals, and Belonging and Inclusion.
• Nearly seventy percent of responding firms have someone on payroll with responsibility for managing DE&I within their organization. Another eleven percent are considering implementing such a role.
• Suppliers surveyed report high levels (71%) of DEI engagement in the form of visible support for policies and efforts on internal and/or external company websites along with increased engagement within the organization via Employee Resource Groups. Both measures bode well for recruiting and retention efforts.
• Almost seventy percent of responding firms have DEI strategies that are fully endorsed and supported by the C-Suite, with another seventeen percent of respondents reviewing such plans to implement.

“Member performance for DEI in 2023 showed strong gains, jumping seven points for a reading of 78, well above a neutral level of 50, reflecting an extraordinary commitment, as suppliers doubled down on efforts to attract and retain talent given ongoing supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages. Respondents reported top gains in diverse hourly workforce and DEI strategy while culture that embraces DEI held the second highest reading of all metrics,” said Mike Jackson, executive director, strategy and research, MEMA.

“Despite real cost pressures in recent years, suppliers recorded exceptional DEI gains in 2023, that reflect growing momentum for suppliers, ranging from small incremental steps to dramatic organizational progress: 

• Creation of DEI data heatmap  
• Diversity wins from leadership to operations
• First female engineering intern
• Launch of first Employee Resource Group (ERG)
• DEI officer was hired
• Growth of U.S. DEI Ambassador network

Leading suppliers see DEI as an opportunity to create an enduring competitive advantage by fostering inclusion resulting in greater creativity and better decision making that leads to greater talent attraction and employee retention,” Jackson said.                 

It is often said, DEI is a journey. The process allows teams to take small steps to achieve greater levels of engagement that then drive ongoing improvement. The whole purpose of the MEMA DEI Council, is to be a resource for leaders to share insights and best practices quarterly to help move their teams forward, said Keiyania Mann, Director, Councils, MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers

A full copy of the 2023 OE Supplier DEI Barometer results are available on the MEMA website. You can find them here.