Forum keynote address by Eileen Bartholomew, highlighted the exponential change in technology and how companies can adapt their thinking to the pace of innovation.
Dentsply Sirona held its Global Supplier Forum 2021 at the end of June. The event brought the company’s top 200 suppliers and service providers worldwide together. The company used the conference to share its “mission, vision, and focus on meeting customer expectations, innovation, risk mitigation, sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion.” The conference also focused on initiatives related to the company’s supply chain and procurement. Suppliers also had the opportunity to meet or reconnect with Dentsply Sirona’s supply chain division leadership team.”
The forum took place as a hybrid event with speakers on site at the Dentsply Sirona headquarter in Charlotte, North Carolina, while the keynote address, presented by speaker Eileen Bartholomew—a principal at Bessemer Alliance and writer on the topic of growth through innovation, took place through a virtual venue. The event also included an introduction from Don Casey, chief executive officer;  Dan Key, senior vice president; and Joanne Couture, chief supply chain officer and vice president, global procurement.
In her address, Bartholomew highlighted the exponential change in technology and how companies can adapt their thinking to the pace of innovation. Dentsply Sirona executive officers also expressed the company’s commitment to minimizing supply chain risks that could impact customers, reducing environmental impacts from its global operations, and to fostering global ethical standards and diversity and inclusion throughout its workforce and supply chain. To increase the impact of these commitments, the company says it is working to engage its global supply chain partners in these efforts.
Dentsply Sirona also launched a new Supplier Awards Program for suppliers deemed to be “exceptional partners.” According to the company, suppliers can compete across all direct and indirect spend categories. The award program criteria reportedly are based on Dentsply Sirona’s supply chain goals including, sustainability, quality, delivery, innovation, value, and diversity. The company says each supplier will work with its global category manager to learn how to meet the criteria and compete against other suppliers to win. Official nominations will be submitted in early Q2 2022 and winners will be announced that June. The competition is open to all Dentsply Sirona suppliers.