Supplier Stories

Top 5 Suppliers Stories

The Goal

Roche is committed to fostering mutually advantageous business relationships with diverse and small businesses on a global scale. Our objective is to integrate supplier diversity into our core operations to promote sustainability and drive innovation.

The Challenge

Despite our strong commitment, achieving significant engagement with diverse and small businesses, especially outside the U.S., poses a challenge. In regions such as Europe, Middle East, and Africa, there is a need to enhance focus and participation in supplier diversity efforts.

The Solution

Roche has embedded supplier diversity into our Supplier Code of Conduct as one of our sustainability principles. In 2018, we spent $808 million with small companies in the U.S., accounting for 14% of our expenditure in that region. To expand our impact globally, in 2020, we attended the Dow Jones European Diversity Summit for ‘Growing Corporate Impact’ and participated in a panel discussion to highlight our focus on supplier diversity.

We believe that diversity fosters innovation, which in turn creates competition. We support small and diverse businesses through various initiatives, including:

1. Capability Building: Helping small and diverse businesses enhance their capabilities.

2. Footprint Expansion: Assisting these businesses in expanding their reach.

3. Supplier Financing Options: Providing financing options to help them manage cash flow effectively.

Additionally, we support advocacy organizations such as Diversity Alliance for Science and WEConnect International. We also engage in business matchmaking sessions and provide speakers for supplier diversity events. These venues offer valuable opportunities for us to meet new suppliers and for suppliers to connect with us, thereby fostering a mutually beneficial relationship.

The Goal

Our Roche Pharma procurement organization in the UK aimed to demonstrate that social responsibility and diversity are important values for Roche. Specifically, the goal was to support supplier diversity by awarding business to diverse and socially responsible vendors.

The Challenge

Traditionally, the focus in sourcing within the industry is commonly on large, men-owned agencies capable of offering a full range of services. However, we aimed to challenge this norm by seeking out and supporting diverse suppliers, such as small, woman-owned businesses.

The Solution

We awarded a marketing project to a small, woman-owned creative advertising agency. This agency had a business model that offered flexible working opportunities to women, including options to work from home. This flexibility enabled women to manage both their family commitments and their professional lives effectively.

One woman from the agency expressed feeling successful both at work and in motherhood due to the agency's supportive environment. The team was trusted to meet deadlines and allowed the autonomy to decide how, where, and when they worked best. The agency successfully delivered a marketing campaign for the launch of one of our new blockbuster products on time and to our full satisfaction.

By promoting supplier diversity and engaging with this agency, Roche was able to tap into a pool of talented women, setting a positive example and making a notable difference in an industry often dominated by larger, men-owned agencies.

The Goal

Scientists need innovative technologies to better understand disease biology and, ultimately, enhance the discovery and development of new medicines.

The Challenge

It is crucial to find the right partner to develop test panels, allowing hundreds of human genetic mutations to be examined at the same time. Only very few suppliers are able to perform clinical testing under high regulatory requirements.

The Solution

It is crucial to find the right partner to develop test panels, allowing hundreds of human genetic mutations to be examined at the same time. Only very few suppliers are able to perform clinical testing under high regulatory requirements.

The Goal

The primary goal was to ensure the continuity of supply of special tailored resins, which are essential raw materials for the manufacturing of biological drug substances. It was crucial to prevent any negative impacts on production and the supply of medicines to patients.

The Challenge

In collaboration with key suppliers, we identified a significant risk of supply interruption. This posed a major challenge as any disruption in the supply chain could adversely affect the availability of critical medicines to patients.

The Solution

We addressed this challenge by working closely with our suppliers and setting clear expectations. Here’s how we structured our approach:

Alignment on Standards: We began by sharing Roche's business continuity and sustainability standards, and in turn, learned about the suppliers’ existing programs.

Gap Analysis: Conducted a thorough analysis to identify and understand the gaps between Roche's standards and those of our suppliers.

Risk Management Collaboration: Based on the findings, we made necessary amendments to our risk management and business continuity plans in close collaboration with the suppliers.

Through these collaborative efforts, we gained a better understanding of supply interruption risks and took corrective actions to address identified gaps. This resulted in reduced risk scores and enhanced security of supply. Furthermore, this initiative not only mitigated potential risks but also fostered a closer relationship with each supplier. Our suppliers now serve as exemplary models of best practices in collaborating on risk management.

The Goal

Our objective was to enhance the sustainability and economic efficiency of our global fleet operations across our 164 sites worldwide.

The Challenge

To achieve this, we needed to:

1. Establish full transparency of the economic footprint for each individual car.

2. Identify preferred fleet service providers.

3. Set and achieve reduction targets for fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

The Solution

Global Fleet Council: We successfully established a global fleet council that provided comprehensive transparency of the economic footprint for each vehicle.

Collaboration: Worked closely with human resources, procurement, and business stakeholders to set and attain our sustainability targets.

Fleet Upgrades: Motivated fleet companies to offer new car models, including hybrid and electrical vehicles, which have a lower ecological footprint while maintaining high safety standards.

Training: Offered courses in safe and economic driving to employees to increase awareness and encourage behavior change.

Over the last 10 years, we reduced the eco footprint per car by more than 30% and saved over 3 million Swiss francs in fuel costs.