Reflections on the DA4S Conference: ESG, Partnering, and Diversity

DA4S Conference

When the Diversity Alliance for Science held its spring East Coast conference in Newark, New Jersey, several members of the Dynamic Technology Solutions team were in attendance. The following is drawn from their observations during the conference.

For 15 years, the Diversity Alliance for Science (DA4S) has been focusing on bringing greater diversity, in terms of both people and companies, to the life sciences industry. At the recent DA4S East Coast Conference, two aspects of that effort were prominent throughout the event—the need to enhance Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs, and the forging of partnerships between a variety of companies.

ESG has been around for a while, but as the meeting showed, it is now more important than ever. Today, partners, suppliers, employees, investors, and customers assess the companies that they work with through the lens of ESG. That message came through loud and clear at the meeting, where large pharma companies talked about the ESG attributes they expect to see in their suppliers.

Those pharma companies have good reason to look for those attributes. A few years ago, the McKinsey & Company management consulting firm performed a meta-study of more 2,000 studies examining ESG initiatives and found that 63% reported a positive business impact from those efforts, while only 8% reported a negative impact. So, as discussions at the meeting made clear, ESG is no longer a “do the right thing,” corporate social responsibility initiative—it is a powerful business mandate that can drive real results, now and in the long term. Certainly, suppliers will need to continue to provide value and quality with their products and services, but ESG will need to be in the mix as well.

Meanwhile, the importance of partnerships, captured in the event’s theme of “The Power of Us,” was underscored in several ways. Some discussions, for example, explored how Tier 1, 2, and 3 supplier relationships can bring unique value and innovation to life sciences organizations. A number of supplier showcase presentations (including one by our Vice President of Business Development Tami Schultz) provided insights into a range of solutions available to partners. Roundtable events brought different companies together for mutual education and discussions of possible partnering opportunities. And in the final session of the conference, representatives from various suppliers joined their customer counterparts on stage to talk about the partnering journeys they had taken. Every story was unique, but they all shared a common theme: that partnerships are an important key to building growth and success.

The value of ESG and partnerships—and ultimately, diversity in life sciences—are well understood at Dynamic Technology Solutions. But it was good to have that view reinforced at the meeting, and to have a chance to collaborate with others to explore ways to improve the industry on both fronts.

[Photo Caption]
Dynamic Technology Solutions’ Robert Werner, Tami Schultz, and Dan Wood at the DA4S East Coast Connection in Newark, New Jersey.

Dynamic Technology Solutions Attends Diversity Supply Chain National Education and Training Event: ACCELERATE 2022

Dynamic Technology Solutions showed a strong presence at ACCELERATE 2022, the premier education and training conference of the Diverse Manufacturing Supply Chain Alliance (DMSCA). Dynamic was represented by Vice President of Business Development, Tami Schultz and Business Development Director, Bob Werner at the convention which featured over 30 leading organizations in the manufacturing space.

The event, held in Scottsdale, AZ last month, addressed practical small-midsize manufacturer development solutions, with a focus on digitalization of supply chain management in the current, ever-changing environment.

“There was a strong emphasis on passion,” said Schultz, as she shared her impression of the event. “Passion for digitalized supply chain, passion for the importance of diverse suppliers that innovate and drive results for leading manufacturers.”

The panel discussion around “Supply Chain Collaboration Through Advanced Manufacturing Technologies” proved to be a highlight of the conference. Featuring special guest, Felipe Bezamat Kuzmanic, Head of Advanced Manufacturing and Global Leadership Fellow at the World Economic Forum, this session addressed current supply chain constraints due to COVID-19. This topic has been a point of emphasis for Dynamic over the last two years, as the organization published multiple resources to aid suppliers and manufacturers in navigating the pandemic, including a proprietary methodology, Supply Chain Risk ScoringSM.

Another interesting session was a demonstration on the “Use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) and the Connected Worker” by Brian Townley, Business Development Associate at MxD. Brian detailed the use of VR and AR in the workplace, enabling non-technical associates to make repairs on complex technologies without in-depth knowledge of the devices. Dynamic has identified an increase in the use of virtual reality in the design and design for manufacturing phases of product development in its clients and the life science industry. This session was a welcome addition to the conference and educational for the DTS team.

The event was well attended and served as a homecoming of sorts for one of the prominent diversity-led supplier development organizations in the supply chain strategy sphere. After a long and patient wait, an in-person event provided meaningful interactions and networking opportunities.

“This was a great opportunity to collaborate with members of DMSCA face-to-face,” Bob Werner reflected in reviewing the event. “I was impressed with participation by leading manufacturers with key Sr. Leaders and staff in attendance. I look forward to growing the relationships we made and implementing what we learned into our day-to-day functions.”