Earlier this month, USA Supplier Fairs were held at two USA member station locations; Salem and Hope Creek and PPL Susquehanna. Both fairs were a success, with strong turn-outs and many connections made.
“Attendees at PPL Susquehanna indicated that they were pleasantly surprised that the USA suppliers provided such a large array of parts and services,” said Nuclear Procurement Manager Rob Littles. “It is Nuclear Procurement’s goal to increase the use of these suppliers where appropriate. That’s why we held the fair.”
Two to three USA Supplier Fairs are held at different member stations each year. Twelve, or more (depending on the space), USA suppliers are invited to the sites to present their services and products in a mini-trade-show-like environment. This creates time and space for face-to-face connections between the suppliers and the end-users, allowing plant employees to become familiar with the USA suppliers and the scope of their offering and fostering productive communication and relationship-building.
The USA Supplier Fair coordinators (representatives from the Supply Chain/Procurement departments of the plant) select which USA suppliers to invite based on their plant’s usage and savings goals.
“Typically the members’ selection represents a mix of suppliers with which they are already doing significant business and suppliers they want to target for increased or improved partnership,” states Sarah Vandermast, USA Manager – Supply Chain. “ The goal is to promote awareness and strengthen relationships. Getting the buy-in of the end-users is critical to optimizing the usage of the USA fleet agreements. The more members we have on board, the more leverage we have to work with our supplier-partners on cost-effective solutions to our common needs.”
Next year’s USA Supplier Fair schedule is currently being finalized, though USA is pleased to announce that new member STP will be hosting a fair next year after their spring outage (specific dates are TBD).
“We’re excited to get engaged,” states Sam Smith, STP general supervisor, contracts and purchasing. “We feel this will start our membership off on the right foot.”
Additional USA Supplier Fairs will be announced as they are finalized.
PSEG employee Robert Knieriem (front left) from the Outage Services group talks with Doug VanTassell and Matt Shustrick from Curtiss Wright/AP Services.
Josh Zueger, Michael Constantino, and Christian Clancey of Rolls-Royce enjoy their first Supplier Fair.
PSEG employees Jimmy Schmidt (middle) and Sal Raguseo (right) from the Outage Services group speak with a Curtiss Wright representative.
USA employees Lynne Hilton, Supply Chain Specialist, and Sarah Vandermast, Manager- Supply Chain, man the registration table at the PPL Susquehanna Supplier Fair.
Curtiss Wright’s Ed Hollis chats with PPL Susquhanna fair organizer Dave Zaprazny.
PPL Susquehanna Senior Sourcing Agent Darin Hock speaks with Studsvik’s Scott Rogers.
Burns & McDonnell employee Larry Stendebach (left) talks with PPL Susquehanna Radiological Engineer Carlos Torres (right).