Questions and Answers about SP

How does this organization bring value to my company?
SP provides a forum for large, medium and small automotive and vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to work together to develop and share information, tools, knowledge, good practices and technical support to ensure that processes and products provide both environmental improvements as well as costs savings.

How is SP organized, managed and funded?
SP is a 501(c)(6) trade association comprised of automotive and vehicle manfacturers and suppliers. Each SP member company is represented on the Board of Directors who manages the organization. In addition, an Executive Committee is responsible for addressing the day-to-day issues of the association. Funding for for SP from SP membership dues. The level of individual membership dues is determined using a formula based upon the company's total sales as noted on the SP Membership Application.

What is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) role in this activity?
EPA will help provide topics for special projects, information, approaches and tools. In addition, EPA will provide financial resources to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) to provide counsel and guidance to small and mid-sized businesses participating in SP Workshops.

What resources are available to small- and medium-sized manufacturers?
In addition, to participating in SP's programs and activities, services of the NIST MEPs will be available for small- and medium-sized manufacturers. Those activities may include conducting Suppliers Partnership Workshops focused on waste reduction and value creation. For more information about workshops, please visit SP's EPA/NIST Partnership page.

What type of activities does SP pursue and how much time will I need allocate to it?
The membership of SP determines the issues and activities that the organization addresses. These activities include the Work Groups as well as the cooperative development of tools and reports and the sharing of technical assistance and good practices.

If there are financial savings found through my company's activities with SP Technical Assistance Workshops, who will get those resources?
All cost savings realized through SP Technical Assistance Workshops are retained by the SP member company.