Case Study: GE Appliances achieves $400K in savings and streamlined responsible minerals compliance with Assent

GE Appliances, a Haier Company Growing Better With Cobalt & Responsible Minerals

GE Appliances, a Haier Company, faced a growing compliance challenge: managing conflict minerals and emerging cobalt risks across roughly 350 suppliers with a small team and a single compliance manager, Larry W. Smith, who spent as much as 60% of his time chasing suppliers, validating spreadsheet data, and producing reports. Seeking automated validation, streamlined analytics, ongoing supplier outreach, and regulatory expertise, GE Appliances selected Assent to professionalize and scale its responsible minerals program.

Assent implemented its supply chain sustainability management program — including automated data validation, supplier outreach and training, and the Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT) for cobalt — giving GE Appliances regulatory expertise and credible reporting. The results: $400,000 saved over the relationship ($300,000 conflict minerals, $100,000 cobalt), 350 suppliers engaged, about 1,000 working hours saved, and Larry’s workload cut from ~60% of his time to under 5% of his day, while accelerating product launches and improving bid competitiveness.

GE Appliances

Larry W. Smith

Supplier Quality Program Senior Manager