Micron manages a complex supply chain that includes a variety of materials, equipment and services required to support our operations, from office supplies to highly specialized design components. With over 9,000 suppliers in 42 countries in 2019, managing our supply base is a critical undertaking. And the sourcing environment is changing, with increasing diversification of locations, leading to sourcing from new locations less acquainted with global standards.
This situation requires a dedicated team to guide our supplier evaluation and approval process to ensure new and existing suppliers meet our expectations, including those related to social and environmental criteria. Micron works closely and continuously with suppliers to assess risk, drive corrective actions and encourage improvement. By communicating our expectations to our tier 1 suppliers — those we source from directly — we strive to have responsible practices replicated throughout our supply chain.
We are an active member of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA, formerly the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition). The RBA is composed of leading electronics industry companies that have joined together to promote responsible working conditions, ethical business practices and environmental stewardship globally throughout the electronics industry supply chain. RBA members adhere to a common RBA code of conduct, which addresses supply chain performance expectations for labor, health and safety, environmental practices, ethics and management systems.
