The Pros And Cons Of Supply Chain Security

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Supply chain security refers to efforts to enhance the security of the supply chain, the transport and logistics system for the world's cargo. It combines traditional practices of supply chain management with the security requirements driven by threats such as terrorism, piracy, and theft.

Typical supply chain security activities include:

Credentialing of participants in the supply chain
Screening and validating of the contents of cargo being shipped
Advance notification of the contents to the destination country
Ensuring the security of cargo while in-transit via the use of locks and tamper-proof seals
Inspecting cargo on entry
However, while the above initiatives overlap each other, which isn’t such a bad thing, they also leave gaps, which …show more content…

High protection of business information/data (management procedures and storing methods designed to protect information from unauthorized access and usage). Accurate and complete recordkeeping of shipping information for potential security audits (improved recordkeeping methods; quality control of records, error correction). Human Resources Management – Guaranteeing trustworthiness and security awareness of all personnel with physical or virtual access to the supply chains. Professional employee hiring / exit process (background checks; interviews for leaving or fired employees). Efficient information dissemination process (internal and external publication of the company security policies).

Company Management Systems – “Building security” into internal and external organizational structures and company management systems, including supplier, partner and client management processes. Adequate business partners evaluation system (selection of low risk and high security compliant suppliers, clients and subcontractors). Complete company security management system (defined security processes, defined and controlled security indicators, internal and external audits).

Managerial implications

One of the first reactions supply managers may have in dealing with risk is to grab for

greater control. Control-oriented mangers in …show more content…

Therefore, it is up to the progressive supply

managers to resist these attempts to grab for greater control and, instead, focus on

managing risk. Failure to do so will result in a step back for these firms and the gap

between best and worst performers will grow even larger.

Even though using process improvements and various risk management activities

can reduce supply risks, risk cannot be completely eliminated. Risk management

policies need a clear mandate from top management. Because risk management is time

consuming supply professionals can spend a large portion of their time in planning and

assessing supply risk, they need to rationalize the investment that they make in each

buying situation by identifying its distinguishing characteristics.

If the buying situation is novel, involves critical high-tech items, and requires high

levels of security in its production and delivery to customers the risks of failure can be

prohibitive. In this scenario, supply professional should rely on early supplier

involvement, share and assess supplier risk management plans, implement automatic

integration with supplier operations, and increase and strengthen the flow

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