Highlighting the Role of Carrier Management in Supply Chain Security
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Jason Blumenauer is the Director of Global Security at Cardinal Health and an expert in supply chain security. In this interview, he discusses the role of carrier management; how he sources and selects the right carriers, assessing opportunities for theft, tips for proactively protecting against theft and, finally, appropriately responding to thefts when they occur.
Could you provide for us a basic framework that details the role of carrier management in supply chain security?
The role of carrier management in supply chain security is to create a protective environment for the business to develop and grow with the confidence that its assets, people and reputation are secure. To maintain a working environment where people are protected maintaining the companies duty of care to its employees.
What are your tips for sourcing, selecting and working with the carriers who embrace your same approach to supply chain security?
The goal is to create a supply chain that supports the customer, both externally and internally. There are many points along the supply chain and maintaining a secured and well documented chain of custody provides a consistent program that provides checks and balances along the way.
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Allowing the couriers to understand the importance of their performance creates a team atmosphere allowing for all parties to reach for the same goal. Training is crucial to ensuring the supply chain meets the needs of the customer. Further, open communication allows all involved parties to quickly see potential gaps in the process and provide enough time to fix those gaps before it affects the integrity of the supply chain process.
What are some best practices for not only assessing theft opportunities, but also proactively protecting against theft?
Monitoring and maintaining information around the national and international supply chain incidents allows for a company to keep a pulse on potential issues that may affect their specific business. Internally maintaining that same information that happens to your specific business allows for the opportunity to create metrics and show a need for upgrades in your security and the processes. Security and the technology within it is only productive if the people managing the business believe that there is a need for it and then they utilize the equipment and follow the processes and procedures around it.
Fifty percent of security is creating awareness and allowing individuals to understand the need and 25 percent is creating a program that fits into the culture of the business and supports a more productive environment. The last 25 percent is providing the tools for the business to maintain the security program and create a pro-active atmosphere that can deter security issues and is also prepared to react to a crisis when it occurs.
Some key points to a good supply chain security program:
• Track and monitor (Maintain a knowledge base around current and past supply chain issues within your industry)
• Create standards and expectations around security within the supply chain
• Create process guides on handling incidents
• Maintain training programs
• Create a 24/7 open communication line
• Constantly audit the program and make changes where necessary
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