INCREASING YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY
of the private sector to make that happen . Look into programs that link private businesses and government entities to ensure better safety across an international supply chain . Some of these programs include :
C-TPAT – This is the U . S . Customs- Trade Partnership Against Terrorism , an initiative that encourages private businesses and the United States government to work together to integrate their supply chain protocols . The program also offers certification , for clients who want to know that their distributors are taking part .
AEO – The European Union ’ s Authorised Economic Operator ( AEO ) program is essentially the European version of the C-TPAT with similar structure and certification . For European and global businesses , this certification is an equally valuable asset .
Get an Outside Opinion Now that your supply chain is upgraded and in place , it is time for an audit to take stock and make sure that everything is the best that it can be . But here is the thing . It is very difficult for a writer to proofread his own work – it can be nearly impossible to step back and look objectively for technical errors , when you are so in tune with what you know that you meant to write . This is why a copy editor serves a necessary function , reading through with a completely fresh set of eyes to catch what the writer himself might have glossed over .
In the same way , a business can benefit greatly from a fresh set of eyes looking over their supply chain viability to find vulnerabilities that even the best and most thorough of your own personnel might have missed . Consider enlisting the help of an experienced third-party consultant with expertise in the logistics industry , that can take in your supply chain as a whole and analyze for any potential risk factors . It might add some extra cost into your operations , but that ’ s a lot less in the long run compared to investments that could be lost due to a weak link in the supply chain .
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