STR performs detailed risk assessments of supply chain operations to identify business interruption risks that could have a negative impact on a company’s bottom line. We help clients understand the risks in their supply chain – from raw materials supplies to finished goods and transportation to their final destination.
Our services include:
- Political and Regulatory Assessment
- Factory Outsourcing and Transportation Analysis
- Contingency Plan Review
- Security Evaluation
Inspections are carried out on a client’s products at the point of manufacture and are a cost effective way to ensure that products meet quality standards prior to shipment. Typically, ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 statistical random sampling is applied, but an alternate client supplied sampling plan also are often utilized. Products are evaluated for conformance with each client's specifications and we provide valuable feedback so that you can make informed decisions.
Inspections not only serve as a vital check on product quality, but also monitor packaging, shipment quantities, carton markings, and other factors of concern.
Political and Regulatory Assessment
STR can provide an in-depth analysis of the political and regulatory environment where a company’s manufacturing plants and inventories are located. We evaluate the countries where clients operate to determine if they are prone to political instability or government interference in business and whether their infrastructure is sound. Factories are checked to make sure that they have secured appropriate country-specific authorizations and data is provided on local building codes/zoning laws that may impose restrictions that are difficult for a client’s factories to meet.
Factory Outsourcing and Transportation Analysis
Companies need to know whether alternate sources of materials are available to prevent possible production delays. A review of your sourcing and routing arrangements can provide critical data about whether raw materials used in manufacturing are highly specialized or available as a commodity all over the world. If the materials are sourced from a single supplier or location, alternative sources should be identified in case these raw materials suddenly become unavailable.
Contingency Plan Review
STR has expertise in conducting contingency plan assessments to evaluate a company’s manufacturing facilities and transportation modes. Without a strategic plan in place, a company could find itself with no place to manufacture its products and no means to transport them.
Security Evaluation
The U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) is a voluntary initiative that requires its participants to comply with the C-TPAT Security Criteria for Importers. Within the Criteria, U.S. Customs has encouraged businesses and importers to assess supply chain security as part of their business operations. The benefit of participation is the accelerated movement of goods across the U.S. border.
Working alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CSCC’s security monitoring tools and programs have become the benchmark for determining the safety of supply chains from terrorist and other threats. Our supply chain security services can be applied to any entity within the supply chain, including factories, land carriers, warehouses, and others.
These services can be integrated with CSCC’s social monitoring programs or operate independently, and include:
- Transhipment Audits
- Validation Consultation
- Ongoing Supply Chain Security Monitoring
- Security Consultation and Program Development
- Guidance Through C-TPAT Certification Process
- Education and Training
- Best Practices Manual
For more information on C-TPAT and supply chain security services, visit www.cscc-online.com.
