Supply Chain Safety: 10 Keys to Safeguarding Stored Inventory

The relationship between a third-party supplier of supply chain solutions — such as Flash Global — and its customers who operate around the globe is built on trust. There are several key factors that contribute to building a longstanding relationship: dependability, flexibility and consistency, to name a few. Supply chain safety, particularly as it relates to distribution centers, warehouses and forward stocking locations where customer inventory is stored, also plays an integral role in building trust with customers.

Whether that inventory is valued at few thousand dollars or millions doesn’t matter — customers need to know that their inventory is protected with equal vigilance wherever it is in the world. Here are 10 supply chain safety measures that will help safeguard inventory stored in distribution centers, warehouses and forward stocking locations around the world.

1. Fire alarm and smoke detectors

   These should be installed in the office and storage areas. These should be checked quarterly or semiannually to ensure they are operating as designed.

2. Security alarm (or guards) should be in place

At minimum, facilities should be protected with an alarm system that will notify a monitoring firm or local law enforcement if and when a building is breached.

3. Closed Circuit TV

CCTV camera systems should be installed at all facility exit/entry points and critical high value storage areas within the warehouse. Appearance is not enough; Make sure they’re rolling at all times, too.

4. Locking Devices and Key Controls

Doors, gates and fences should be securely fitted with proper locking devices using security ID badge cards or other locking systems that allow restricted access.

5. Protect Entrance Points

External and internal windows must be secured. Standard doors, whether external or internal, can be easily forced open. Invest in steel security doors which provide additional levels of protection.

6. Car Parks and Access Points

This might be obvious, but it is essential to separate shipping docks from staff and visitor parking areas to eliminate the chance of someone swiftly removing items.

7. Security Cages

Protecting your stock from the inside is important. Security cages increase protection for both standalone enclosures and built into large, close fitting areas.

8. Secure Delivery Points

Carrier goods drop-off points and windows are vulnerable spots for potential thefts due to the lack of security. Steel security grilles are an additional level of protection highly recommended for your property.

9. Walk-throughs

Owners or senior members of staff should frequently walk through the distribution center, warehouse or forward stocking location. Walk-throughs have proved to be an effective means of monitoring the business.

10. Limit Access

Have visitors sign in and out when arriving and leaving the building. Processes should be implemented to register and account for all non-company individuals on site. Visitors should be escorted by authorized personnel at all times—no exceptions. Nobody external to facility staff (including employees of the customer who owns the inventory) should be allowed access inventory storage areas without being escorted and having written authorization from the supply chain services provider requested in advance.

Supply Chain Safety: A Basis for Trust

Flash Global provides world-class end-to-end service supply chain solutions to customers in a variety of industry verticals, including some of the world’s most respected high-tech original equipment manufacturers. Supply chain safety is a crucial building block of trust with customers because they know we treat their inventories as ours once it reaches our global supply chain network that includes 3 Global Service Centers, 17 Distribution Centers and more than 750 FSLs.

To learn more about Flash’s global network and the supply chain services we provide, connect with us today.