As the pre-holiday season approaches, manufacturers are faced not only with the anticipation of increased demand but also the imperative need for enhanced security throughout their supply chains. Beyond the challenges of potential delivery delays, price inflation, and supply chain disruptions, security threats loom large—putting inventory, assets, employees, and spaces at risk. In a landscape where agility, visibility, and connectivity are paramount, maintaining warehouse or distribution center security is a year-round commitment, not just a seasonal concern. This article explores six enduring security practices that manufacturers can adopt to safeguard their operations throughout the year.
Unified Approach to Deter Threats:
Security threats to the supply chain can manifest in various forms, from data breaches to lapses in physical security. To fortify defenses, a unified approach is key. Moving towards a single cloud-managed platform allows for increased value derived from learning user behaviors, managing costs efficiently, maximizing resources, and enhancing worker experiences. This unified strategy comprises six practices that contribute to heightened security for both distributors and manufacturers irrespective of the season.
- More Visibility: Deploying cloud-managed smart cameras reduces dependence on hourly security rounds. These cameras empower guards to focus on actual incidents while monitoring warehouse cameras via a centralized dashboard, ensuring crisp video quality regardless of the access location.
- Environmental Monitoring: With a majority of manufacturers expecting higher supply prices due to inflation, safeguarding assets becomes paramount. Temperature sensors can provide alerts when manufacturing equipment is at risk from environmental hazards, preventing potential catastrophes.
- Simplification Strategy: Reducing complexity is crucial for security. Working with fewer vendors simplifies configuration, maintenance, and usage. Solutions that upgrade automatically enhance deployment efficiency for IT or security teams and provide a seamless experience for employees.
- Built-in Security: Appliances with built-in SD-WAN capabilities offer ease of installation and remote management. In the event of an issue at the warehouse, the team can address it from anywhere using a centralized dashboard.
- Closed Doors: Sensors connected to alerts ensure that specific areas remain off-limits to unauthorized personnel. This practice is particularly crucial in securing spaces like manufacturing areas or the CEO’s office.
- Adaptable Signage: Smart cameras can be utilized by human resources or authorized users to check signage in work areas. This ensures that crucial messaging, such as health, safety, or security information for employees, is up-to-date and effective.
Taking a unified approach to physical and cybersecurity minimizes risk and enhances the worker experience, a critical aspect, especially during the holidays when demand spikes and deadlines become more stringent. While the green grinch may not be lurking around manufacturing lines, laying the groundwork for robust security practices, both digital and physical, using the Internet of Things is essential to protect inventory, staff, and operations from genuine threats.
Your source for supply chain report news updates: The Supply Chain Report. For international trade insights and tools, head to ADAMftd.com.
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