Four methods to secure a manufacturing plant's supply chain

Consider these four approaches to secure an industrial facility’s supply chain.

Courtesy: Adobe Stock

Learning objectives

Learn how to improve operations by locking down the last mile to protect every link in a supply chain.
Understand how to improve visibility through tracking technologies, optimizing routes using AI-driven tools and building stronger supplier and courier relationships to support a more secure and forward-thinking logistics strategy.

Supply chain insights

This article explores why securing the last mile is critical to protecting the wider supply chain and maintaining operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and business resilience.
It discusses key challenges including cargo theft, delivery disruptions and growing supply chain complexity and outlines practical measures organizations can implement to strengthen last mile security.

Maintaining secure and efficient operations across all aspects of the supply chain is a major priority for all kinds of modern businesses. To help ensure stable growth, sidestep avoidable losses and provide a high quality of customer service, every link in the chain must be secured.

However, with as many as 97% of organizations having suffered a supply chain breach and incidents of cargo theft having risen by more than 15% in recent years, maintaining secure and efficient operations across increasingly complicated global supply chains can be challenging.

The supply chain’s last mile

The last mile is often the most important and most vulnerable link in modern supply chains, accounting for around 41% of shipping costs and greatly impacting the customer experience.

The relatively short and sometimes unpredictable nature of last mile deliveries, however, can introduce significant issues ranging from organized theft to delays caused by traffic problems.

When last mile deliveries are consistently successful, a business’ reputation among its clients will often be improved. However, data suggests 84% of consumers will abandon a retailer after just one poor delivery experience, making locking down the last mile critically important.

Best practices for improving supply chain security

To improve last mile security, leaders must take a comprehensive approach to enhancing the way assets are tracked, managed and handled by trusted individuals. To help organizations make impactful enhancements, below are some practical tips for improving last mile security.

1. Leverage technology to improve visibility

Using real-time tracking systems to monitor the location and condition of assets in transit can help to prevent and address last mile security issues. GPS and internet of things-based sensors affixed to packages can provide real-time information to operators, enabling teams to identify issues regarding delays, theft and damage to support fast internal and customer-facing responses.

Implementing access control and electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) systems can also help to prevent and address theft in the workplace. Credential-based access systems reduce the risk of unauthorized persons gaining access to valuable assets and capture detailed audit trails to support investigations, while ePOD systems help to ensure accountability at delivery points, as workplace theft reports show.

2. Optimize routes to reduce time in transit

The less time valuable assets are required to spend between secure depots and final points of delivery, the lower the risk of them being damaged or stolen in transit. Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the supply chain, with one example being AI route planning tools used to optimize deliveries and make smart adjustments informed by real-time environmental, traffic and crime information.

AI route planning tools use machine learning algorithms to identify the most efficient delivery route at any given time, factoring in dynamic variables like traffic, weather and crime data. In addition to limiting the risk of theft, these solutions can help to reduce resource waste, with data suggesting AI-driven route planning tools can cut fuel consumption by as much as 15%.

3. Build strong supplier and courier partnerships

Locking down the last mile of a supply chain is made much easier when the human element of logistics is appropriately managed. By taking steps to ensure every person who encounters high-value assets can be trusted to maintain standards and report security issues promptly, leaders can help to mitigate risks and support effective security responses.

By partnering with reputable couriers and factoring suppliers into risk management efforts, business owners can help to ensure everyone across the supply chain is equally invested in security management and continuous optimization. To help achieve this outcome, leaders must commit to maintaining proactive and regular communications with all logistics partners.

4. Maintain a forward-thinking approach to supply chain security

Maintaining a secure and efficient supply chain requires a continuous commitment to risk and security management. Multiple variables can negatively impact a supply chain in the short and long term, necessitating continuous efforts to monitor and optimize key operations.

By leveraging smart technologies, pursuing continuous improvements and building strong relationships with logistics partners, you can maintain a forward-thinking approach to security management and lock down the last mile to protect every link in the supply chain.