Global Supply Chain Security and Management

Introduction
The Department of Homeland Security (2007) proclaims itself the “the lead department” for designing and implementing a strategy for global supply chain security (i). The DHS has undertaken this responsibility in large part because of the role it plays in detecting and responding to incidents, and making sure that trade can resume as smoothly as possible after an incident has occurred. In its Strategy to Enhance International Supply Chain Security, the Department of Homeland Security outlines the mission and guiding principles of its strategy, stressing the importance of collaboration with public and private sector organizations and industry stakeholders. The following is an analysis of the main sections of the DHS’s (2007) report.
Analysis
Purpose
This section of the DHS report includes five main sections, including “Strategic Strategy Objectives,” “Problem Definition,” “Risk Assessment,” “Goals,” and “Strategic Objectives.” The overall purpose of the strategy is to minimize disruptions to world trade. However, an important ancillary purpose is to create and maintain what the DHS calls a “unifying command,” whereby recovery efforts are highly coordinated and therefore highly efficient (p. 5). This section of the report also clarifies what the DHS constitutes as international trade, describing security efforts at each stage from point of origin at a factory to foreign port, then transit, to release at the domestic port, and then finally carriage to the final destination. It is important to clarify each of these points of potential vulnerability in the supply chain, in order to offer strategic strategy solutions. The DHS also defines the problem as being essentially one of scope: there is no way to completely subsume supply chain security under one umbrella organization. Thus, the DHS calls for a “multi-layered, unified approach that must be international in scope,” (p. 7). The DHS problem statement is echoed in the literature from the private sector too. Writing immediately after September 11, Sheffi (2001) “suggests a new public?private partnership” to mitigate the challenges of global terrorism and non-state actors (p. 1).
Scope
Understandably, the DHS limits the scope of its operations to cargo transiting to and from the United States. The DHS advocates a thorough “end-to-end” strategy that identifies critical risk nodes and minimizes risk accordingly (p. 16). The strategy is also divested of the obligation to protect passenger services and anything that does not fall under the rubric of international trade. The greatest challenges with the DHS are regarding jurisdiction, particularly since the United States does not have jurisdiction over many of the ports with which its companies will have business. However, this section does outline and express in a visual chart the international organizations and their relationships with the United States. This coincides with the “total supply chain approach” recommended by Sheu, Lee & Niehoff (2006, p. 363).
Guiding Principles
The guiding principles of the DHS supply chain security strategy include four main parts: accurate data and information sharing, secure cargo, secure transit, and international standards and regulations (p. 27). While these are more components to meeting strategic objectives than they are guiding principles, these are nevertheless cornerstones of an effective supply chain security plan.
Considerations and Assumptions
The main assumptions upon which the DHS builds its supply chain security strategy include belief in trade expansion, enhancements in data security, bilateral movement of goods, improvements to scanning technologies, and the establishment and improvement of relationships with allied organizations. Also, this section covers the important parameter of needing domestic assistance in responding to incidents.
Methodology
The methods used to create an effective supply chain security strategy are outlined in this section starting from an explanation of data collection methods to data analysis. Data was gathered from multiple primary sources including the USCG, CBP, TSA, DHS Policy, Science and Technology, and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (p. 36). The DHS also notes that a final draft was sent for review by SAFE Port Act officials before being released to the public and put into practice.
Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities
This is an important section of the document, in that it outlines the constraints of jurisdiction. The legal complications of the global supply chain are not thoroughly explicated here, but it is clear the DHS is aware of these constraints and has in place a protocol for addressing each contingency as it arises.
Strategic Elements
In this section, the DHS presents the bulk of its actual strategy, revealing the layers of the supply chain and how security measures are in place for each. Prevention is part of the strategy from point of to point of receipt. Integral to this section are the provisions for the private sector’s voluntary compliance with DHS recommendations and performance measures. The DHS also sets forth some international standards that will tremendously enhance global supply chain security if they are met. Finally, the document includes a schedule.
Response and Recovery
One of the most important aspects of international supply chain security is how to effectively respond to an incident and recover cargo. The DHS indicates that natural disaster response and recovery are also included under these provisions. The goal of all response and recovery efforts is to resume trade as swiftly as possible and minimize losses. It is important also to differentiate between response on the one hand and recovery on the other, in order to appropriately delegate tasks to appropriate agencies and organizations.
Training and Exercise Requirements
No strategy would be worth its weight without a comprehensive means of training personnel in how to appropriately implement it. Therefore, this section covers the strategic objectives of providing ongoing support for training staff and continuing to improve responses to crises.





References
Department of Homeland Security (2007). Strategy to Enhance International Supply Chain Security.
Sheu, C. Lee, L. & Niehoff, B. (2006) A voluntary logistics security program and international supply chain partnership. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal 11(4): 363-374, https://doi.org/10.1108/13598540610671815
Sheffi, Y. (2001). Supply Chain Management under the Threat of International Terrorism. The International Journal of Logistics Management 12(2): 1-11, https://doi.org/10.1108/09574090110806262