Supply chain security has always been a concern of the shipping industry; ongoing petty thefts have chipped away at companies' bottom lines for years. More recently, however, the industry has witnessed the rise of bioterrorism. Since they are much smaller than conventional weapons, biological weapons can be potentially sent anywhere without detection.

Dual Goals of Supply Chain Security

One of the most vulnerable conduits into the country is through air, land, and rail carriers. Millions of parcels come into the country every day, and they are at risk during their long trips; at any place along the supply chain, thieves could steal from them or terrorists could insert illegal agents into them. Supply chain security has to address both theft and potential biological weapons or components.

The war on terror has reached the shipping industry, and supply chain security has improved greatly. For instance, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) has created many new guidelines for strengthening supply chain safety measures. One of the Customs Office's primary goals is to increase communication among all the players in the supply chain, from manufactures to receivers, and all points in between.

Some measures seem like they wouldn't be able to stop a biological weapon, but the ultimate goal is to deter terrorists and thieves. By using tamper proof seals, self-voiding labels, and other measures that indicate breaches in the security of the supply chain, criminals will be forced to reveal their illegal activities. In doing so, authorities will gain an advantage by finding the weak links in the chain.