Question
Assess organized crimes’ threats to the supply chain. Compare differences, if any, before and after 9/11. Please be sure to offer your perspectives and definitions on the supply chain so that we limit assumptions. Please also consider the timing of the report and offer updates.
Solution
TLMT605 Week 2: Cargo Crimes & Threats
Over the past few years, supply chain management has become a critical determinant of companies’ competitiveness; as it facilitates constant creation and supply of goods to end-users. By definition, supply chain management is the coordination of business functions within firms to improve long-term performance of individual companies (Li, 2014). From this definition, the supply chain can be termed as the network of all firms involved in the long-term operations of an individual venture. Unfortunately, maritime threats from organized crimes continue to disrupt the efficiency of supply chains. Despite efforts by governments to curb naval crimes through security programs, organized crimes’ threats to the supply chain have remained on the rise, years after the 9/11 attack.
Organized crimes’ threats to the supply chain have risen significantly compared to prior criminal events before the 9/11 attack. According to Webb (2019), terrorist incidents in the global supply chain totalled 346 attacks, a 16% rise from 2015. It is worth noting that the increase in such crimes comes at a time when several programs have been put in place to reduce the vulnerability of the country’s ports and maritime transportation against terrorist attacks. For instance, Peterson and Treat (2008) observe that since the events of 9/11, new protocols for tracking, screening and inspecting containerized imports and exports have been established in the United States and its trade partners. The statistics by the British Standard Institute reveal that despite these measures being put in place, organized terror groups still manage to attack weak spots in the supply chain. Some of these weak spots include lack of standard security procedures among trading countries, which leads to a compromise of post 9/11 programs. Therefore, if states fail to amend the niches in maritime security programs, organized crimes will remain a significant threat to the supply chain.
References
Li, X. (2014). Operations management of logistics and supply chain: Issues and directions. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, 2014(ID 701938), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/701938
Peterson, J., & Treat, A. (2008). The post-9/11 global framework for cargo security. Journal of International Commerce and Economics, 1(1), 1-30. Retrieved from https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/journals/cargo_security.pdf
Webb, J. (2017, August 29). Attacks on supply chains up by 16% as terrorists target business weak spots. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jwebb/2017/08/29/attacks-on-supply-chains-up-by-16-as-terrorist-target-business-weak-spots/#53ad91a6334a