Supply security critical for chems - consultant
16 November 2006 21:32 [Source: ICIS news]
HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Chemical industry executives must make supply chain and critical infrastructure security a priority to protect their profitability and the country’s economy, a security consultant said on Thursday.
“Senior managers, you have to approach [security] as you approach improving sales or any other aspect of your business plan,” Dwight White, with IMS Worldwide, told attendees of the Southwest Chemical Association’s November luncheon in Houston.
The chemical industry is so big and affects so many parts of the economy, its critical infrastructure must be protected, said White, who worked for 27 years for the US Department of Defense on nuclear site security.
The perils faced by the nation’s chemical installations are many, he said. “In your industry, the threats include an al-Qaida cell trying to take out a pipeline to kids out on a weekend taking pot shots at a tank.”
To address all of the risks, companies should consult with public and private partners, he said. “If you do this, you’re going to be ahead of the game by picking up on what you had previously overlooked.”
White also said that it was important to prevent transit or operational stoppages and to use feedback from the Department of Homeland Security and the American Chemistry Council (ACC).
The ACC’s Responsible Care programme, he added, was highly regarded at the Department of Homeland Security as a model of industry taking the initiative to address security threats.
IMS Worldwide is a free-trade zone and industrial park consulting group that specializes in supply chain and security-threat assessments.
By: Joseph Lohan
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