So…you have decided you want to be a member of the CTPAT program. Perhaps a client is requesting it – or maybe you just want to prevent shipping delays, limit inspections, and take advantage of the many other valuable reasons first-timers seek certification. You’ve wrapped your head around all the criteria you need to meet to be approved. Sure, it’s an undertaking, but you know it will be worth it in the end.
*But* at this point in the process, it’s important to stop and ask yourself just one more question: “Once I’m a validated member of the program…what’s the plan to maintain it?”
One of the biggest hurdles companies face when it comes to CTPAT is underestimating the planning, time, and resources it will take to maintain their membership in good standing once their Security Profile has been approved. In this article, Veroot walks you through how to build a rock-solid maintenance strategy that meets (and exceeds!) CTPAT requirements.
To participate in the CTPAT program, there is a defined set of requirements that CBP expects members to complete regularly. Companies are held accountable by their assigned Supply Chain Security Specialist (SCSS) who does a compliance review on an annual basis, but a much more in-depth audit every 2-4 years called a CTPAT Validation. At the time of the validation, your SCSS will expect to see detailed records of consistent compliance with CTPAT requirements extending back to your last validation (or acceptance into the program).
When you’re considering what it will take for your organization to manage CTPAT internally, the first rule of thumb should be to always think long-term and develop a system. Getting in a compliance rhythm from the very beginning and establishing a cadence for follow-up on all components that will eventually be reviewed by your SCSS is critical. This is the main reason that Veroot clients asked us to develop an automated software system to help track all these milestones as well as provide reminders when tasks are due so that members aren’t stressed out the next time re-validation comes around.
As a rule, your program maintenance strategy should be centered around the items included in the 2020 Minimum Security Criteria (MSC). These regulations will be used by your SCSS as the benchmarks for compliance during your evaluations moving forward.
If you are new to CTPAT MSC (or simply need a refresher on the latest updates), we put together a nice overview of the components here: Making Sense of the New MSC
However, for today’s purpose of creating a CTPAT management strategy, we’ve included a high-level list of the major MSC topics and each of their unique components below, along with links to articles across our site that cover many of the subjects in greater detail.
Ultimately, making sure you have a maintenance process to address each aspect of the MSC will save a lot of headaches when audit time rolls around.
In many cases, having proper building security, visitor management, and well-defined personnel security is standard practice for the average business. But at the other end of the CTPAT management spectrum, you have your “X-Factor” criteria. Those include items like Risk Assessment, Business Partner Requirements, Container/Trailer Inspection, and Security Training/Threat Awareness. These may vary widely from company to company based on your role. You are responsible for creating documented processes for each of these areas and providing your SCSS with proof that you are following the procedures you’ve outlined. The difference with this category is that they involve taking responsibility for variables involved in your supply chain through things like education, monitoring, evaluation, and sometimes correction of compliance procedures.
Below are some of the key items to consider when evaluating the impact each component will have on your CTPAT management plan:
Once you map out the basics for each section, step back and evaluate the complexity of executing them internally. How many points of contact will you be dealing with? How will you stay on top of communication? Who will be responsible? What info sources/external resources will you need?
Now it’s time to execute. Choosing a methodology for managing CTPAT the right way comes down to two things: internal capacity and workload. Make sure that the method you choose leverages your time reuses your efforts, and makes CTPAT maintenance a breeze. A good workflow program or electronic database is extraordinarily helpful in keeping this all organized and easy to demonstrate your work from previous years.
We hope this information helps you build a strategy for managing your CTPAT program in a way that is both sustainable and compliant with MSC requirements – but if any part of the plan feels unclear, Veroot is here to help. Our CTPAT Software helps hundreds of companies automate all the components of CTPAT maintenance we detailed above, and our team of highly experienced consultants is available to help develop a customized program management game plan that makes the most sense for your organization. Get started today!