A Key to Logistics Success – Supply Chain Security : An Interview with Mr. Wilson Chan, President, Supply Chain Security Association | 物流發展成功之扣匙:供應鏈保安 - 專訪供應鏈保安協會主席陳偉森先生

Since 2001, the Government of Hong Kong SAR has made a great effort to promote the development of logistics industry. Hong Kong’s infrastructure has created a conducive environment for Hong Kong to be developed as the preferred international and regional logistics hub and a supply-chain base. However, with keen competition and challenges from various cities in Mainland China, one of the important building blocks of logistics industry development – Supply Chain Security – is still in the infant stage. Despite its excellent infrastructure, the development of logistics industry ahs been hindered by the immature supply chain security. How does supply chain security enable the effective development of logistics industry? Mr. Wilson Chan, President of the Supply Chain Association shares the following experience and views with us.

Supply Chain Security

‘After the “911” Terrorist Attack in the U.S., supply chain security has become a global hot talk in today’s market. It certainly will become a worldwide trend. In fact, “Logistics” is just a general term. A whole supply chain consists of so many stages in which numerous procedures and third parties are involved. If the security measures are inadequate, the risk of having loss or damage will be higher.’ Says Chan. He explains that supply chain security should confine to not only physical products like raw materials, but also the invisible stuff such as various kind of information, and the safety of receiver and sender. All physical and invisible products are included in the supply chain security. Supply chain security should not be neglected in order to develop logistics industry. ‘I think the enterprises should be more alert to information security as hackers are unexpected and not easy to deal with. All top secrets will be disclosed to the world in a minute due to information leakage. Such case is difficult to investigate and the loss can be an unfavourable disaster.’

Supply Chain Security in Hong Kong

As supply chain security is so important in developing logistics industry, why the development of supply chain security is still in an infant stage? ‘Though the Government made a great effort to promote logistics industry, the major focuses are only on infrastructure and professional training. For the concept of supply chain security, it is still the neglected area. If a failure occurs in any stage of the supply chain, the efficiency of the whole supply chain will be adversely affected even though the logistics centre offers the sophisticated supporting facilities and transportation system. I believe that many enterprises do adopt some superficial security measures such as installation of CCTV.

International Standard on Supply Chain Security

In fact, there is a world-recognised standard on examining enterprises; supply chain security being used globally. This standard can effectively increase the transparency of each stage along the supply chain. All procedures involved in the supply chain must be audited to ensure they are up to international standard. Through the detailed audit, the enterprises will know which part of the supply chain security measures should be improved. After Hong Kong has successfully developed a comprehensive supply chain security, the enterprises can share the experience with the mainland enterprises.; says Chan. ‘Parhaps, some enterprises think that it is not worth to invest too much on supply chain security. But I can tell you that the loss caused by inadequate security measures overweigh the cost you invested on supply chain security including the corporate reputation and the huge insurance deposit.; We can promote the development of an inter-modal system and consider other supporting facilities to speed up the flow of goods and information. The provision of integrated services will also strengthen Hong Kong’s competitive advantage as a supply-chain base.”

Supply Chain Security Association

Founded in 2002, Supply Chain Security Association aims at providing logistics, transportation industry with competitive advantage by achieving the requirements of their customers, as well as reducing the losses in the manufacturing, transportation and distribution if high technology products. The Association provides professional support for Hong Kong enterprises in the related areas of global end-to-end supply chain management and security. Its objective is to take an advisory role to provide the direction in promoting and educating the community on supply chain security, as well as to establish a set of standards which logistics and transportation operators will pursuit. With efficient and cost-effective supply chain management, the competitiveness and productivity of Hong Kong enterprises can be maintained in the international market. In order ot arouse the public awareness of supply chain security, the Association educates the business and public sectors on efficient supply chain management through a wide range of activities such as training courses, workshops, and seminars on a regular basis sharing the successful cases and experience with the local businesses. In the coming future, Hong Kong enterprises are able to share their experience with the mainland businesses, helping them develop the necessary competencies for understanding the power of supply chain security.

In short, supply chain security enables Hong Kong and Mainland China to gain the maximum benefit from the growing trade while maintaining a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Chan advises those enterprises which are going to implement supply chain security or evaluate the existing supply chain security measures should have a clear mission. First of all, the enterprise should understand company’s direction and ability. Next, the enterprise should understand the flow of the supply chain and audit every stage along the supply chain. After a meticulous audit, proper improvement should be carried out in order to minimize the risk of loss caused by inadequate supply chain security.

物流發展成功之扣匙:供應鏈保安 - 專訪供應鏈保安協會主席陳偉森先生

自2001年，香港特別行政區政府已銳意發展物流業。雖然香港早已擁有良好及鞏固的基建去發展物流業，但面對著眾多中國城市的競爭，當中重要的一環- 供應鏈保安 – 其實還在起步階段，因而對香港發展成一個國際及地區首選的物流樞紐及供應鏈基地，產生了一定的阻力。究竟供應鏈保安對香港整個物流發展的影響造成什麼影響？供應鏈保安協會主席陳偉森先生對此有以下的感受。

供應鏈保安

「其實供應鏈保安已經成為國際間一項重要議題，尤以美國(九一一)事件之後，各國都致力推廣供應鏈保安策略，未來更會成為全球趨勢。我們常說的(物流)，其實只是一個很概括的詞詞。於整個供應鏈中牽涉到多個物流程序，而每個物流程序亦牽涉多個第三者，若保安措施做得不足，貨品被竊或受損的風險便會大大提高。」陳偉森並解釋，供應鏈保安並非只限於有形的物件上，甚至原材料，無形的物件如各種資料、收貨人及送貨人的安全等，都應納入供應鏈保安的範~中。他強調，要發展物流業，供應鏈保安絕對不容忽視。「我個人認為資訊方面的保安是特別須要提高警覺，因為駭客是防不勝防，一但資料外洩便可在瞬間向全世界披露，就算在追查元兇亦存在著一定的困難，可想而知所造成的損失是難以估計。」

香港供應鏈保安的發展

既然供應鏈保安對於物流發展這麼重要，為什麼白港供應鏈保安的發展還處於起步階段？「政府大力發展物流業，其著眼點只是在於基建和人才培訓方面。至於供應鏈保安這個概念卻未被重視。現時大部份公司都有只是採用某些羞本的保安措施，例如安裝中央攝錄系統，可見大家對供祇鏈保安這個概念仍留於表面化」。陳偉森說。

國際審來標準

「其實國際間已流行了一套相關的標準去審核企業所採用的供應鏈保安措施是否合乎國際水平。這項標準大大提高整個供應鏈的透明度，由最初原材料生產至製成品運出市場，當中哪個程序的保安措施不足，透過這項標準都可一目了然。我們可以將外國的經驗引進香港，成功後便可以將此經驗跟國內企業分享。企業一般會憂慮投資在供應鏈保安上的成本是否值得，但其實供應鏈保安措施不足所造成的損失必定是遠遠超過投資在供應鏈保安上的成本，包括公司聲譽受損、巨額投保等等。」

供應鏈保安協會

﹝供應鏈保安協會﹞於2002年成立，主要目的是為了協助在供應鏈中的工業及機構達到顧客的要求，在生產、運輸及分銷高科技產品的過程中減低損失，以及為有關工業提供物流和運輸的資訊及專業意見。「供應鏈保安協會」的目標是透過教育向業界人士宣揚供應鏈保安的重要性，並有系統地建立一套認可的供應鏈保安標準以供物流及運輸業人士跟隨。「供應鏈保安協會」會定期舉辦培訓課程、工作坊和研究會，跟各企業分享外國的成功案例，集思廣益，交流心得，藉以加深企業對供應鏈保安的認識，以便將來跟內地分享成功的經驗，在國內帶動供應鏈保安的發展。

陳偉森建議準備實施或重新檢討供應鏈保安的企業先為自己定位。清楚了解公司的目標和能力。其次，企業必須先了解整個供應鏈流程，然後聘請有關的專業人手，嚴謹審核整個過程是否有漏洞，從而企業便可作出改善，將由供應鏈保安措施不足而帶來的損失風險減至最低。