Page 30 - Security Today, October 2020

“Security professionals who serve the manufacturing sector are trained not only to recognize safety hazards and economic espionage threats,
but to also respond by taking appropriate action.”
ensure a full lifecycle support of cutting-edge technology to im- prove security.
While there will always be a need for staff to be involved in stra- tegic decision-making, situational analysis and security response, robots excel at monotonous, computationally heavy, and some- times hazardous or difficult to reach work. Modern robots help bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and human response.
Strategically deployed robotic devices enable the security depart- ment to force multiply traditional security with innovative patrol- ling, deterrence, forensics, and communications. These solutions are cost effective and improve situational awareness while augmenting the capabilities of experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks and integrating into a manufacturer’s existing security systems.
Powered with video, audio and sensor technology, cutting- edge algorithms and machine-learning, robot solutions can help protect people and assets while interacting with them in their workplace.
Industry quality standards. Manufacturers’ set the bar high and demand stringent standards from their security personnel. Most manufacturers require that their security partners proactively initiate a quality assurance process that includes on-site visits to ensure service delivery. Manufacturers hold security partners ac- countable to the specifications detailed in their customized qual- ity assurance plans. Security teams should also schedule formal quarterly business reviews so that they are ensured to stay current on service levels and inspection ratings.
Supply chain logistics. The security personnel who service man- ufacturers need to proactively mitigate incidents, improve safety and secure the manufacturer’s supply chain and logistics process. Some manufacturers are tapping into an integrated workforce management platform such as HELIAUS®, which leverages an AI engine to run a series of algorithms that develop actionable infor- mation to generate protocol for consistent site monitoring.
It also identifies predicted risks, optimizes processes to reduce incidents, and compares past data through clustering and bench- marking. One major food manufacturer, for example, sought to upgrade their antiquated paper record keeping. They turned to HELIAUS® and worked with their security team to create a customized compliance application that tracked more than 140 unique incident types. With accurate reporting of their logistics, they saved over $55 million in potential losses at a single site.
Security and security training. Security professional training pro- grams need to be industry and site specific and establish a clear over- view of the expectations and standards for the position. Site-specific manufacturing security training includes continual updates of all industry-specific developments. To remain responsive and vigilant, security professionals must experience continuous learning, and management support should ensure that’s what is learned is applied. The ‘one and done’ philosophy falls flat when tested in an emergency.
Training reinforcement can be a performance measure. Rein- forcement, more than any other aspect of training, builds a learning culture that speeds significant change and action. A mix of class-
room and online training ensures that information is accessible. Re- tention improves with content and delivery that are engaging, cre- ative and multi-faceted, yet maintains the integrity of the subject.
Insider threat/economic espionage. Without proper security protocols, new products and technology advances can expose companies, their employees, and their customers to loopholes for criminals to sweep in and steal valuable information. Many years ago, a major conglomerate was manufacturing a specific compound used in paint. An insider stole their processing and in- gredient information which cost the company billions of dollars.
Anything that can be stolen from a manufacturer gives a com- petitive edge to their rivals. How does physical security help reduce insider theft and criminal activities at a site? Security may see an employee working on Christmas Eve when they are not sched- uled to be on-site, for example, and raise the alarm. Surveillance monitoring via CCTV may pick up the activities of a contractor or employee who is duplicating proprietary customer lists or other confidential documents. Security personnel may see an employee leave a prototype for a new smart phone in a non-secure area.
Security professionals who serve the manufacturing sector are trained not only to recognize safety hazards and economic espio- nage threats, but to also respond by taking appropriate action.
MANUFACTURING SECURITY STAFF ARE HIGHLY SKILLED
Manufacturers demand high standards in the hiring of se- curity staff. Meeting these high standards starts with the hiring process. Prospective employees should complete industry-spe- cific training programs before they begin working. They should be trained on customer service standards and should complete emergency training, and be familiar with the manufacturing fa- cility’s evacuation routes and procedures. Throughout their em- ployment, on-going training and coaching so that all employees provide the highest level of security each and every day.
The manufacturing sector taps into a diverse and varied skill- set in the security sector, including EMT’s to full operating SWAT teams to more traditional armed and unarmed security officers. For example, a petroleum production plant would require that all security personnel be DHS-certified with specific HAZMAT and chemical response training.
Security professionals provide additional value by performing other industrial security services, such as fire extinguisher checks, handling visitor reception, sign-ins and badging, credentialing employees, escorting visitors, performing lighting inspections, conducting job safety analyses relevant to their duties, managing emergency and weather-related preparedness planning, support- ing loss-prevention, including employee or visitor searches and distributing mail and packages.
Safeguarding manufacturers is also important to the physical security sector’s bottom line. The revenues for private security com- panies used in manufacturing facilities is projected to increase 3.5 percent annually through 2023 to $6.1 billion. Guarding services accounted for 59 percent of security services in the industrial mar- ket in 2018, significantly higher than any other service type accord- ing to Freedonia’s 2019 market study. In the manufacturing sector, whether security is providing 300 or 80,000 hours
a week of service, the stringent requirements of that industry are in place to ensure that people, product, facilities and process are all protected.
David Szady is the vice president of national accounts at Allied Universal.
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MANUFACTURING SECURITY