SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY: A STUDY ON C-TPAT AND ITS IMPACT ON COMPANY’S SECURITY MEASURES
Open Access
Author:
Testa, Taryn M
Area of Honors:
Management (Behrend)
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Varun Gupta, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Michael Edward Brown, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
C-TPAT Supply Chain Security Risk
Abstract:
Supply chain security has increased in importance after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Many public and private sector entities based in the United States recognized a need to protect the global supply chain from terroristic activities. Categorically, in response to the growing need to protect the global supply chain, the United States Government created the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. This research attempts to investigate the practices and value of a C-TPAT- a voluntary security program, value and barriers of C-TPAT certification, and its impact on global supply chain security. A survey study was conducted and distributed to current C-TPAT certified companies as well as companies which are not currently C-TPAT certified, all based in the United States. The research identified the top three barriers and drivers of obtaining C-TPAT certification, differences in size and C-TPAT tier levels, and the impact C-TPAT certification has on a company’s supply chain security. Finally, valuable managerial insights were derived from the survey results to answer the questions posed on C-TPAT’s overall value for supply chain partners and its impact on global supply chain security.