For shippers, the decision to participate in the CCSP and screen goods “in-house” versus outsourcing screening to an intermediary or an air carrier involves the evaluation of many variables. Among them are facility set-up costs and operating costs, inventory policies and customer service and satisfaction concerns. The following tables summarize these considerations:
1. Cost Considerations
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In-house screening
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Outsourced screening
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Secure screening and storage areas
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Improvements in general facility security
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Implementation of new operational procedures (i.e. chain of custody methods)
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Screening technologies
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Training costs
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STA certification costs
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Third party security assessments
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IT infrastructure to manage screening and security operations
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Liability
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Maintenance of initial cost areas
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Direct screening fees from screening entity
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Indirect fees from screening entity, which may include insurance, transportation, chain of custody methods costs
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Screening contract set-up
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Management and monitoring costs
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2. Other Business Considerations
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In-house screening
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Outsourced screening
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Greater control over lead times and facility security controls
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Minimal delays due to reduced scrutiny downstream, especially for goods that are difficult to screen with technology
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Opening the packaging downstream may have significant adverse affects on the product and/or customer requirements (e.g. agriculture, human remains, high value goods)
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Efficient in-house processes make costs and quality more controllable
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As an IAC or ISCF, may be able to offer screening services for others
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Size and scale of goods shipment may not be conducive to in-house screening benefits (i.e. too small to screen efficiently and cheaply)
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Goods do not travel frequently on passenger aircraft
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Nature of business operations do not focus on security controls
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Current business model outsources most logistics operations
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A chart that may be useful to companies trying to decide on participating in the CCSP can be found in Appendix II (2): “Are you prepared for 100% screening?” If a company is already participating in supply chain security and manufacturing quality programs such as C-TPAT, TAPA’s FSR/TSR Standards or cGMP, it is likely that joining the CCSP will make good business sense, and the scope of effort to become certified will be relatively modest.
