Manufacturing has a hand in nearly every facet of daily life. No part of security can exist without it, as the devices used daily by security leaders have to be built by someone.

“I think most people understand that their stuff has to be made somewhere, and the scale and scope of the industry is massive,” says Erik Antons, Global Director of Global Security at PPG. “Whether it’s the rust treatment, primer, top coat, or clear coat on their cars or airplanes, the lining on the inside of aluminum cans, the adhesives used to join steel and plastic, the sealer on the insides of fuel tanks, canopies of fighter aircraft, the paint used on the walls of our houses, or dozens of other products, we’re everywhere and you’re using our products every day.”

This level of essentialism can make the manufacturing sector a target for attacks.

In such a large industry, risks can come from threat actors as well as well-meaning employees who make a mistake. Assets and information can pass several hands before reaching their final destination. The risk multiplies as third-party and external vendors get involved in the process, such as third-party testing and transportation.

“Though most of our over-the-road carriers are independent, they’re trained to use our electronic countermeasures and follow our procedures when encountering potential loss events,” Antons says. “Based upon our internal standards, our team has extensive response procedures in place, our relations with various law enforcement and intelligence partners are incredibly strong, and our monitoring teams have become experts in managing events, honed over the near daily cases that we face.”

Manufacturing organizations utilize a variety of tools to help protect their systems. This can include video surveillance, warehouse management systems, access control and radio frequency identification (RFID). Security tools are combined with thorough employee training.

“When near-miss and loss events occur we conduct after-action reviews to fine tune our procedures and technologies and share best practices with our colleagues in law enforcement and similar industries,” Antons says.

Protecting Employees on All Levels

Manufacturing security doesn’t only apply to physical assets, but employees as well. Warehouses are home to heavy machinery and large quantities of material, posing a number of physical hazards to those employees. Even large corporations such as Amazon have faced challenges, and it’s important to remember that injuries aren’t 100% preventable. That level of confidence can lead to errors, such as a skipped safety check or rushed inspection. It’s important to have strong whistleblower protections, so employees feel safe to report suspicious activity the moment they notice it.

As security technology develops to reduce the amount of necessary on-site personnel, it’s also important for organizations to strengthen their workplace violence policies. If a site is guarded 24/7, what protections are in place for night-shift employees? If there are only two guards on site, who do they report to when handling a dispute? How do organizations protect long-haul drivers who are often alone for long stretches of time? These are all questions manufacturing security leaders should consider, and create detailed plans for to keep their employees as safe as possible.

Don’t Let Anything Fall Through the Cracks

The manufacturing industry must also keep track of any and all government regulations. This can be a challenge in times of transition, as Presidential Administrations can make significant changes to various departments. Organizations must remain OSHA compliant and keep an eye on any changes to international trade rules.

Depending on the organization, security leaders must consider several international regulations. What works within the U.S. may not work in Canada or France, and what works there may not work here.

“As a global manufacturer, it remains important that we have robust security processes as we expect there to be more challenges in travel security and transshipment of goods,” Antons says.

Managing an organization on this large of a scale requires detailed communication across all levels. When items are in transport, security leaders managing to shipment and arrival must be on the same page to ensure nothing goes missing on the journey.

“Our department standards seek to answer the very basic question: Why do we need security?” Antons says. This is the question all manufacturing organizations must ask themselves, and the answer has to go beyond protecting profits. It has to cover everyone from the c-suite to the delivery driver carrying the final product.