New Web Based Software Tool Streamlines C-TPAT Compliance For Importers

The Supply Chain Security Services division of First Advantage Corporation introduced Supplier Compliance Manager, a Web based software tool that automates the collection and analysis of business partner risk information for compliance with the Custom Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program, at ASIS International.

Supplier Compliance Manager can significantly reduce the costs and streamline the processes involved with ensuring the compliance of third party suppliers (business partners) with C-TPAT criteria. Additionally, it makes use of First Advantage's proprietary global cargo tampering and terrorism risk modeling to provide importers with insightful supplier risk assessments.

"C-TPAT certification is vital to companies that depend on importing freight quickly into the country," said Dan Purtell, president of First Advantage's Supply Chain Security Services. "Supplier Compliance Manager will help end the ongoing struggle to comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection mandates to collect, assess and report business partner risks to comply with C-TPAT regulations."

Based on suppliers' responses to modal-specific and customized online questionnaires, Supplier Compliance Manager eliminates subjectivity by using patent-pending mathematical modeling to consistently analyze and score supplier exposures. Dashboard style reporting can include pooled or individual results, allowing display of the status of an entire supplier base and drill-down for as much detail as is required. Initial assessment requests, reminders and results can be e-mailed to suppliers from the tool individually or as a group and are automatically translated, providing the ability to communicate in English, Spanish, Japanese or Mandarin.

Reporting capabilities include a Business Partner Risk Report, which provides an overview of each supplier's risk level, and a Business Partner Full Report, which allows examination of all information provided in supplier self-assessments. Supplier Compliance Manager combines this information with First Advantage's global risk data to assign three scores to each business partner:

• Security Assessment Score – ranks each business partner against C-TPAT standards based on data provided during the self-assessment.
• Country Risk Index – measures terrorism activity through analysis of more than 800 terrorist groups in over 200 countries.
• Supplier Risk Index – uses a patent-pending supplier risk algorithm to measure the risk of introducing unmanifested cargo into the supply chain based on multiple risk variables.

Through an exclusive partnership with QMI Risk Management Solutions, First Advantage can also assist companies with partners that require guidance in meeting the C-TPAT standards through a global network of assessors.

About First Advantage
First Advantage's Supply Chain Security Services unit provides manufacturers, freight forwarders, cargo insurers and brokers with quantitative supply chain consulting services to help minimize their financial exposure to freight theft and optimize their supply chain risk management strategies.

First Advantage Corporation provides innovative products and services that mitigate risk by helping businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies and consumers make more informed decisions. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., the company has more than 4,700 employees in 11 countries that support over 90,000 clients globally. More information about First Advantage is available at www.FADV.com

SOURCE: First Advantage Corporation