Questions to Ask Partners to Keep the Supply Chain Safe

Due to the connectedness of the supply chain, one pest problem can quickly become everyone’s problem. This is why you must consider pest control with a holistic lens – and not just within your warehouses and transportation vehicles.

Your suppliers, their shipments and your distribution network are all key players in the supply chain – and you’re all responsible for doing your part (for more guidance, download our guide to supply chain management).

You should trust your partners to maintain the integrity of all shipments, and it’s important to choose partners that handle pest control effectively. Here are some questions to ask your supply chain partners to make sure their pest control program is up to par.

1. Do they practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

2. Do they have a sanitation and maintenance routine?

3. Do they have a system for inspecting products before they’re loaded for shipment?

Above all, it’s crucial to keep the lines of communication open between you and your partners. Pest pressures ebb and flow with seasons and geographic pressures, so managing the threat is never a one-size-fits-all.

To do your part in fortifying the supply chain, assess your own operations for vulnerabilities and work with your pest management provider to shore up any weak points. That could include exclusion that helps eliminate pest entry points, sanitation practices that reduce attractants and inspection protocols that help you identify when and where pests are infiltrating your operations.

Despite your best efforts, you can’t keep every pest out of your facility forever. That’s why you must know what pests you’re vulnerable to and how to spot signs of them early. For information on the points in your supply chain that present biggest risk for pests and a full list of common pests that you may find in your facility, download Working the Bugs Out: Your Guide to Supply Chain Pest Management.