Drug store items, fashion goods, electronics, alcohol, pharmaceuticals or tobacco products – goods belonging in these categories are often labelled as sensitive or bearing an increased risk. The reasons for this may vary: from temperature, fragility or light sensitivity to the goods at risk of theft. Choosing the right logistics operator is therefore crucial in order to guarantee the highest security standards are adhered to when such goods are stored. We spoke to Julien Lalande, Director of the FN Logistic warehouse in Sereď, about the TAPA FSR A certificate and how it is applied in the warehouse.
What kind of goods do you store in the FM Logistic warehouse in Sereď?
Our platform in Sereď caters for customers from various different sectors. With the area of more than 55,000 m2, the warehouse boasts space with a capacity for approximately 80,000 pallets. The advantage is that we have the flexibility to divide our warehouses into various individual zones allowing for specific requirements – depending on the needs, these can be high bay racking, co-manufacturing lines, cross-dock zones or temperature-controlled warehouses. In special zones, we can also store high-value products that require extra physical security and control. Our warehouse facilities meet the TAPA FSR A Category security standards as well as requirements for storing sensitive theft-targeted products.
Let’s talk a bit more about the abovementioned TAPA FSR certification. Why is it special?
The TAPA FSR (Facility Security Requirements) standard defines minimum requirements for the secure and temporary storage of goods across the entire supply chain. It ensures that industry-recognised practices and technologies are complied with in our warehouses and that the system of training, proactive identification of criminal trends and supply chain security threats are applied there, too.
What conditions must a warehouse meet to achieve the certification?
The rules are clearly defined in the TAPA FSR standard and a 100% compliance with said rules is required for certification. Compliance is verified by a certification audit. The requirements concern a whole range of activities – selection and training of employees, subcontractors and transport companies, access to storage areas for persons and vehicles, loading and unloading of goods, etc. Equally important is the technical security of the warehouse premises, from fencing, lighting or physical security systems on the premises, through an electronic system registering access and movement of people, to an electronic security system and CCTV.
Are any special security measures needed? If so, what are they?
Additional measures include procedures for controlled access to the storage areas, additional CCTV monitoring and additional measures to secure the facility during non-operational hours.
What is the advantage that FM Logistic’s customers have over other logistics companies that do not hold this certificate?
Supply chain crime is one of the biggest challenges for logistics service providers when storing high-value and high-risk products. By implementing and maintaining TAPA standards, we provide our customers with the assurance that the stored goods are secured and that the theft-prevention measures are applied in real time, using the latest preventative and technical measures.
Finally, what would you highlight as the most important thing when it comes to storing tobacco products?
It is mainly about the additional control procedures and additional technical measures. It is the constant control and real-time supervision of the stored goods that are the most important.