The COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus the importance of accurately assessing supply chain risk. But managing supply chain risk will likely become significantly more difficult as it becomes more essential. Quality control and compliance are only the start. Operational resiliency under a wide range of threats must also be considered, and that resiliency depends on the preparedness of the supplier and the supplier’s local economic and political conditions. The larger geopolitical environment will become a factor as well. As globalization frays, many of the assumptions that kept supply chain risk in check may no longer hold. Organizations will need to think more critically about those they rely on and the jurisdictions where they invest capital, share intellectual property and send employees.
Kroll’s global reach and investigative expertise make us uniquely positioned to provide organizations with the clarity they need when facing these complex questions. Our Supply Chain Investigations team includes on-the-ground industry experts, investigators, forensic accountants, data analysts, cyber specialists and former regulators and law enforcement officers. This range of capabilities allows us to look beyond appearances to create accurate portraits of a supplier’s financial stability, production capacity, operational resiliency and compliance record, as well as its record and culture regarding workplace conditions, environmental regulations, sanctions compliance and human rights. Drawing on Kroll’s extensive local contacts and the expertise of our Political Risk team, we also make an objective assessment of the host country’s political sentiment and governmental capabilities in areas that can materially affect a supplier’s ability to perform, such trade policy, legal redress and enforcement and public safety and infrastructure.
Kroll’s supply chain investigations can be tailored to meet a variety of situations, including:
- The vetting or onboarding of potential suppliers or business partners
- An enterprise-wide assessment of current supply chain risk
- As part of the due diligence in planning facilities in foreign jurisdictions
Whatever the context, Kroll’s Supply Chain Investigations team can help identify and mitigate risks before they materialize and keep pace with changes in what has quickly become a highly volatile component of strategy and operations.
