The Weakest Link: The Importance of Supply Chain Monitoring
By Zia Siddiqi, Ph.D., B.C.E., Director of Quality Assurance, Orkin Inc.

 You are only as strong as the weakest link in your supply chain, and if the weakest link brings “hitchhiking” pests, you could be in big trouble. Infested products or materials from suppliers could undermine your facility’s pest management program. While this may be a daunting thought, rest assured that you can help prevent inbound pest problems from taking hold. 

Traceability is a hot topic in the food processing and food service industries, but supply chain monitoring can benefit any business, especially when it comes to pest management. Raw products attract pests like rodents, cockroaches and flies. Cardboard boxes are all that it takes to attract cockroaches – notorious hitchhikers, cockroaches like burrowing in boxes and feeding on the glue that holds it together. All these pests can carry disease-causing organisms such as E.coli, salmonella and trichinae. If these pests contaminate your products, you could not only be in for a costly recall, but lawsuits as well. Monitoring the supply chain may seem like extra overhead, but it will save you money in the long run. 

Shipping and receiving areas are the most common places pests enter your facility, so stop and thoroughly inspect every incoming shipment. Signs of pests in shipments include bite marks, droppings and live pests. Refuse shipments you suspect may harbour pests, and follow these tips to make sure the shipments are safe:

• Use a black light to identify rodent urine on packaging – a sign of rodent infestation.
• Check the seams of packages and keep an eye out for webs spun by stored-product pests.
• Keep a sample of all products in a closed, labelled jar. If insect larvae or adults appear, immediately dispose of any remaining product and notify your supplier.
• Wear a pheromone badge while inspecting shipments to detect stored-product pests like Inianmeal moths.

 

For extra protection, evaluate your suppliers’ pest management programs; they should meet or exceed your own facility’s standards. Don’t let lax suppliers undermine your hard work on pest management. Does your supplier go through third party audits? Ask to see audit scores, since pest control is a major part of the scoring process. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions if your pest management investment and reputation are on the line. Accurate tracking of pest sources can be critical in treating the problem effectively and efficiently. 

Finally, be prepared to share your pest management program and audit scores with your own customers to show them that you take supply chain monitoring seriously. In the case of a recall or other issue, good documentation can show that you’ve taken all steps necessary to ensure safe products. Keep your pest management documentation in a central location and make sure it includes all service reports, pesticide-usage logs, pest activity trends, and maps and schematics, among other reports. Work with your pest management professional to keep all documentation accurate and up-to-date. 

Lead by example and become the strongest link in your supply chain. Your customers, reputation and business will benefit.
 

- Dr. Zia Siddiqi is Quality Assurance Director for Orkin Inc. A Board Certified Entomologist with more than 30 years in the industry, Dr. Siddiqi is an acknowledged leader in the field of pest management. For more information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.orkincanada.ca.