Story ID: 
Gulfstream earns top supply chain security rating
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: U.S.
Word Count: 213
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has awarded its highest supply chain security rating to Gulfstream Aerospace. The business jet manufacturer’s efforts to ensure its supply chain is safe and secure achieved “Tier Three” status. As a result, Gulfstream is eligible to receive the highest level of benefits available to members of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). “It is our duty as an American company to ensure the safety of our supply chain, and thereby the safety of the American public,” said Gulfstream president Joseph Lombardo. “We work closely with all of our suppliers, both here and abroad, to identify any potential weaknesses in the procurement process–including purchasing, receiving, transporting and invoicing. If any are found, we immediately take steps to correct them and protect the supply chain.” The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism is a joint government-business initiative designed to strengthen overall supply chain and border security while facilitating legitimate, compliant trade. The C-TPAT program comprises three successive phases: hardening of the physical supply chain; internal supply-chain management practices; and business partner practices, procedures and requirements. Gulfstream recently achieved the last of the three phases by ensuring its suppliers are also meeting the physical and procedural security requirements set forth by C-TPAT that maximize the security of the supply chain.