Brand Protection and Supply Chain Security Advisory Services

Counterfeited products and gray market diversion not only hurt the bottom line, but can also have a detrimental impact on consumer trust. Determining whether the entire supply chain is adhering to specified compliance standards is equally critical. UL helps our customers manage these risks and protect their brand equity. Definition UL provides guidance and strategies to help businesses manage the security of their supply chain and protect their brand against counterfeiting and gray market diversion. Benefits With a global footprint spanning over 120 countries, UL has nearly immediate, in-person access to our customers' worldwide supply chains. If problems do arise, UL can help provide tangible chain of custody evidence for product components to enable an efficient recall process, if necessary, and the independent investigation data that may be needed to protect the brand. UL also supplies monitoring and consultation services to a wide range of companies that need to comply with supply chain security requirements in accordance with the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). Our C-TPAT services include assessments of potential weak points at the factory level and in the overseas trucking process and guidance on how to address any identified vulnerability. This helps importers prepare for the official C-TPAT validation process. UL can fully manage remediation and improvement processes. Our team evaluates concerns at the factory, warehouse or cargo handling center and provides practical advice on correcting material findings. UL also provides in-depth training and education to brands, retailers and suppliers on C-TPAT standards. Our best practices manual has been developed based on years of in-field experience within the area of global supply chain security. The manual provides detailed information that addresses all security criteria within C-TPAT and offers resources such as sample documents and forms. Our brand protection services help customers reduce loss through proactive enforcement of best practices to help reduce the risk of goods being distributed to unauthorized suppliers. UL's team of mystery shoppers effectively investigates suspicion of gray market diversion. UL's Brand Protection Starter Kits are the cornerstone of a brand protection compliance program and can be used to help communicate policies and best practices to suppliers.