Managing Risk and Reward in the Chemical Supply Chain

摘要

From Tupperware to paint, shampoo to lawn care products, even food, chemicals are part of nearly every product lining home and office shelves. In their raw state, the chemicals used to make these everyday products include such diverse materials as corrosives, acids, pesticides, and plastic pellets. The chemical supply chain comprises these and myriad other products, many of which require special care in handling, transporting, and storing to prevent safety hazards such as combustion, contamination, and spoilage. The manufacturers, carriers, and third-party logistics (3PL) providers who store and transport these products must adhere to a complex web of ever-changing federal and state regulations aimed at minimizing the hazards for workers and the general public who might be affected if an accident occurs. Because it is a high-risk business, chemical logistics requires flexibility and adaptability. "The chemical supply chain is long, volatile, and highly complex," says Nathan Buelt, manager of chemical solutions for ChemSolutions, a subsidiary of C.H. Robinson, an Eden Prairie, Minn.-based 3PL. "There are numerous inputs, and many touches to the end consumer."