Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. has been validated by U.S. Customs & Border Protection in its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program.
C-TPAT is a joint initiative between government and business designed to protect global commerce from terrorism. The program calls upon importing businesses and service providers to establish policies to enhance their own security practices and those of business partners involved in the supply chain.
For tire dealers, Kumho's C-TPAT validation will mean faster shipping times due to fewer customs' inspections and expedited release of cargo.
"We are dedicated to continued and successful involvement in the C-TPAT program because it helps secure the U.S. borders against international terrorism and also helps ensure that Kumho tires reach our customers as quickly as possible," says Dave Hudrlik, vice president of sales and marketing.
Fewer than 500 of C-TPAT's current 8,816 member companies have been validated.
To become validated, Kumho representatives met extensively with Customs Service officials to verify and demonstrate that Kumho's supply chain security measures are being followed. The validation report concluded that Kumho has met the necessary security standards for C-TPAT membership and has incorporated the C-TPAT principals in its worldwide supply chain.
