Risk Management: COMPETITOR ESPIONAGE

RISK MANAGEMENT:

Competitor Espionage

RISK MANAGEMENT: COMPETITOR ESPIONAGE

BACKGROUND

A manufacturer of automotive components who had a dominate position in the market was concerned about loss of corporate assets to local competitors. The task was to review and assess company internal prevention processes & procedures, identify areas of weakness and to develop improvements to company security and asset protection programs.

RISK MANAGEMENT: COMPETITOR ESPIONAGE

APPROACH

DEFINATION OF 4 CORE AREAS OF INVESTIGATION

    • Physical Security – offices, factories, physical access control, guard force effectiveness, etc.
    • HR Issues – clear expectations, recruiting due diligence, proper access control, leadership/”tone at the top”
    • IT Systems, laptops, and mobile devices
    • Security policies and procedures, control & monitoring

AUDIT OF INTERNAL PROCESSES & PROCEDURES

    • Conducted a 2-month audit of their internal processes and procedures
Step 3

Recommendations

    • Recommended corrective action focusing on Physical Security and Control & Monitoring
Step 4

Implementation

    • Implemented numerous corrective programs, including:
      • CCTV, IT server access control, intrusion detection, firewall and anti-spyware, vetting of vendors, visitor security, access control, data storage & disposal procedures
RISK MANAGEMENT: COMPETITOR ESPIONAGE

RESULTS

    • No new acts of corporate espionage or theft
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Operational & Commercial Performance: Investigation and Correction of Employee Trade Secrets Theft

RISK MANAGEMENT:

INVESTIGATION AND CORRECTION OF EMPLOYEE TRADE SECRETS THEFT

RISK MANAGEMENT: INVESTIGATION AND CORRECTION OF EMPLOYEE TRADE SECRETS THEFT

BACKGROUND

    • A manufacturer of specialty chemicals had lost 70% of company customer base due to TS theft
    • The previous Operations Director in China had removed electronic drawings and other IP over a 2-year period, set up a competing company and bribed the purchasing managers to move their purchases to his new company.
    • EWA was engaged to investigate the claim and develop counter-actions
RISK MANAGEMENT: INVESTIGATION AND CORRECTION OF EMPLOYEE TRADE SECRETS THEFT

APPROACH

RISK IDENTIFICATION

    • Investigation and confirmation of the existence of the new company and the individual’s equity ownership
    • EWA obtained product samples and verified a trademark violation

Risk Mitigation

    • Recruitment of local Chinese attorneys and the filing of a legal claim against both the company and the individual
    • The competitive office, workforce, sub-contractors and customer base visitors were investigated
    • EWA contacted the client’s original customer base to inform them of the various illegal actions and acts of corporate espionage
    • Legal proceedings cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality restrictions
Step 3

Long-Term Risk Prevention

    • Development of a comprehensive asset protection program
RISK MANAGEMENT: INVESTIGATION AND CORRECTION OF EMPLOYEE TRADE SECRETS THEFT

RESULTS

    • 75% of the lost customer base returned to the client within 7 months
    • No new acts of corporate espionage or theft
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Operational & Commercial Performance: Joint Venture 360 Asset Protection Training

RISK MANAGEMENT:

JOINT VENTURE 360 ASSET PROTECTION TRAINING

RISK MANAGEMENT: JOINT VENTURE 360 ASSET PROTECTION TRAINING

BACKGROUND

A US Chemical company was negotiating a major joint venture with a local Chinese business partner and very concerned that asset theft could compromise sensitive merger negotiations.

RISK MANAGEMENT: JOINT VENTURE 360 ASSET PROTECTION TRAINING

APPROACH

Development and Implementation

    • Development and implementation of a comprehensive training program outlining the various aspects of domestic, foreign and state sponsored industrial espionage.

Training Program Created to Provide in-depth explanation of the following methods of corporate industrial espionage:

    • Office – physical and IT areas of exposure
    • Traveler’s computer/laptop/mobile device security
    • Areas of exposure – immigration, hotels, meeting rooms, etc.
    • Techniques imploded – Blackmail, Elicitation, Indigenous recruiting, Listening devices
    • Technical surveillance operations
Step 3

Actions and Tactics

    • Specific mitigation actions and tactics divided into before, during and after visit segments were presented to in-country staff and executive travelers
RISK MANAGEMENT: JOINT VENTURE 360 ASSET PROTECTION TRAINING

RESULTS

The joint venture negotiations team implemented asset theft prevention measures and the negotiations proceeded without complications.

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Strategic Business Planning: Brand Development

STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING:

BRAND DEVELOPMENT

STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING: BRAND DEVELOPMENT

BACKGROUND

A US manufacturer of large construction components for the Chinese market was interested in exploring the growing portable construction products industry. EWA was engaged to develop a strategic vision & implementation action plan to drive company growth.

STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING: BRAND DEVELOPMENT

Approach

Comprehensive growth potential assessment

    • Market
    • Industry
    • Competitors
    • Customer base
    • Product offers
    • Technical requirements
    • Etc.

Analysis to determine

    • The most profitable product segments
    • The strengths and weaknesses of the players in the end-product competitive environment
    • The end customer purchase behavior and decision-making influencers
    • The customer perceptions with regards to brands, products, service, post-sales support, distribution, sales channels, etc.
      • Finding: Significant growth potential…but various market specifics could present severe challenges to a successful company internal production approach
Step 3

Recommendation to produce end-products in cooperation with a local non-industry Chinese assembly company

    • Identification and qualification of a suitable Chinese assembly company
    • R&D briefing and consultation during product development
Step 4

Recommendation to conduct a test market in several key regions

    • Identification and qualification of distribution partner for test market launch
STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING: BRAND DEVELOPMENT

RESULTS

  • After the successful completion of the test market, the client launched nationwide
  • 6% increase in company revenue within the first 24 months
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