Challenge
A mid-sized East Coast boat manufacturer—renowned for its premium recreational and commercial vessels—was operating with fragmented, guard-only security. The absence of internal leadership involvement resulted in high-value assets exposed, rising costs, compliance gaps, and operational friction. Without a cohesive program, security was treated as a cost center rather than a contributor to business performance. The company needed expert leadership to unify security and EHS, align risk management with operations, and achieve this without hiring a full-time security director.
Client Overview
The client operates a 150,000-square-foot manufacturing hub and multiple remote warehouses, employing over 200 staff. Their legacy security model relied on third-party guards with no internal coordination—resulting in inefficiencies, risk exposure, and operational blind spots in a complex, high-value production environment.
Solutions Implemented
FSG was engaged under a Premium Retainer (16 hours/month), providing on-site strategic consultancy and embedded on demand operational support. While guard services existed, they lacked integration with company goals and daily operations.
Our consultants initiated the engagement with a rigorous, end-to-end risk and facility assessment. This included in-depth stakeholder interviews, a thorough review of existing security protocols, and a detailed physical security audit. The assessment revealed critical vulnerabilities: unsecured access points, obsolete surveillance systems, weak accountability structures, inconsistent policy enforcement, and an absence of measurable security performance indicators. Additionally, the organization lacked an external reporting hotline, leaving employees without a secure, anonymous channel to report concerns or suspicious activity—further compounding the overall risk posture.
We delivered a multi-layered solution:
Solutions Implemented:
- Conducted a full redesign of technology and access control protocols, including the installation of secure entry systems and enforcement of strict visitor management procedures.
- Replaced legacy surveillance infrastructure with a modern, IP-based system featuring advanced video analytics and centralized monitoring capabilities.
- Developed and deployed a comprehensive accountability framework, defining clear roles, responsibilities, and reporting hierarchies for all security-related functions.
- Revised and standardized all security policies and procedures to align with industry best practices, ensuring consistent application across departments.
- Created and implemented a security performance measurement system, including regular audits, compliance checklists, and defined KPIs for ongoing evaluation.
- Introduced a confidential, third-party whistleblower hotline to provide employees with a secure, anonymous channel for reporting concerns and misconduct.
The transformation shifted security from a reactive cost burden to a strategic enabler integrated with the business mission.
Results
- Ongoing strategic advisory from FSG ensures evolving risks are addressed in real-time
- Cost Optimization Achieved: Reduced security manning expenses by 23% (~$82,000) annually) through streamlined guard staffing and optimized vendor contracts
- Regulatory Compliance Strengthened: Established a robust policy framework and oversight to meet industry standards and mitigate legal risks
- Operational Synergy Enhanced: Integrated guard operations with logistics tasks, freeing one full-time employee for higher-value work
- Workforce Confidence Elevated: Delivered clear protocols and visible leadership support, boosting staff morale and operational clarity
- Scalable Infrastructure Established: Built a flexible security program to support expansion to a second facility without additional overhead
- Proactive Risk Management Enabled: Leveraged FSG’s ongoing advisory to address evolving risks in real-time, ensuring long-term resilience
- Asset Protection Improved: Modernized access control and surveillance systems, reducing vulnerabilities across the manufacturing hub and warehouses
- Boosted Employee Engagement and Reporting: Evidenced by increase in anonymous submissions through the newly implemented external hotline, surfacing previously unreported concerns.
- Strengthened Organizational Accountability: With managers and staff clearly understanding their security responsibilities, leading to more proactive risk management.
Conclusion: Security That Drives Business Performance
FSG’s collaboration with the boat manufacturer shows how security, when done right, becomes a value driver, not just a safeguard. By delivering leadership through a flexible retainer model, we helped transform an underperforming system into a policy-driven, cost-efficient, and business-aligned security operation. The result: reduced risk, empowered teams, and lasting ROI, laying the foundation for confident growth.