Feature: Avionics


raw materials, high-value engineering components like processor ICs, office consumables purchased for use within the company, or valuable data copied onto media such as memory cards or pen drives and taken off the company premises. Smuggling of media devices can be a particular hazard in enterprises


Loss prevention with affordable and advanced airport-quality security technology


By Rhode & Schwarz P


reventing theſt of small, high-value items from businesses is a growing problem in premises from factories to distribution hubs, stores and data centres. Advanced technology solutions adopted successfully in the aviation industry, and now available for commercial enterprises, can offer a solution.


A £200 million problem In total, businesses are reckoned to lose about £200 million of manufactured products and purchased inventory per year to employee theſt. Any item can be the target, such as cosmetics, or designer goods,


10 April 2025 www.electronicsworld.co.uk


such as data centres and financial institutions. Some of the more extreme cases include the theſt of waste precious metals, such as gold parts or material taken from processes such as jewellery manufacturing. Detection can be very difficult, and theſts may accumulate for years before any discrepancies come to light. Handling theſts like these is a delicate matter. Investigation is


necessary both financially and to preserve the goodwill of honest workers. Companies must ensure any communication is carefully worded and only use techniques such as surveillance and searches in accordance with the law. Prevention is better than cure. By detecting stolen items before they


are removed from the premises, companies can improve both their stock loss figures and team morale. Simply knowing that effective measures are in place can be enough to deter many would-be thieves. Several techniques have been used over the years, to help tackle the issue, but most still expose significant drawbacks.


Detection techniques Metal detectors, installed at strategic locations such as exits, can be highly visible and thus act as a deterrent. However, their effectiveness is limited and the systems, of course, are unable to detect non-metallic items. Te detector can be a large walk-through system or a handheld wand for manual screening. If wands are to be used, extra staff may need to be engaged and trained to perform security checks. Surveillance cameras can offer an alternative, although images must


be monitored continuously and there are complex legal conditions. Covert filming of employees is not permitted and the reasons for filming must be made clear as it’s unlawful to use CCTV footage for purposes other than those explained. Te effects on honest employees must also be considered. Employing security staff to inspect baggage and perform body


searches, such as pat-downs, is generally undesirable; not to mention unlikely to detect extremely small or well-hidden objects. Other security scanning techniques include X-ray equipment.


Although widely used to scan baggage at locations such as airports, this is not acceptable for routine people screening and proper measures would


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