This post was updated as of August 2, 2022.
With all of the responsibilities that come with owning and operating a successful manufacturing business, fraud detection and prevention may not make the list of high-level priorities. Business owners may not even acknowledge the potential threat of fraud, especially when key positions are filled with long-time, trusted employees. Yet survey data tells us that persons with a deep knowledge of the business, a high level of responsibility, and the ability to operate with limited supervision are precisely the ones who are most susceptible to criminal activity.
Fraud is a surprisingly big issue. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), organizations lose up to 5% of their total revenue to fraud. Common schemes include: