ISM VALUE PROPOSITION www

Mission Statement: The association exists to educate, develop, and advance the purchasing and supply management profession.

Founded in 1915, the Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) is one of the most respected educational associations worldwide. ISM is a communication link with over 46,000 supply management professionals. With a mission to provide national and international leadership in purchasing, supply, and materials management, particularly in the areas of education, research, and standards of excellence, ISM offers a wide range of educational products and programs geared specifically for the advancement of the supply management profession.

Certification and Accreditation Programs

Established in 1974, the Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) program is designed for experienced supply management professionals. The C.P.M. program focuses on leadership skills and a variety of specialized functions. There are currently over 38,000 active C.P.M.s both nationally and internationally.

The Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) program, established in 1995, is designed to serve entry-level professionals primarily engaged in the tactical and operational side of supply management.

*Members receive discounts on exams, study materials, and application fees.

Inside Supply Management™
ISM’s award-winning monthly magazine is published exclusively for ISM members. Inside Supply Management contains national and international information on new trends and developments in the profession, plus insightful “how-to” articles.

Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business^®
Published in Inside Supply Management™, ISM’s monthly survey of purchasing and supply statistics is the first of its kind. The Report On Business^® is a long-established indicator of economic trends and is noted for its accuracy. It's considered by many economists to be the most reliable, near-term economic barometer available today. Currently, ISM in conjunction with Forrester Research conducts the Report On E-Business which measures the adoption of Internet-based procurement and tracks on line activity.

Unlimited Access to ISM's Web Site, www.ism.ws
Members can search an extensive Members Only database for information and articles on supply management issues, and can participate in professional forums. Members benefits also include:

· Online Career Center — Search a database of employment listings from across the country, post your résumé for organizations to see, or take advantage of other career-enhancing tools.

· Discussion Forums — Members can participate in industry specific, and specialty discussion groups.

Participate in industry-specific or specialty groups and communicate with individuals facing similar challenges. Gain a deeper understanding of purchasing and supply specialties and develop valuable connections across the United States.

ISM offers three distinct Certificate Programs: (1) Cost Reduction Strategies and Techniques, (2) Supplier Relationship Management, and (3) E-Commerce/Business-to-Business for the Supply Management Professional. Each Certificate Program requires completion of a hands-on, work-related Applied Project.

Seminars
Enhance your professional development and job performance when you enroll in ISM seminars taught by experienced instructors. Members save on all programs and early bird discounts are offered. Gain practical knowledge and get ahead of the competition with one or more of ISM’s seminars.

ISM’s Onsite and Virtual Education and Professional Development enables your organization to cut training and travel costs and reduce employee time away from the office. Let ISM create the right set of educational experiences for your staff including flexible learning solutions and online education.

Stay current on topics that directly impact the supply management profession with expert speakers and panelists in real-time, interactive discussion sessions.

Professional Development Resources
ISM resources are loaded with the information needed to stay connected to emerging trends in supply management. Our diverse collection of educational tools from books, self-study courses, software, and video packages to online learning tools combine to provide everything necessary in continuous career development, including all C.P.M. and A.P.P. study materials.

Annual International Supply Management Conference and Educational Exhibit
ISM sponsors the Annual International Supply Management Conference and Educational Exhibit as well as specialty conferences throughout the year in which thousands of supply management professionals from around the world attend. Hear proven strategies and practical applications highlight the conference sessions. Members receive a significant discount on registration fees.

The Journal of Supply Chain Management

The Journal of Supply Chain Management is the nation's first scholarly journal devoted exclusively to supply management, materials management, and research and development. New members receive a specially discounted subscription rate.

ISM offers two types of Web-delivered courses — self-paced, and instructor-led. Both formats allow you to further your supply management education and professional development without any travel requirements.

ISM members receive purchasing and supply management related research studies and benchmarks free from CAPS Research, the only national not-for-profit research center in purchasing and supply management. CAPS Research sponsors three international roundtables throughout the year in North America, Europe, and Asia. More than a hundred Fortune 500 companies participate.

For more information on any of ISM’s programs, visit our Web site at www.ism.ws or