APICS
The Association for Operations Management
APICS—The Association for Operations Management is a not-for-profit
international educational organization respected throughout the world
for its education and professional certification programs. With more
than 70,000 individual and corporate members in 20,000 companies
worldwide, APICS is dedicated to using education to improve the business
bottom line.
APICS is recognized globally as:
- the source of knowledge and expertise for manufacturing and
service industries across the entire supply chain in such areas as
materials management, information services, purchasing and quality.
- the leading provider of high-quality, cutting-edge educational
programs that advance organizational success in a changing,
competitive marketplace
- a successful developer of two internationally recognized
certification programs, Certified in Production and Inventory
Management (CPIM) and Certified in Integrated Resource Management (CIRM)
- a distribution center for hundreds of business management
publications and educational materials
- a source of solutions, support, and networking local chapters,
workshops, symposia, and the annual APICS International Conference
and Exposition.
Founded in 1957 as the American Production and Inventory Control
Society, APICS has since expanded its focus to include a full range of
programs and materials on individual and organizational education,
standards of excellence, and integrated resource management. To reflect
this new direction, we are now known as APICS—The Association for
Operations Management.
NOTE: Thanks to our friends at the
APICS-Twin Cities chapter for the above text.
Our History
Established in 1962 as the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of APICS, the
chapter provided a forum for manufacturing professionals to learn from
one another and overcome the industrial challenges.
Currently the chapter serves several hundred professionals across the
nine counties in Southwestern Michigan by providing monthly professional
development meetings, educational courses, plant tours, employment
resources, problem solving, and professional networking. The local
chapter also has an Affiliate Student Chapter with Western
Michigan University and collaborates with Glen Oaks Community
College and Southwestern Michigan College to deliver APICS education.
Mission and Vision
APICS is the global leader and premier provider of information and
services in production and inventory management and related areas to
enable members, enterprises, and individuals to add value to their
business performance. We follow, adhere to and support APICS
International's Mission Statement.
In addition, Our Vision at SWMI is to offer an
integrated approach to education, certification and professional
networking. We do this by collaborating with other local professional
organizations on chapter meeting and events so that our membership can
benefit from improved services.
Components of these Vision elements are:
- Community involvement and Volunteerism
- Support for local colleges, universities and other institutions
of higher education
- Support for vendors and companies offering learning and
development opportunities
- A develop people initiative