16 Reasons for You to Join the Institute for Supply Management™
Inside Supply Management™
Our monthly magazine contains national and international information on new
trends and developments in the profession plus insightful "how-to" articles.
The magazine is published exclusively for ISM members.
Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing ISM Report on Business® (ROB)
Published in Inside Supply Management™, our monthly survey of
purchasing statistics is the first of its kind. It's considered by many
economists to be the most reliable, near-term economic barometer available
today.
Unlimited Access to ISM's Web Site
Unlock the possibilities of this valuable research tool. Members can search an
extensive database for information and articles on supply management issues,
take part in professional forums, contact their local affiliates or other
related organizations, and learn about ISM's assortment of educational
products and services. Members also have access to:
The Online Career Center
- where you can search a database of
employment listings from across the country, post your resume for
organizations to see, or take advantage of other career-enhancing tools.
The ISM Online InfoCenter
- members can search an expansive articles
database via the Internet, access the Frequently Asked Questions table,
search ISM's Bid Specifications Database, and take advantage of free
Resource Guides.
PEO Brokerage, Inc. (PBI)
- a business-to-business broker of PEO
(professional employer organization) services throughout the U.S.
Purchasing Advocate
No one understands better than ISM how purchasing affects the bottomline. One
of our objectives is to promote the purchasing profession. Members have access
to all ISM printed and electronic materials to help promote purchasing within
the organizational infrastructure. We can help you communicate your
value-added contributions to the senior management of your organization.
Affiliates
Gain valuable contacts within your community during monthly meetings and
educational functions. Keep on top of local industry changes and commodity
trends. Be a part of a growing association run by and for purchasing and
materials management professionals.
C.P.M. and A.P.P. Programs
ISM offers two professional designations. The Accredited Purchasing
Practitioner (A.P.P.) program is for entry-level buyers primarily engaged in
the tactical or operational side of purchasing/materials management. It is
also available to those outside of an organization's purchasing/materials
management department with definite procurement (supply chain management)
responsibilities. The Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) program focuses on
the managerial, administrative, and strategic, as well as tactical aspects of
the purchasing and materials management function. Both programs are designed
for those working in any of the major private, public, or non-profit work
sectors. Both programs are administered by ISM and members receive discounts
on exams and study materials.
Committees
Acquire new skills in planning, managing, and organizing while developing your
leadership potential. Some committee members report on economic conditions
(the primary statistics become the highly-respected Report on Business®),
direct ISM's annual conference, assist in program development, and much more.
Only ISM members can participate.
Special Interest Groups and Forums
Gain a deeper understanding of your purchasing specialty and develop valuable
connections across the U.S. when you join an ISM special interest group or
forum. ISM has groups in interest areas ranging from materials management to
health care providers, to federal acquisitions. Only through ISM can you
participate in the ISM special interest groups or forums.
Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies (CAPS)
ISM members receive
purchasing-related research studies and benchmarks free from CAPS, the only
national not-for-profit research center in purchasing and materials
management. CAPS sponsors three international roundtables throughout the year
in North America, Europe, and Asia. Participants include more than one hundred
Fortune 500 companies.
Seminar Discounts
Enhance your professional development and job performance when you enroll in
ISM seminars taught by experienced instructors. Over 90 seminars are conducted
annually throughout the United States; intensive, one-week purchasing
management programs are also conducted at selected universities. Members save
up to $200 on each two-day seminar and $400 on each management program. Our
satellite seminar series addresses different purchasing/supply management
issues and is offered several times throughout the year. This live program
allows you to interact with speakers and peers without leaving your city or
affiliate area.
Professional Development Resources
Over 80 different audio/video programs and over 50 different books to choose
from. All programs are designed to heighten your acumen in a variety of
subjects, including: global sourcing, negotiations, legal issues, and supply
management. Video tapes are easily adaptable to individual or group
presentations. Publications include: textbooks, workbooks, the TECHnotes
series, with subject matter covering purchasing topics plus general business
information. These professional development resources accommodate your unique
schedule and pace, and ISM members save on all purchases and rentals.
Annual International Supply Management Conference and Educational Exhibit
Network with 2000 peers at the only international conference devoted
exclusively to purchasing and supply management. Examine emerging trends and
challenges during comprehensive workshops conducted by your peers. Workshop
presenters are selected as a result of ISM's "Call for Presentations." The
conference attracts distinguished speakers to discuss current national and
international issues and features several sessions highlighted by prominent
corporate leaders. Members receive significant savings on registration fees.
The Journal of Supply Chain Management
The nation's first scholarly journal devoted exclusively to purchasing and
materials management research and development. New members receive more than
one-half off the 1 year subscription rate.
Recognition and Awards
Earn recognition when you are rewarded for exemplary service to ISM and the
profession at large. The J. Shipman Gold Medal, established in 1931, is the
purchasing profession's highest honor; other awards are given to ISM members
for outstanding performance in the categories of Education/Learning,
Innovation/Creativity, Leadership, Marketing/Communicating and Volunteerism.
ISM Knowledge Center
Members can enroll in a free course on cost/price analysis, or take one of the
growing number of other self-directed online courses and earn Continuing
Education Hours toward recertification.