Professional organizations charge membership fees and have acceptance criteria. In return, they offer knowledge, recognized certificates and the opportunity to network. I believe that every true professional should be a member of such an organization. And here are the largest and most known ones covering Supply Chain.
Institute for Supply Chain Management
The ISM, founded in 1915., is one of the oldest organizations. The current membership is 240 USD/year. The organization itself is US based and the majority of the events take place in the US itself. What is interesting is that they have chapters in China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and India as well. They provide education with the possibility to get two certificates: CPSM - Certified Professional in Supply management, and CPSD - Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity.
Council of Supply Chain management professionals
Another US-based organization, founded in 1963. Currently, the membership for US-based internationals is 325 USD, while the international membership fee is 175 USD. The reason for the lower international fee is the digital-only access to the digital-only resources, without the reduced fee for the events. It is mainly focused on the demand/warehouse/logistics area of the Supply Chain. Like most of the other organizations, they have as well a certification program, called SCPro.
American Production and Inventory Control Society and Association for Supply Chain Management
APICS is also US-based, but very well known worldwide. They have currently 45,000 members in 100 countries, and you will easily find a chapter in almost any country in the world. Their authorized training centres can be found across the globe, helping you to get the certification. Recently they have merged into the ASCM, which was built as an extension to cover the entire Supply Chain management knowledge. Their certificates like CPIM - Production and Inventory management, CSCP - Supply chain professional and CLTD- Logistics, transportation, distribution are worldwide known and accepted. their annual membership fees of 220 USD for the US and 185 USD for international members are in the level with other associations.
Now let us move to the United Kingdom, and cover their two large associations. A note on the “Chartered” in their name. This means they have a Royal approval for incorporation, as they are incorporated under a Royal Charter.
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation
The CILT is based in the United Kingdom and has existed as such since 1919. In line with its name, the membership includes mainly logistics professionals. Besides the UK, branches are scattered around the world, with a focus on the Commonwealth and other countries where the UK had significant influence, like India, Hong Kong and Singapore. So, if you are a logistics professional based in some of these countries, this is the organization you would like to be a member of. Also, their events are happening across the chapters, so it is indeed a very international organization. Unfortunately, I was not able to find out the membership fees on their web page, only the information that they vary from country to country. I guess you will have to contact them to find out.
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
First, full disclosure here: I am a proud member of CIPS since 2015., and currently a Chartered MCIPS. CIPS was founded in 1932., and similar to CILT has mainly branches across the Commonwealth and countries of British influence. With a membership of 200,000, they present themselves as the largest Supply Chain organization. The membership fees vary from country to country, aiming to reduce them in less developed countries. So, for example, the full UK membership is 256 GBP (about 310 USD), while for Ghana it will be 115 GBP (140 USD). The education system consists of seven levels, where the second and third levels are certificate courses, and levels four, five and six are diploma levels. Seven is MCIPS, which is in several countries accepted as Master’s degree equivalent. The highest level is FCIPS, that cannot be achieved through studying. For this level, fellow professionals need to recommend the candidate, based on his achievements, commitment to the profession and participation in the activities of the organization.
So, here they are. Take your time and choose one. I’m very sure the membership will greatly help your career.
The ISM, founded in 1915., is one of the oldest organizations. The current membership is 240 USD/year. The organization itself is US based and the majority of the events take place in the US itself. What is interesting is that they have chapters in China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and India as well. They provide education with the possibility to get two certificates: CPSM - Certified Professional in Supply management, and CPSD - Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity.
Council of Supply Chain management professionals
Another US-based organization, founded in 1963. Currently, the membership for US-based internationals is 325 USD, while the international membership fee is 175 USD. The reason for the lower international fee is the digital-only access to the digital-only resources, without the reduced fee for the events. It is mainly focused on the demand/warehouse/logistics area of the Supply Chain. Like most of the other organizations, they have as well a certification program, called SCPro.
American Production and Inventory Control Society and Association for Supply Chain Management
APICS is also US-based, but very well known worldwide. They have currently 45,000 members in 100 countries, and you will easily find a chapter in almost any country in the world. Their authorized training centres can be found across the globe, helping you to get the certification. Recently they have merged into the ASCM, which was built as an extension to cover the entire Supply Chain management knowledge. Their certificates like CPIM - Production and Inventory management, CSCP - Supply chain professional and CLTD- Logistics, transportation, distribution are worldwide known and accepted. their annual membership fees of 220 USD for the US and 185 USD for international members are in the level with other associations.
Now let us move to the United Kingdom, and cover their two large associations. A note on the “Chartered” in their name. This means they have a Royal approval for incorporation, as they are incorporated under a Royal Charter.
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation
The CILT is based in the United Kingdom and has existed as such since 1919. In line with its name, the membership includes mainly logistics professionals. Besides the UK, branches are scattered around the world, with a focus on the Commonwealth and other countries where the UK had significant influence, like India, Hong Kong and Singapore. So, if you are a logistics professional based in some of these countries, this is the organization you would like to be a member of. Also, their events are happening across the chapters, so it is indeed a very international organization. Unfortunately, I was not able to find out the membership fees on their web page, only the information that they vary from country to country. I guess you will have to contact them to find out.
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
First, full disclosure here: I am a proud member of CIPS since 2015., and currently a Chartered MCIPS. CIPS was founded in 1932., and similar to CILT has mainly branches across the Commonwealth and countries of British influence. With a membership of 200,000, they present themselves as the largest Supply Chain organization. The membership fees vary from country to country, aiming to reduce them in less developed countries. So, for example, the full UK membership is 256 GBP (about 310 USD), while for Ghana it will be 115 GBP (140 USD). The education system consists of seven levels, where the second and third levels are certificate courses, and levels four, five and six are diploma levels. Seven is MCIPS, which is in several countries accepted as Master’s degree equivalent. The highest level is FCIPS, that cannot be achieved through studying. For this level, fellow professionals need to recommend the candidate, based on his achievements, commitment to the profession and participation in the activities of the organization.
So, here they are. Take your time and choose one. I’m very sure the membership will greatly help your career.
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Hello,
ReplyDeleteMy name is vrushabh, I am currently working as procurement manager in TATA Projects Limited.
Thank you for the blog, actually I have just completed 1 year in SCM, and I am looking for the perfect certification which will provide me the knowledge as well as and additional advantage in my future career.
Could you please advice which would the best option amongst all?