APICS The Association for Operations Management Releases Model for Supply Chain Manager Competencies to Establish Skills Necessary for Supply Chain Management Professionals

New APICS Supply Chain Manager Competency Model helps employers hire qualified supply chain professionals to successfully navigate today's economy

Click here to view the APICS Supply Chain Manager Competency Model

Chicago, Ill. (August 20, 2009)—APICS The Association for Operations Management, the global leader in supply chain and operations management certification, education, and membership, announced today the release of the APICS Supply Chain Manager Competency Model—a model designed to guide individuals considering careers in supply chain management, supply chain professionals seeking to advance their positions, and human resource managers who are hiring in this fast-growing field.

Supply chain managers are part of a unique discipline responsible for supporting the global network of delivering products and services across the entire supply chain, from raw materials to end customers. Specifically, supply chain managers engage in the design, planning, execution, control, and supervision of supply chain activities with creating net value, building a competitive infrastructure, leveraging worldwide logistics, synchronizing supply with demand, and measuring performance globally.

"Today more than ever before, supply chain managers are crucial to building a strong global economy," said Robert Vokurka, Ph. D., CFPIM, CIRM, CSCP, C.P.M., chair of the model development team. "Employing highly skilled supply chain professionals helps make companies more profitable and enables the long-term success of enterprises."

"We are pleased to offer the APICS Supply Chain Manager Competency Model as a tool for supply chain management field," said APICS CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE. "The competency model provides the profession with a clear picture of what knowledge and skills are required of a qualified supply chain manager."

The model structure follows guidelines set by the Employment and Training Administration of the United States Department of Labor. The APICS Supply Chain Manager Competency Model can be found at www.apics.org.

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About APICS The Association for Operations Management
APICS The Association for Operations Management is the global leader and premier source of the body of knowledge in operations management, including production, inventory, supply chain, materials management, purchasing, and logistics. Since 1957, individuals and companies have relied on APICS for its superior training, internationally recognized certifications, comprehensive resources, and worldwide network of accomplished industry professionals. For more information about APICS, visit www.apics.org.