September 2009 Issue

APICS Update

Earn Money for Your Chapter with the APICS Career Center Rebate Program
The Career Center Rebate Program provides chapters with an additional revenue stream and works to increase the number of job postings available to APICS members on the APICS Career Center job board.

APICS has assigned each chapter a career center promotion code for its use. Find your chapter's code in C-BOX here.

The code offers 30 percent off the listing price of job packages to each employer (packages range from $195-$895).

In addition, the chapter will receive a 20 percent rebate on each ad listing sold using its chapter's career center code. Chapters will receive a rebate quarterly for any of the ads placed using their code.

Visit apicscareercenter.org to learn more about the APICS Career Center.

If you have questions, or would like more information, please contact your district field associate or send an e-mail to chaprel@apics.org.

Access the New APICS Supply Chain Manager Competency Model
Make sure the members in your chapter access the newly released 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.

View here to see the press release.

View here to access the APICS Supply Chain Manager Competency Model.

APICS Certification Update: Exam Dates and Bulletins
The APICS certification program exam dates for 2010 are now available.

The 2010 APICS CSCP Exam Windows and Dates for paper-and-pencil and computer-based testing exams can be viewed here.

The 2010 APICS CPIM Group Testing Dates can be viewed here.

Certification bulletins for 2010 have been posted on the APICS Web site. Each certification bulletin can be found here.

The bulletins will be available at the APICS International Conference & Expo in Toronto this October and may be ordered through the APICS Bookstore or by calling APICS Customer Support.

Best Practices

Build and Strengthen Relationships with Students in Your Chapter's Area
As the fall semester gets underway at many universities and colleges, now is a good time to focus on building or strengthening relationships with students and student chapters in your area. APICS has a variety of resources and tools to support these efforts.

Benefits of working with students

• Help to prepare future leaders of the profession. Students will benefit from interaction with experienced professionals who mentor them, help them explore career options, provide them with actual work experience through internships and special projects, and offer guidance as they transition into the workplace.

• Build relationships with current students that can evolve into lifelong chapter members and peers. Invite students to your chapter's educational and networking events. Discuss the concepts and topics students are learning in the classroom. Reap the rewards of learning from students and envisioning their future needs.

For more information about the potential benefits of a professional/student chapter partnership, refer to the "What's in it for You" flyer in C-BOX here.

How to get started in building student relationships
First, you and your fellow chapter leaders must confirm the chapter's commitment to enhancing student and academic partnerships. Your next step is to identify a faculty member at the university or college who is committed to being an academic liaison and advisor among the educational institution, the students, and your chapter. This is critical to the success of the student chapter. The academic advisor's roles include being highly supportive of developing a student chapter and engaging students and building bridges between the institution and the operations management professional community.

As you develop a relationship with the academic advisor, remember to promote APICS academic membership. An annual $75 investment provides a wealth of benefits. For more details, see the following link: http://www.apics.org/membership/join/academic_membership.htm. The academic advisor membership application is posted in C-BOX here.

The APICS Student Chapter Development Handbook provides step-by-step guidelines. To request this guide, send an e-mail to chaprel@apics.org.

• Appoint a volunteer to be the student chapter liaison. Work with the student chapter officers to ensure that their roster is updated through My Chapter each year. A suggested position description for a student chapter liaison is posted in C-BOX here.

Promote new APICS student membership benefits

• Student dual memberships—All APICS student members enjoy dual membership with the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) and the American Society of Transportation and Logistics (AST&L): http://apics.org/membership/categories/student/programs.htm.

• APICS young professional/student blog—Read and respond to posts and commentaries from student and young professional members: http://blogs.apics.org/ypst/.

• APICS social networking—connect to operations management professionals around the world through APICS on Facebook, APICS on LinkedIn, APICS Learning Communities, and the APICS YouTube Channel. Visit http://www.apics.org/socialnetworking to learn more.

Additional student member benefits: The APICS Scholars Education Program—Students have the opportunity to attend presentations and meet with featured and educational session speakers, network with conference attendees, and visit the APICS Expo: http://www.apics.org/scholars.

• The APICS CPIM Pearson VUE Jumpstart Program—provides 100 APICS student members with vouchers for the Basics of Supply Chain Management exam. The program better prepares students for the growing marketplace by enabling them to explore the basic concepts in managing the flow of materials in a supply chain. View more here.

• CPIM—The five CPIM exams can be taken while students are enrolled in school. This is often attractive to employers who seek certified applicants. Note: APICS student members are eligible for savings of $25 (US) for each of the five APICS CPIM exams. Contact APICS Customer Support at (800) 444-2742 to purchase an exam voucher.

More information about student membership benefits is available on Student Central here. Your chapter can also order a one-page student member benefits flyer through the bookstore or contact APICS Customer Support at (800) 444-2742.

Keys to sustaining a successful student chapter
Once the student chapter is formed, your chapter's liaison will want to meet regularly with the academic advisor and student chapter officers. Discuss students' needs and how your chapter can best support them. Ideas for working with students are posted in C-BOX here.

After a student chapter is created, work with the officers on the Student Chapter Management Program. The program handbook is posted in C-BOX here.

For more information about APICS student programs, contact Jennifer Howe, program manager, student and chapter activities, at (800)444-2742, ext. 5767, or jhowe@apics.org.

Chapter Development

Thank You Chapter Presidents for Your Service!
We'd like to thank all our chapter presidents for their time, energy, and leadership to help ensure the vitality of their chapters. We have prominently featured our chapter presidents in a dedicated advertisement in the September/October 2009 issue of APICS magazine. View here for the chapter president advertisement, now featured on the APICS Web site.

APICS 2009 Volunteer Leadership Workshop (VLW) Educational Sessions
APICS chapter leaders (up to five per chapter) and district leaders (up to six per district) can register for the conference and VLW with a discounted rate of $899 USD.

Register for APICS Volunteer Leadership Workshop on Saturday, October 3, 2009, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, today and don't miss your opportunity to see these valuable educational sessions.

View here to learn more about APICS Volunteer Leadership Workshop.

View here to register or go to http://www.apics.org/education/conference/register/.

Attending VLW? RSVP to the Recognition Reception
APICS is hosting a Welcome and Recognition Reception immediately following the Volunteer Leadership Workshop to recognize you for your dedicated service as an APICS volunteer leader. The reception will also honor APICS certified designees, APICS new members, APICS mentors, and APICS scholars and student attendees. An RSVP is required by September 27, 2009. Click here to ensure your place at the reception.

APICS Welcome and Recognition Reception
Saturday, October 3, 2009
5:30–7:00 p.m.

South Building/Room 701
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
2009 APICS International Conference & Expo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Q&A

Q: We are holding an information night PDM next month. Is there a PowerPoint presentation outlining the purpose and benefits of the CPIM, CSCP, and Lean Enterprise Workshop Series programs?

A: Yes, there are several presentations available in C-BOX for your use at PDMs, trade shows, and other chapter events:

APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management: An Introduction (PPT)

APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional Program: An Introduction (PPT)

Lean Enterprise (PPT)

Additional marketing materials have been created to promote the APICS Lean Enterprise Workshop Series, CPIM, and CSCP programs to your member and customer audience. Access the CPIM and CSCP materials here. View the Lean Enterprise materials here.

Tools of the Trade

Newly Posted Resources on C-BOX
Take advantage of online tools, services, programs, and information for your chapter or district through C-BOX, the partner collaboration tool box, at http://cbox.apics.org/Pages/default.aspx.

C-BOX is primarily organized by program, with resources for each of the APICS three pillars of membership, certification, and education having separate sections. In addition, there is a separate section for chapter management tools, called Chapter Leaders, where you will find resources for running your chapter.

See the latest resources below.

Chapter Leaders, Marketing & Communications section
Presentations
Channel Partner Marketing Webinar Q3

Chapter Leaders, CBAR/CMS
Updated information about CBAR and CMS

Membership, Program/Administration section
August Membership Summary Count Report
(Membership Count Reports are also found in Chapter Leaders, Resources section.)

Upcoming Educational Events

See What's in Store for You at the APICS 2009 General Sessions

Interview with October 4 General Session Speaker Jason Jennings: Business Insights and Perspectives
The APICS 2009 General Session speaker, Jason Jennings, shared insights and tricks of the trade with APICS magazine staff. Jennings provided information and practical examples from successful companies including the J.M. Smucker Company, Aladdin Mills, and more.

"One of the big discoveries I made inside all of these most remarkable companies is that the leaders of all of them, not just one or two, but all of them, are committed to getting and keeping their hands dirty. In business, there's only one way to keep your hands dirty, and that is to hang out with the customer."

Business Thought Leader and Author Jason Jennings
Interview with APICS magazine editorial staff

Global Portraits: Operations Management Now
Monday, October 5, General Session
Attend this APICS 2009 General Session to deepen your understanding of your colleagues around the world and how business is conducted in their countries. Gain perspectives on the state of operations and supply chain management across the globe. From South America to Northern Europe, from the Middle East to Central Asia—Global Portraits: Operations Management Now will increase your understanding of what operations and supply chain management means in today's global economy.

Understanding Aberdeen Supply Chain Management Research: A Lunch with Nari Viswanathan
Tuesday, October 6, Attendee Luncheon
Join Nari Viswanathan, Aberdeen vice president and principal analyst of supply chain management practice, for this attendee luncheon to learn about the latest trends and techniques for a winning supply chain strategy.

Learn more about the educational program or register today.

2009 APICS International Conference & Expo
October 4–6, 2009
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Remind your members that there's still time to register.

APICS respects the privacy of visitors to its Web site. View the APICS Online Privacy Policy to learn how your information is handled once it has been submitted online.