Association for Supply Chain Management

What Association for Supply Chain Management does

ASCM (Association for Supply Chain Management), legally APICS, Inc., is a Chicago-headquartered non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1957 (rebranded from APICS to ASCM in 2019) that delivers supply chain education, credentialing, and enterprise transformation services to a global community of individual practitioners and corporate clients. Its core offerings include four flagship APICS certifications (CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, CTSC), six specialized certificate programs covering planning, procurement, resilience, supplier relationship management, technology, and warehousing, and the proprietary SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference) framework, including its digital standard SCOR DS and the PwC-co-administered SCORmark benchmarking program, which together provide standardized methodologies for supply chain assessment and improvement. Supporting products include enterprise assessments, workforce development engagements, the Supply Chain Knowledge Center learning platform, the CHAINge annual conference, peer-reviewed journals (Transportation Journal, Journal of Operations Management), and research publications (Top 10 Supply Chain Trends, Salary and Career Report, Supply Chain Stability Index, Tariff Tracker). The organization reports 175,000+ certified professionals worldwide, 50,000+ active members, and a presence in 100+ countries.

ASCM monetizes through a hybrid subscription-and-services model: tiered individual membership subscriptions (ASCM Core, ASCM Plus, plus student/academic/young professional/military/federal discounts) generate recurring revenue, while certification exam fees, certificate program enrollments, and learning systems produce one-time licensing revenue. Enterprise revenue is derived from corporate memberships, workforce development contracts, transformation consulting, and SCORmark benchmarking engagements delivered through a direct enterprise field sales motion and a global partner/channel network across 100+ countries. Marketing relies on content channels (ASCM Insights blog, podcast, The Chain docuseries, Signals newsletter, research publications) and event-driven demand generation, with the annual CHAINge conference serving as the flagship funnel for membership and certification enrollments.

The primary customer segments are individual supply chain professionals seeking career advancement and recognized credentials, and enterprise organizations pursuing workforce upskilling and supply chain transformation. Secondary segments include academic institutions, retail/CPG companies, logistics providers, and industrial manufacturers. Notable enterprise logos referenced include Hamilton Beach, Starbucks, Grainger, TJX Companies, L'Oréal, C.H. Robinson, and IBM, primarily in conference speaker and case-study capacities rather than as disclosed revenue anchors. Operations are currently suspended in Quebec, Canada, due to Quebec Bill 96 language compliance requirements.

Name

Association for Supply Chain Management

Legal name

APICS, Inc.

Website

https://ascm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ASCM is a Chicago-based non-profit professional membership association (founded 1957, formerly APICS) that delivers globally recognized supply chain certifications (CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, CTSC), the proprietary SCOR framework, and enterprise workforce development services to 175,000+ certified professionals, 50,000+ members, and corporate clients across 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education and Certification

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain, Logistics & Procurement Certifications (EDAAANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries) (EDAFAIAH)

Keywords

• Supply chain education
• Professional certifications
• Membership association
• Supply chain training
• SCOR framework

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Subscriptions: ASCM offers tiered membership plans (ASCM Core and ASCM Plus) with various discount categories including Student, Academic, Young Professional, Active Military, and Federal Employee. Membership provides access to resources, chapters, forums, and discounts on certifications and learning materials.
2. APICS Certification Exams: Revenue generated from certification examination fees for CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, and CTSC certifications. APICS-certified professionals earn 23% more on average, driving demand.
3. Certificate Programs: Specialized certificate programs in Planning, Procurement, Resilience, Supplier Relationship Management, Technology, and Warehousing generate revenue through enrollment fees.
4. Corporate Training and Workforce Development: Organizations engage ASCM for workforce development programs, transformation solutions, and assessments. Revenue includes training fees, consulting engagements, and SCORmark benchmarking assessments.
5. Learning Systems and Study Materials: Sale of learning systems, study guides, and educational materials for self-study and instructor-led certification preparation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ASCM provides globally recognized supply chain certifications (CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, CTSC), specialized certificate programs, and the proprietary SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference) framework. The organization offers individual professional memberships, corporate workforce development, enterprise assessments, SCORmark benchmarking (with PwC), transformation consulting, and an annual CHAINge conference serving over 175,000 certified professionals and 50,000+ members worldwide.

Product overview

ASCM (Association for Supply Chain Management) is a membership-based professional organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of supply chain education and certification programs. The organization operates as a platform-plus-services model centered around its proprietary SCOR framework (Supply Chain Operations Reference) and APICS certification brand. The core offerings include four globally-recognized APICS certifications (CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, CTSC) that enable professionals to demonstrate expertise in production/inventory management, end-to-end supply chain operations, logistics, and technology. Complementing these are six specialized certificate programs (Planning, Procurement, Resilience, Supplier Relationship Management, Technology, and Warehousing) that build specific supply chain competencies. For organizations, ASCM provides enterprise solutions including SCOR DS (the digital SCOR standard), SCORmark Benchmarking (administered with PwC), enterprise assessments, workforce development training, and transformation consulting services. The organization also publishes research including the annual Top 10 Trends and Salary/Career Report, hosts the CHAINge annual conference, produces The Chain documentary series, and maintains academic journals (Transportation Journal, Journal of Operations Management). ASCM's membership tiers include Plus and Core levels with various discounts (Student, Academic, Young Professional, Active Military, Federal Employee) serving over 50,000 professional members and 175,000+ certified professionals worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APICS Certifications: Global supply chain certifications including CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, and CTSC
• SCOR Framework
• SCORmark

Products and services

• CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) Globally recognized APICS certification focused on production and inventory management, providing professionals with expertise in demand management, procurement, and supply chain operations.
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) Advanced certification for supply chain professionals covering end-to-end supply chain design, planning, and execution across global operations.
• CLTD (Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) Specialized certification focusing on logistics, transportation, and distribution operations, covering warehousing, inventory management, and global logistics.
• CTSC (Certified Technology Supply Chain) Certification focused on supply chain technology and digital transformation, covering emerging technologies and their application in supply chain management.
• Supply Chain Certificate Programs Specialized certificate programs in Planning, Procurement, Resilience, Supplier Relationship Management, Technology, and Warehousing generating revenue through enrollment fees for skill-building.
• SCOR DS (Supply Chain Operations Reference Digital Standard) Proprietary SCOR framework digital standard for supply chain assessment, benchmarking, and transformation. ASCM's flagship framework enabling organizations to analyze and improve supply chain performance.
• SCORmark Benchmarking Enterprise-level benchmarking tool administered in collaboration with PwC, enabling organizations to compare supply chain performance against industry peers using SCOR framework metrics.
• Supply Chain Knowledge Center Online learning platform providing access to SCOR courses, educational content, and professional development resources for supply chain professionals.
• CHAINge Conference Annual flagship supply chain conference featuring industry leaders, sessions on emerging trends, and networking opportunities for supply chain professionals.
• Enterprise Assessments Three enterprise-level assessment tools for supply chain evaluation, enabling organizations to identify opportunities and drive measurable transformations.
• Supply Chain Transformation Solutions Organizational transformation services leveraging the SCOR framework to guide supply chain improvements and digital transformation initiatives for enterprise clients.
• Workforce Development Corporate training and talent development solutions to upskill supply chain teams and improve organizational KPIs.
• Individual Professional Membership Professional membership program (ASCM Core and ASCM Plus tiers) connecting individual supply chain professionals with career development resources, chapters, forums, and certification discounts.
• Corporate Membership Organizational membership program providing companies with access to resources, training, and benefits for workforce development and supply chain transformation.

Quantifiable outcome

• APICS-certified professionals earn 23% more on average
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCORmark benchmarking program is administered in collaboration with PwC, enabling organizations to compare supply chain performance against industry peers using the proprietary SCOR framework. Users accessing SCORmark must agree to PwC's terms and conditions.
• Fortune 500 CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and leading global supply chain organizations form a key component of ASCM's enterprise business, providing workforce development and transformation solutions.
• International Partners (100+ Countries)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational partnerships enable localized engagement and distribution of ASCM certifications, training, and resources in over 100 countries worldwide through regional and local partners.
• IBF (Institute of Business Forecasting)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint conference collaboration for the ASCM & IBF Best of the Best S&OP Conference, combining supply chain and forecasting expertise.
• GartnerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership producing the ASCM/Gartner Supply Chain Sustainability Study, providing research-based insights on sustainability trends.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Institute for Supply Management (ISM): U.S.-based professional association for supply management and procurement practitioners, offering the CPSM and CPSD certifications. Directly comparable mission (supply chain professional credentialing and education) and overlapping member base with ASCM.
• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP): Leading global logistics and supply chain professional association, offering the SCPro certifications and EDGE research. Directly comparable to ASCM in target audience (supply chain leaders), membership model, and certification portfolio.
• Institute of Business Forecasting (IBF): Specialized association for S&OP, demand planning, and forecasting professionals. Directly comparable as a niche professional association and existing ASCM co-marketing partner (Best of the Best S&OP Conference).

Broad incumbents

• Project Management Institute (PMI): Large global professional association issuing the PMP and other certifications. Comparable as a scaled membership-based certification body operating a similar member/certification/training revenue model.
• SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management): Large U.S. professional membership association for HR practitioners offering certifications, learning, and advocacy. Comparable operating model (membership tiers, certification exams, conferences, corporate solutions) at significantly larger scale.
• Coursera: Leading online learning platform with university-issued supply chain specializations and Professional Certificates. Comparable as a competing channel for supply chain education and corporate training, and a potential partner for credential articulation.
• edX: Online education platform offering supply chain and logistics MicroMasters and executive education programs from universities. Comparable as a substitute channel for mid-career supply chain upskilling and certification-adjacent credentials.
• LinkedIn Learning: Enterprise-integrated video learning library with supply chain and operations courses included in LinkedIn Premium and Talent Insights. Comparable as a corporate training alternative and a leading low-cost substitute for individual certificate programs.

Others

• Gartner Supply Chain Practice: Major advisory firm whose Supply Chain Top 25 and research are an indirect competitor to ASCM's research publications (Top 10 Trends, Stability Index). Already an ASCM partner on the Supply Chain Sustainability Study, illustrating the overlap between advisory research and certification research.
• Deloitte Supply Chain & Operations: Big Four consulting practice competing in enterprise supply chain transformation — directly overlapping with ASCM's SCOR-based corporate transformation services. Relevant as both a competitor and a potential channel partner for SCORmark-type engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ASCMGreaterNorthJersey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apics-gnj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association for Supply Chain Management