Supply Chain Management Associations & Research Centers

ASSOCIATIONS

The mission of the following organizations is to promote supply chain in various industries and to enhance education about transportation and logistics.

American Society of Transportation & Logistics
This professional society was established more than 50 years ago. It serves as a source of information and continuing education for individuals in traffic, transportation, logistics and physical distribution management.

The Association for Transport Packaging
An association in which packaging vendors, carriers, shippers and testing laboratories work together to address the problems of package damage and package economics.

Council of Logistics Management
A not-for-profit professional business organization consisting of individuals throughout the world who have interests and/or responsibilities in logistics and the related functions that make up the logistics profession. Its purpose is to enhance the development of the logistics profession by providing logistics professionals with educational opportunities and relevant information through a variety of programs, services, and activities.

Industrial Truck Association
A trade organization aimed to further the interests of the lift truck industry plus manufacturers of forklifts, tow tractors, rough terrain vehicles, hand pallet trucks and automated guided vehicles.

International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses
A trade association aimed at advancing the interests and welfare of the refrigerated warehousing, transportation, distribution and logistics businesses.

Institute for Supply Management
The Institute for Supply ManagementT (ISM) is one of the most respected educational associations in the United States whose mission is to educate, develop, and advance the purchasing and supply management profession.

Material Handling Industry of America
This is the leading trade association for U.S. companies involved with material handling and material management.

National Association of Wholesale Distributors
A premier trade association representing the wholesale distribution industry.

National Wooden Pallet & Container Association
A trade association representing companies that manufacture, recycle, and distribute wooden pallets and containers.

Sole: International Society of Logistics
A not-for-profit international organization devoted to enhancing the art and science of logistics technology, education and management.

Warehousing Education and Research Council
A professional association for those in warehouse and distribution; a non-profit organization with over 4,000 members.

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RESEARCH CENTERS

Penn State offers one of the best educations in Supply Chain Management and has several research centers geared towards making the value chain better and faster. The following are links to relevant Penn State research centers.

The Center for Supply Chain Research (CSCR)
This is one of the nation's leading institutions dedicated to supply chain management research and education. Established in 1989, the center is organized within the Division of Research of the Smeal College of Business.

The e-Business Research Center (eBRC)
This is a preeminent center for e-Business research. It serves as a content/information resource for decision-makers in industry, academia, government, and the Penn State community. Additionally, it has been a catalyst for change, advocating that organizations embrace tomorrow's converging economies.

The Institute for the Study of Business Markets (ISBM)
This is a center of excellence in the Smeal College of Business. It is networked with researchers, educators and practitioners in business-to-business marketing in companies and universities throughout the world.

The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (PTI)
Founded in 1968, the Institute has grown from a small research facility to one of the nation's leading university transportation centers. From its first days PTI has pursued a mission of interdisciplinary research that today involves laboratories, departments, and colleges throughout Penn State and numerous external collaborators.

The Center for Manufacturing Enterprise Integration (CMEI)
This center is part of the Industrial Engineering Department and addresses the enterprise R&D needs for the next generation. CMEI focuses on integrating operational decision-making and control of geographically distributed enterprises.