ISM-Akron, Inc.

A Chapter of the Institute for Supply Management working together to advance the profession of supply management.

Akron's Leading Supply Chain Management Professionals

ISM—Akron, Inc. is a local chapter of Institute for Supply Management®.

ISM—Akron was established in 1922 and has members from businesses throughout Summit, Stark, Portage, and Cuyahoga counties. It is our goal to make ISM—Akron, Inc. the premiere supply professional organization in Northeast Ohio. It is our mission to educate, serve, and develop our members so that they will continue to provide value, opportunity, and cost reduction for the local business interests they represent. By working hand-in-hand with local universities and businesses, we hope to discover needs, recognize future opportunities for growth and service to build on the value of our Supply Management profession.

 

Upcoming Events

January

29

2025

MEMBER WEBINAR
Member Only

Navigating Sustainability Regulatory Compliance with AI-Driven Solutions

Join us for an insightful webinar that will delve into the latest sustainability regulations, focusing on the anticipated consolidation of CSRD, CSDDD, and EU disclosures in 2025. Discover how AI-driven solutions can help your organization stay ahead of international compliance requirements, streamline processes, and enhance sustainability efforts, all exclusively through the procurement lens.

During this webinar, you will learn about:

  • The key aspects of the upcoming regulatory changes and their implications for businesses.
  • How AI-driven tools can simplify the compliance process by automating data collection, analysis, and reporting.
  • Best practices for integrating AI solutions into your existing compliance framework.
  • Strategies for staying proactive and adaptive in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

Do not miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical strategies.

Register now to secure your spot!

Online
Register Now

February

11

2025

MEMBER WEBINAR
Member Only

2025 Procurement Agenda and Key Priorities

2024 has been a year where Procurement’s priority shifted significantly to cost reduction in an effort to enable their organizations concerns over broader economic health. But it has also been a year where broad-based awareness of the impact of Generative AI on the procurement operating model became more entrenched. Looking forward to 2025, how will procurement teams prepare for success?

Join this session to gain insights into Hackett’s recently published 2025 Procurement Key Priorities research covering the following areas.

  • Key trends that will have a transformational impact on the procurement agenda over the next five years.
  • 2025 key objectives and transformation plans for procurement organizations.
  • Projected changes in procurement workloads, staffing levels, operating budgets, and technology spending.
  • Expected trends in procurement including operating model and analytics.
  • The use of generative AI and technology to enable procurement capabilities.

Online
Register Now

March

27

2025

MEMBER WEBINAR
Member Only

Getting Started with Supply Chain Design

With FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) embroiling global supply chains, leaders must be proactive and intentional in assessing their supply chains and designing them for the future. But how to start? Ralph Asher of Data Driven Supply Chain LLC will discuss how to get started in supply chain design and answer common questions. This talk will equip organizations to embark on their supply chain design journey, future-proof their supply chains, and build competitive moats.

This session will dive into addressing the following questions:

  • How does supply chain design differ from supply chain planning and optimization?
  • What are some of the strategic questions that we can answer with supply chain design?
  • What data do we need to get started in supply chain design? (Hint: much less than you may think!)
  • How do we measure ROI in supply chain design projects?
  • Should we build an internal team or use consultants for supply chain design projects?
  • Commercial software vs. open-source software: what are the pros and cons for supply chain design?

Online
Register Now
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Supply Management News & Reports

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Uncertainties and Unknowns — Again

January 15, 2025
Articles

More business-friendly policies are likely in 2025, but supply management organizations must contend with ‘significant wild cards,’ including many of the same dynamics that defined the first Trump administration.

Read More
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Join ISM

Your membership in ISM will provide a powerful path to stay connected, engaged, and up-to-date with everything happening in supply management. Serious procurement and supply chain professionals are dedicated to staying in the know about their profession and staying at the top of their game. An ISM membership will provide you with that and more.

More than 100 years of experience speaks for itself – ISM can help you succeed. It's our mission.

Become A Member

ISM World 2025 Registration Open

Join your peers in Orlando, Florida, June 1-3, 2025. The ISM World Annual Conference is a world-class event designed to inspire fresh thinking and provide an educational experience that unites thought leaders, supply chain and procurement professionals, and the innovative suppliers that support them.

You'll leave with new connections, fresh insights, and the inspiration to spark new ideas within your professional community. Register today for the best rates!

Register Today

Join the Report On Business®  Survey Panel

ISM®'s Manufacturing, Services, and Hospital Report On Business® gather data monthly through surveys of supply management professionals participating in the Business Survey Committee.

Participation in the survey panel provides many benefits:

  • Receive a copy of the just-released Report On Business® graphical data
  • Directly see how your contribution affects the markets each month
  • Earn Continuing Education Hours

Click the link below to submit your information and someone will reach out to connect for a quick virtual call!

Join the Survey Panel