Hilf Supply Chain Solutions is the first organisation in the UK to become an AEP. The contract was signed recently at a ceremony in Chancery Court, London attended by senior executives from APICS (who had travelled from their Chicago headquarters) and senior executives from the CILT’s IOM (the Institute of Operations Management) who were signing an agreement to become the International Associate for the UK market at the ceremony. The IOM is a membership body within the CILT (The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, UK).

In terms of APICS International partners, the structure can be summarised as follows: an IA (International Associate) promotes the global activities of APICS within the region and administers examination registrations etc, whilst an AEP is an APICS approved training delivery company.

Hilf Supply Chain Solutions provides facilitated tuition, usually at client site, in the Basics of Supply Chain Management (BSCM) foundation course, the full Certified in Production & Inventory Management (CPIM) course material and is shortly to offer assistance with the Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) course.

Mr. Lindsay Harding, Director of Hilf Supply Chain Solutions, stated “This seal of approval from APICS was important for our company and we are delighted to announce Hilf as an AEP. It will signify to our clients present and future that quality and professionalism can be assured.” He went on to say, “We have worked closely with IPICS for many years in arranging APICS examinations for our candidates, they have been looking after the UK well, in addition to their own market in Ireland. We are now looking forward to working with the IOM in developing the UK market for these excellent supply chain qualifications going forward.”

The ‘pencil & paper’ type examinations will continue to be administered by IPICS for the remainder of 2009 – with the IOM taking over the responsibility from 1st Jan 2010. In the meantime, the IOM will concentrate on offering a CBT version of the CSCP examination during the later part of 2009. Hilf will work closely with the IOM during this period to assist the success of the transition process. Leonie Edwards, Manager of the IOM, stated she was looking forward to a successful relationship between the two organisations. Lindsay agreed, and added how he wanted to thank Tracy Cheetham (APICS Director of International Services) and her US based team for all their help during the approval process.