MMG To Sponsor Several Workshops at ISM 2012 International Conference in Baltimore In the U.S., the Great Recession officially lasted from December 2007 through June 2009. The modest U.S. recovery continues: 3.1 percent GDP growth in 2010 and 1.6 percent in 2011. The EU had about 1.9 percent GDP growth in 2010 and 1.6 percent in 2011. China had about10.3 percent growth in 2010 and 9.5 percent in 2011. Since 1980 the manufacturing portion of U.S. GDP has declined from roughly 21 percent to about 12 percent. The world decline over the same period was roughly from 24 percent to 16 percent. The world increasingly produces most of its wealth through services. The governor of Utah has cited the importance of materials management, along with the continued improvement of our profession, to Utah’s economic progress. Excellence in materials management is essential to a productive economy, both on the manufacturing and non-manufacturing fronts. Many of us have expanded our materials-management skills beyond manufacturing to include service, reverse logistics, repair, etc.: the complete Supply Chain. We must all keep our skills honed to meet today’s job requirements. The Materials Management Group of ISM has a mission to advance professional development in the field of purchasing and materials management. Materials management is practically synonymous with supply management, and includes the entire field of purchasing along with disciplines such as production or service planning, warehousing, traffic, and trucking. As part of fulfilling this mission, the MMG is sponsoring several workshops at the ISM International Conference in Baltimore May 6-9, 2012. As usual, some of us will be helping to staff the Groups and Forums Booth. Drop by to say hello and talk some shop. We recently collaborated with ISM-Utah to sponsor Spend Management and Significant Issues in Procurement, and plan another event with them for October 2012. We are planning more events for the upcoming months. We are currently developing a research alliance with the Department of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University. Right now we are considering these potential projects for MMG participation: Purchasing Practices and Outcomes: Identifying how various practices affect performance and outcomes such as price and quality. Future Horizons: Studies to identify overall trends affecting the future of supply chain. Resilience and the Supply Chain: Identifying what factors enhance resistance and recovery in the face of disruptions or threats. Anyone involved with materials has a stake in materials management. By enrolling with the MMG, you give us an opportunity to know who you are, where you are, what services you might need, and to keep you informed of educational and networking opportunities that we might offer. Enrollment costs nothing and takes very little time. Simply visit www.ism.ws / Members Only / Affiliates, Groups & Forums / Group/Forum Enrollment Form [log in] / Find Materials Management under Groups. As an ISM member you can sign up for any groups or forums at no cost. We would like to hear from ISM members, from any place in the world, that would like to help represent the MMG in their area or to participate in planning at the national or international level. If you have an interest in working with the MMG leadership team, please contact me or any of the other board members at the MMG website www.ismmmg.org. We look forward to hearing from you. Fred Lutz, C.P.M., CIRM Demand Planner, Servigistics Fred Lutz is a Demand Planner at Servigistics, which is the leading provider of service parts planning and optimization solutions, and also offers Planning as a Service: 585-419-3152, fred.lutz@servigistics.com He is a Past Chair of the MMG. MMG Sponsored Workshops at ISM 2012 Annual International Conference Down Load the flyer Flyer Details The Materials Management Group is proud to have been recognized by ISM for the 2008,2009 and 2010 Group & Forum Excellence Award.