The Chartered Institute of Supply Chain Management is the most prominent professional body for those who are developing a career in Transport, Logistics, Project, Procurement Stores, Materials, Inventory Control, Shipping, Customer Services, Warehousing, Import & Export, Production, Shipping, Operation, Purchasing and Supply as an aspect of Supply Chain Management. The Institute was founded by a number of people from the profession, who recognized the need to develop standards in Supply Chain Management practices as well as increase the number of trained and qualified personnel who were required in a rapidly developing country. They formulated structured training programs and assisted the institutions of learning in designing courses for their professional scheme and curriculum.

Today there has been a progressive shift in focus from purchasing to supply chain management, and the Institute has recognized this fact by using its title “Supply Chain Management”. In addition, an alliance has been formed with the College of Supply Chain Management, Nigeria, and also the Chartered Institute of Warehousing and Materials Management, Nigeria which provides CISCM with a reciprocal arrangement to enable its qualified members to be granted full exemptions or direct membership as approved by the Governing Council or as the case may be from time to time. This was considered to be a perfect integration of Purchasing, Warehousing, Materials, Logistics and Supply as an aspect of Supply Chain Management philosophies, which reflect similar trends occurring in the business environment. Worldwide there is a growing awareness of the strategic importance of efficient and effective supply chain management objectives. Therefore the Institute is constantly aware and adapting to the changes occurring in the field of supply chain management profession, both nationally and internationally.

As global trading increases, and advances in technology occur, it will become essential for enterprises to adapt to the constant changes in the business environment. Those enterprises with the ability to take advantage of new opportunities, or increase supply chain effectiveness and efficiency will maintain a competitive edge over their rivals. However, change can not happen without the management skills of an enterprise, which can identify and implement changes for the benefit of the organization and management standards within the supply chain management profession.

Supply Chain Management Professionals can attain a Professional certification by means of certification exams developed by a third party, usually a non-profit, certification entity. Supply chain professionals certification is highly valued by both individuals and recruiting companies as it guarantees a certain level of expertise in Supply Chain Body Management of Knowledge. There are several certification exams developed for Supply Chain Professionals including CISCM (Chartered Institute of Supply Chain Management), APICS (The Association for Operations Management), CIWMM (Chartered Institute of Warehousing and Materials Management), and CISCM’S certification is called the Chartered Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Another, Chartered Institute of Warehousing and Materials Management focused on the Stores, Warehousing, and Inventory Management areas of Supply Chain Management, also called Supply management, is the main certifying body for Chartered Stores and Materials Manager with the designations having global reciprocity.