ISMM flies the flag high in training supply chain management professionals in Sri Lanka

ISMM President Sarath Gamage

The Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM) was established on 24 October 1972 and is the leading professional institution which fosters the professional development of purchasing and supply chain function in Sri Lanka. 

It has been a Member of the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) since 1976 and was incorporated by the Parliament by Act No. 3 of 1981. ISMM is affiliated to the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM) which is the world body encompassing 42 national associations having more than 200,000 professionals engaged in purchasing and supply chain management. 

ISMM has been the diploma awarding national body for the last three decades in addition to conducting other professional short courses, adding more than 10,000 professionals to the profession of supply chain management in Sri Lanka on a national scale.

ISMM, which is the pioneer in Supply Chain Management (SCM), offers certificate level, management level and diploma level courses in SCM. Further ISMM supports public and private sector organisations by conducting consultancies, workshops and seminars to enhance their performance. Moreover, the successful completion of the ISMM Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management together with three years of executive experience in purchasing and supply chain management field will lead to the corporate membership of the ISMM. 

The Government recognises the corporate membership of the ISMM equivalent to a First or Second Class Honours Degree relevant to the field of purchasing and supply chain management awarded by a recognised university.

In year 2001, ISMM was affiliated to the International Trade Centre (ITC) Geneva, which is the technical cooperation agency of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for operational, enterprise-oriented aspects of trade development. ISMM is the sole national body which possess the license to promote the principles of International Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (IPSCM), and is authorised to conduct courses and examinations of the Modular Learning System (MLS) in IPSCM in Sri Lanka on behalf of ITC, Geneva. As a result, in 2003 ISMM launched the IPSCM-MLS training system is Sri Lanka.

In 2010, ISMM launched the three-year Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (GDPSCM) programme with a dissertation. This program contains 120 credits and it is designed equivalent to a special degree. 

In recognition of the increasingly crucial role played by ISMM in the development of the supply chain profession in Sri Lanka, the Department of Public Administration recognises the corporate membership of the ISMM as equivalent to a First or Second Class Degree in the field of supply and materials management awarded by a recognised university in the recruitment and promotional process.

ISMM’s main thrust of activities from the inception was the training of supplies personnel at all levels. ISMM has trained more than 10,000 practitioners in the field of procurement and supply chain management. There are more than 1,000 diplomates who have successfully completed diploma courses conducted by ISMM which enjoys a wide recognition in all sectors having a heavy input of procurement and supply chain activity. Training is also given at grassroots level and over 10,000 stores personnel, including store keepers, stores managers and over 6,000 officers engaged in purchasing, inventory control, import and export trade, shipping and clearance work have successfully undergone training so far.

The extensive range of services rendered by ISMM include the up-to-date training programs, seminars, workshops, conferences, discussions, members days, lectures, consultancy services and annual get-togethers. ISMM is strengthened by a professional membership who has wide knowledge on Supply Chain Management. 

The President, Office Bearers and Council Members are selected by the members at the Annual General Meeting. The Council of Management includes the Past Presidents of the Institution. In its recognition of the education and experience in the field of Supply Chain Management, ISMM membership is awarded to the professionals and Institutions in the following sequence: Fellow Members, Life and Corporate Members, Associate Members, Affiliate Members, Institutional Members (Institutions).

Supply Chain Management is a fast-developing field of management, having a major influence on economic development and trade both at domestic and international levels. Globalisation and regionalisation are taking pride in international trade and development of competition is taking precedence over other factors as the driver of business. The benefits of Supply Chain Management are immense and to name a few; higher productivity, reduce cost, raise output, raise efficient/effective levels, boost cooperation, lowers delay in processes and enhances the effectiveness of supply chain networks.

It is pivotal that Supply Chain Management has taken an imperative role with the Sri Lankan Government development plan to procure and manage resources wisely with limited money available.  As it is leading private sector organisations in Sri Lanka has employed most of our highly skilled professionals to manage the high spend of the organisation by understanding the importance of the effective and efficient management of supply chain. The impact of supply chain will be felt in all activities and no institution could carry on with its activities devoid of material resources. As a result, the role of purchasing and supply chain management is assuming a strategic role for the progressive development of the country.

The ISMM Office and the Training Directorate is housed at the Organisation of Professional Associations Premises, Professional Centre, No. 275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 07. For further information visit the ISMM website.