APICS helps its members pick a better way to run their businesses. APICS The Association for Operations Management helps companies and individuals learn how best to develop, produce, and distribute their products. The group provides education and certification programs designed to improve business processes related to inventory, logistics, materials management, production, purchasing, and the supply chain. It counts about 33,000 members from some 15,000 companies worldwide. APICS was founded in 1957 and is composed of more than 250 chapters throughout North America. The name stands for American Production and Inventory Control Society.