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For Immediate Release
APICS Delivers on Brand Promise
At 2004 International Conference and Exposition in San Diego
Alexandria, VA (October 29, 2004) APICS delivered on its brand promise of presenting superior training, internationally recognized certifications, and unparalleled networking for the nearly 3,500 industry professionals who attended the APICS International Conference and Exposition, October 10-13, in San Diego, California.
"This year's event was outstanding," said APICS President, Arnold E. Kennedy, CFPIM, CIRM, Jonah. "It was standing room only at the educational sessions and the exhibit hall floor was packed. Everyone was truly upbeat and ready to take the practical knowledge they gained at the conference and implement new ideas at their organizations."
During Tuesday's general session, Kennedy announced that on January 1, 2005, APICS will adopt a new name, tag line, and logo. The APICS Board of Directors unanimously approved to change the society's name to APICS The Association for Operations Management and use the tag line, Advancing Productivity, Innovation, and Competitive Success. "The new name will honor our rich history in production and inventory control, better define the broad application of the APICS body of knowledge, and position us for the future," said Kennedy while announcing the new branding strategy.
B. Joseph Pine II, cofounder of Strategic Horizons, LLP, and acclaimed author, speaker, and management advisor, stressed the importance of staging memorable experiences to attract and retain customers in today's growingly competitive environment. And staging a memorable experience was indeed the case when he presented his wife, an APICS conference attendee who is APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management, with a birthday cake and Calloway seven iron in honor of her birthday.
Charles E. "Gus" Whalen Jr., CEO of the Warren Featherbone Company, talked about how adapting to change is the secret to this 121-year-old company's success. "Adapting to change, seeing the unseen, thinking long term, and keeping an eye on the 'little things' is why Warren Featherbone has endured for more than a century. It is all about interdependence, staying connected, and learning to communicate these concepts to all levels of the company and the supply chain," advised Whalen.
A true American success story was retold by Junki Yoshida, a Japanese immigrant who arrived in the United States penniless and now, 20 years later, leads a conglomerate of 20 diverse companies employing more than 300 and generating revenues in excess of $100 million annually.
Dan Thurmon, president of Motivation Works, Inc., told general session attendees that "it's not what you know, it's what you do with what you know, that has transformative power." Ian Percy, author of The 7 Secrets to a Life of Meaning, focused on how to face workplace challenges through unifying teams, managing change, and building customer loyalty.
Many conference attendees took another step in their professional development by attending certification overview sessions and sitting for the APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management and APICS Certified in Integrated Resource Management examinations.
Also at the conference, APICS released the 11th edition of the APICS Dictionary, the industry standard of more than 3,500 terms associated with the APICS body of knowledge, and the companion APICS Illustrated Dictionary on CD-ROM, an interactive, illustrated guide to the terms and concepts defined in the dictionary.
The exposition featured the leading solutions providers for e-commerce, supply chain management, MRP/ERP, automated electronic data collection, planning and scheduling, training, CRM, systems integration, RFID/wireless, logistics/distribution, and business consulting. For a complete list of the 2004 exhibitors, visit www.apics.org/Education/Conference/participating.htm.
New Orleans will be the site of the 2005 APICS International Conference and Exposition, October 16-18, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
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APICS is the recognized global leader in professional certifications, educational programs, and publications for manufacturing and service industry professionals across the entire supply chain. Founded in 1957, the society supports nearly 60,000 members in 20,000 companies worldwide. On January 1, 2005, the society will change its name to APICS The Association for Operations Management. To learn more, visit the APICS community at www.apics.org.