Invest in your future with APICS certification online classes and self-study materials

ASCM Cleveland Chapter – Education Partnership

The ASCM Cleveland Chapter has partnered with the ASCM Akron Chapter to provide online classes (CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, CTSC, and Foundations) and self-study materials for members at discounted pricing.

Salary surveys consistently show that APICS-certified professionals earn more than their peers. In addition, they get hired and promoted faster, since companies increasingly list "APICS certification preferred" in their job postings.  Our chapter wants to make it easier for you to get an APICS certification.  All our classes meet ONLINE with live instruction.  Classes are offered on weekdays and weekends, day and evening, with weekday evenings being the most popular.  

• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) classes will meet online on Tuesdays from 6 pm – 9 pm Eastern Time starting January 27th for 16 weeks (48 hours of instruction).  Other timeslot options are available.  More information and registration materials are located at https://akron.ascm.org/cscp/
• CPIM (Certified in Planning & Inventory Management) classes will meet online on Wednesdays from 6 pm – 9 pm Eastern Time starting February 4th for 20 weeks (60 hours of instruction).  Other timeslot options are available.  More information and registration materials are located at https://akron.ascm.org/cpim/
• CLTD (Certified in Logistics, Transportation & Distribution) and CTSC (Certified in Transformation for Supply Chains) online classes are also being offered in 2026.  Would you like to get on the mailing list for these classes?  If so, please email [email protected]

Self-study packages for the CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, and CTSC certifications, as well as all the ASCM certificate programs and the Foundations modules, are available from our chapter at discounted pricing.  Our packages include additional study materials not available from ASCM directly.  These educational offerings are listed at https://akron.ascm.org/education/

ASCM Cleveland Members can save 20–25% when purchasing APICS certification bundles and ASCM certificate self-study packages through the ASCM Akron Chapter 

Are you interested in furthering your supply chain related education, but not sure where to start?  Feel free to email [email protected] or call 330-668-6084 for personalized assistance.   

Thank you.

ASCM/APICS Cleveland & Akron Chapter Board of Directors

February '25 PDM recap

ASCM Cleveland Chapter Meeting Recap: The Role of AI in Supply Chain Management

Thank you to everyone who attended our February ASCM Cleveland Chapter meeting focusing on "The Role of AI in Supply Chain Management: Opportunities and Challenges." We were fortunate to have Dr. Apo Oguz share his expertise on this rapidly evolving technology and its implications for supply chain professionals. We had 12 in-person and an additional 6 virtual attendees. Please spread the word on future meetings!

Key Highlights from the Presentation

Evolution of AI and Generative AI

Dr. Oguz provided a fascinating overview of AI's journey from its conceptual beginnings in the 1950s through cycles of advancement and "AI winters," culminating in the deep learning revolution of the 2010s. He explained how generative AI has progressed from GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks) in 2014 to transformers in 2017, leading to powerful models like GPT-3 with 175 billion parameters by 2020 and explaining current models have an unlisted number of parameters but postulated 500-700 billion! The unprecedented adoption rate of ChatGPT—reaching one million users in just five days—underscores the transformative potential of these technologies.

Creating an AI Strategy for Supply Chain

A significant portion of the discussion focused on developing effective AI strategies that align with broader supply chain objectives. Dr. Oguz emphasized:

• The importance of establishing a clear AI vision for the company
• Addressing organizational barriers through cross-functional teams
• Implementing comprehensive training programs
• Developing governance frameworks and cybersecurity protocols to mitigate AI risks

Practical AI Applications in Supply Chain

The presentation highlighted several practical applications, including:

• Enhanced demand forecasting using time-series machine learning models combined with generative AI for scenario planning
• Supplier performance prediction by analyzing both structured metrics and unstructured data from communications and contracts
• Inventory optimization through reinforcement learning to balance stock levels against stockout risks

Effective Prompt Engineering

Dr. Oguz shared valuable insights on prompt engineering for generative AI:

• The critical importance of specificity in prompts, including clear goals and constraints
• How providing proper context (warehouse locations, lead times, demand patterns) leads to more accurate responses
• Techniques for breaking complex tasks into smaller, sequential prompts and specifying output formats for improved usability

Implementation Challenges

The discussion also addressed important challenges in AI implementation:

• Potential bias in AI models and how to mitigate it
• The problem of "hallucinations" (convincing but incorrect information) and necessary verification protocols
• Best practices for careful piloting and continuous evaluation

Thank You!!

We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Apo Oguz for sharing his knowledge and insights. His presentation provided valuable guidance for supply chain professionals looking to navigate the AI revolution strategically.

We look forward to seeing you at our next chapter meeting!