The focus of supply management is on creating effective and efficient supply chains that provide businesses a competitive advantage the 21st century. The ISM program provides students with the skill sets necessary to enter numerous career positions in the supply chain, such as purchasing, logistics and operations.Western Michigan University’s integrated supply management program is an interdisciplinary program provided by the Haworth College of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The mission of the program is to continuously advance supply management theory and practice through scholarly research, innovative teaching and student participation. The ISM program creates strong relationships between students, faculty and business managers.

To help you make the transition from being well educated in world-class operations and supply chain tools and techniques to becoming highly employable with some of the world’s most recognizable companies, the integrated supply management program provides unparalleled opportunities to have multiple internships and internship-like experiences throughout your study.Traditional summer internships are available to ISM students seeking these opportunities. Through the Haworth College of Business Career Center and ISM Career Night, interviews take place for internships and co-op positions with diverse organizations like Apple, Boeing, Eaton, Ford, GM, Kellogg, Marathon Petroleum, Mercury Marine, Meijer, Steelcase, Whirlpool and many smaller companies as well.In partnership with APICS, the world’s largest professional operations and supply chain organization and its Southwest Michigan Chapter, the WMU APICS student chapter provides tremendous leadership, networking and professional opportunities with regional industry and business professionals. WMU's APICS student chapter is one of the largest in the country and is a multiple-year recipient of APICS' Platinum Chapter Award—the highest award given to any chapter. Plant tours, guest speakers, case competitions and social events with peers and industry are just some of the benefits, and membership is free for ISM students.Lastly, in an effort to advance operations and supply chain understanding and career awareness for all ages, the WMU Center for Integrated Supply Management and WMU APICS student chapter partner to design and deploy supply chain curricula for Project Lead The Way, a U.S. non-profit organization that develops hands-on, project-based science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, curricula for use by elementary, middle and high schools. We work with the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency and various area schools to help teach K-12 students operations and supply chain concepts through experiential simulations and personalized exercises.