Get ready for the recovery—with help from CSCMP

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The past year has been a difficult one for supply chain managers, to say the least. If you've read "CSCMP's 20th Annual State of Logistics Report," you know that the recession put an enormous strain on the entire global economy—and that it hit the logistics industry especially hard. According to the report, companies have been seriously challenged by the combined effects of declining orders, rising inventory levels, and plummeting shipment volumes.

Supply chain capacities were also dramatically reduced. In the United States alone, more than 3,000 transportation companies went out of business, eliminating nearly 7 percent of the country's freight transportation capacity. Jobs took a hit as thousands of SCM professionals lost their positions while organizations attempted to control costs and reduce overhead.

Despite that worrisome picture, the consensus among global supply chain management leaders is that a significant economic recovery is on the horizon ... and that you need to be prepared for it. Will your supply chain and your business be ready to handle the increased demand that will inevitably result as the recession recedes? Will you have the right talent in place to take advantage of the opportunities that will present themselves in the coming months?

When the global economy takes off—and it will—CSCMP members will be in the driver's seat. Here's why.

At CSCMP, we know you're serious about supply chain management. That's why we equip you with the information and resources you need to work smarter and more efficiently. We provide you with the education, research, insights, connections, and global perspectives you need to grow your business and advance your career.

Those personal connections, there will help them prepare their professionals from all over the world in fact, are a unique CSCMP benefit that can't be duplicated elsewhere. At our Annual Global Conference in Chicago, for example, supply chain management will gather to learn about exciting supply chain innovations, creative collaborative strategies, and leadingedge technologies. What they learn companies for the post-recession rally and propel their careers to new heights. And whether you're managing the supply chain of an international corporation or consulting on supply chain projects at the local level, CSCMP is your link to the business, to your colleagues, and to the profession. We can also put you in touch with the most skilled and dedicated supply chain talent in the world—people who will deliver big-time bottom-line results.

A robust recovery is on the horizon. You need to start preparing yourself, your supply chain, and your company now so that when the economy shifts into high gear and opportunities knock, you will be ready to capitalize on them. CSCMP will be the most powerful tool in your professional portfolio. Put your membership to work for you today.

We Want to Hear From You! We invite you to share your thoughts and opinions about this article by sending an e-mail to ?Subject=Letter to the Editor: Quarter 3 2009: Get ready for the recovery—with help from CSCMP"> . We will publish selected readers' comments in future issues of CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly. Correspondence may be edited for clarity or for length.

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