CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

APICS, the premier professional association for supply chain management, and JD.com (NASDAQ: JD), China's largest e-commerce company by revenue, announced a strategic agreement to establish nationwide standards for the Omni Channel Supply Chain Capability in China and to advance supply chain performance of the e-commerce industry in the region. By expanding its presence in China, APICS has committed to providing the country’s business leaders, academia, and global enterprises with valuable insights, information, and actionable data necessary to succeed in supply chain management. In addition, APICS also announced the formation of a Chinese Corporate Advisory Board (CCAB), which will facilitate discussion between APICS and leading Chinese companies like JD.com. The CCAB will serve as a corporate sounding board on APICS products and how best to leverage these resources in China.

“With the rapid growth of e-commerce in China, finding and fostering the professionals needed to run complex supply chains is becoming more and more critical,” said APICS CEO, Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CAE, CPA. “This strategic agreement, and the CCAB in particular, gives us new avenues for communicating with key corporate members, and it will reenergize our relationships within China, further developing a supply chain community that shares common goals and interests.”

As part of the strategic agreement, APICS will help establish the JD Supply Chain Academy within JD University, a nationwide supply chain talent development center and e-commerce supply chain research center. APICS and JD.com will collaboratively develop course curriculum and research topics focused on the e-commerce industry in China. Additionally, APICS and JD.com will collaborate to cross-reference the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model with the extensive JD.com database in order to develop a specific SCORmark Omni Channel Benchmark for China. This performance improvement tool will be made available to the major suppliers of JD.com and other stakeholders within the APICS corporate community worldwide.

“JD.com is strongly committed to having the most professional retail supply chain professionals in China within 3 years,” said Yu Yongli, President of JD.com’s Y Business Unit which focuses on research and development for smart supply chain. “JD.com offers hundreds of millions of SKUs to our more than 226 million customers from thousands of suppliers. The JD Supply Chain Academy is a key component of our strategy to build a smart commerce and we’re delighted to work with APICS to advance our supply chain and develop our people.”

Businesses turn to APICS as the industry authority that advances supply chains through benchmarking, performance improvement, process management and talent development. By entering into a strategic agreement with JD.com and establishing the CCAB, APICS can further its role as a leader in the Chinese supply chain industry and more effectively prepare the next generation of Chinese supply chain talent.

About APICS

APICS is the premier professional association for supply chain management and the leading provider of research, education and certification programs that elevate supply chain excellence, innovation, and resilience. APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD), and APICS Supply Chain Operations Reference-Professional (SCOR-P) designations set the industry standard. With over 45,000 members and more than 300 channel partners, APICS is transforming the way people do business, drive growth and reach global customers. For more information, visit apics.org.

About JD.com, Inc.

JD.com is China’s leading online retailer and the country’s largest Internet company by revenue. The company strives to offer consumers the best online shopping experience. Through its user-friendly website, native mobile apps, and WeChat and Mobile QQ entry points, JD offers consumers a superior shopping experience. The company has the largest fulfillment infrastructure of any e-commerce company in China. As of December 31, 2016, JD.com operated 7 fulfillment centers and 256 warehouses, and in total of 6,906 delivery stations and pickup stations in 2,655 counties and districts across China, staffed by its own employees. JD.com is a member of the NASDAQ100 and a Fortune Global 500 company.

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