National Association of Purchasing Management NAPM

NAPM stands for the National Association of Purchasing Management. This is a not-for-profit organization that was originally founded in 1913 and called the New York Association of Purchasing Management. In 1915 it was renamed as the National Association of Purchasing Management and then in May 2001 in was renamed again as the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

Many of the ISM's regional affiliates retain NAPM in their name. For example the San Diego chapter is still called NAPM San Diego.

The name change was to bring the organization's name in line with the expanding of roles of the professionals in the field beyond buying. These now include the activities of such things as transportation, total costs of ownership, global sourcing, product/service innovation etc.