ASCM Unveils Reimagined Awards of Excellence to Honor Transformative SCOR Implementation and Supply Chain Innovation
The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) has announced the relaunch of its Awards of Excellence, a completely restructured recognition program designed to spotlight organizations and individuals redefining what world-class supply chain performance looks like through the adoption of the Supply Chain Operations Reference Digital Standard (SCOR DS) model.
With the reimagined program, ASCM aims to honor excellence not only in performance metrics but also in the broader values of innovation, leadership, sustainability, and professional development that underpin resilient global supply chains. The initiative reflects ASCM’s continued commitment to helping the global supply chain community evolve in response to rapidly changing business environments and technological advancements.
“Excellence in supply chain is about more than metrics; it’s about leadership, innovation, and impact,” said Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of ASCM. “These awards recognize the organizations and individuals who are setting the pace for what’s possible in our profession and helping shape the future of global supply chains. The new Awards of Excellence framework underscores the powerful role of the SCOR DS model in driving measurable improvement, collaboration, and transformation across the industry.”
Redefining Recognition in Supply Chain Excellence
The relaunch of the Awards of Excellence comes at a pivotal moment for the supply chain profession. Global disruptions—from pandemic impacts to geopolitical shifts and environmental challenges—have underscored the need for adaptable, data-driven, and sustainable supply chain systems. ASCM’s updated awards program acknowledges that modern excellence is not solely defined by efficiency and output, but also by resilience, innovation, sustainability, and talent development.
At the heart of the reimagined awards is ASCM’s SCOR Digital Standard (SCOR DS), a globally recognized framework that guides organizations in improving supply chain performance through standardized processes, best practices, and performance metrics. The SCOR DS model provides a digital and data-centric foundation for supply chain excellence, enabling organizations to map, measure, and optimize end-to-end operations more effectively.
By anchoring its recognition program to the SCOR DS framework, ASCM is sending a clear message: excellence in today’s supply chain landscape is achieved through alignment with a globally validated standard that balances operational efficiency with innovation and sustainability.
A New Framework for Recognition: Categories That Reflect the Modern Supply Chain
The newly structured Awards of Excellence introduces a comprehensive set of categories that recognize both corporate and individual contributions to supply chain advancement. Each category celebrates specific dimensions of excellence that align with ASCM’s mission to elevate supply chain management as a strategic discipline driving global progress.
Corporate Awards
- ASCM Standards Alignment Recognition
This award honors the foundational work of organizations that are actively aligning their supply chain operations with the SCOR DS framework. It acknowledges the dedication and proactive commitment of companies that have taken meaningful steps toward transformation, even if the full impact of their efforts has yet to be realized. By celebrating early adoption and strategic intent, ASCM encourages more organizations to embark on their SCOR DS journey with confidence and purpose. - SCOR Implementation and Execution: Supply Chain Performance
This category recognizes organizations that have achieved significant measurable improvements in supply chain performance through effective implementation of the SCOR DS model. The award highlights companies that demonstrate how SCOR DS integration drives stronger operational alignment, enhanced visibility, and measurable business outcomes—from cost efficiency and service quality to agility and innovation. - SCOR Implementation and Execution: Sustainability Catalyst
Sustainability is increasingly becoming the cornerstone of supply chain strategy. This award celebrates organizations that integrate SCOR DS principles with ASCM’s Enterprise Standards for Sustainability (ESS) to achieve positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact. Honorees in this category are those that lead the way in reducing carbon emissions, enhancing circularity, promoting ethical sourcing, and advancing community welfare through their supply chain decisions. - SCOR Implementation and Execution: Future-Ready Skills Cultivation and Enablement
The future of supply chain excellence relies heavily on people—on their ability to learn, adapt, and lead transformation. This category recognizes organizations that have embedded continuous learning and professional development within their operational culture, empowering their workforce with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Rooted in SCOR DS principles, this award celebrates companies that actively foster future-ready talent ecosystems.
Individual Awards
- Supply Chain Performance Champion
This individual award honors supply chain professionals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting and implementing the SCOR DS framework within their organizations. These champions serve as change agents—driving measurable transformation, breaking silos, and ensuring that SCOR DS principles are embedded across processes and teams. - Sustainability Champion
Recognizing the growing importance of sustainability leadership, this award highlights individuals who have spearheaded the integration of SCOR DS with ASCM’s sustainability standards to advance environmental and social responsibility. These professionals are at the forefront of creating greener, fairer, and more transparent supply chains, translating strategic sustainability goals into operational reality.
A Global Platform for Recognition and Inspiration
The Awards of Excellence is not only a celebration but also a platform for learning and inspiration across the global supply chain community. By showcasing exemplary organizations and professionals, ASCM aims to create a ripple effect of innovation and improvement—encouraging others to adopt best practices and embrace continuous transformation.
Applications for the 2025 Awards of Excellence officially open on October 22, 2025, and are open to all individuals and organizations within the supply chain field. Importantly, there is no entry fee, reflecting ASCM’s commitment to inclusivity and its desire to make global recognition accessible to all levels of the profession—from emerging practitioners to multinational corporations.
Winners of the reimagined Awards of Excellence will be honored at an exclusive recognition dinner in September 2026 in Long Beach, California. The event will bring together leaders, innovators, and pioneers from across the global supply chain ecosystem to celebrate achievements, share insights, and network within an environment of collaboration and forward thinking.
Driving the Future of Supply Chain Leadership
ASCM’s revitalized Awards of Excellence reinforces the organization’s broader mission—to transform supply chain management from a functional discipline into a driver of global economic and social progress. Through frameworks like SCOR DS and initiatives such as the Enterprise Standards for Sustainability, ASCM provides professionals and businesses with tools to achieve measurable performance, enhance resilience, and align operations with a sustainable future.
The decision to link the Awards of Excellence directly to SCOR DS also reflects ASCM’s vision of standardized yet flexible transformation—where organizations can benchmark performance, share best practices, and evolve in a way that is measurable, scalable, and future-oriented.
“The SCOR DS model continues to serve as a unifying standard for the global supply chain community,” added Eshkenazi. “By embedding SCOR into the Awards of Excellence, we are recognizing those who are not only adopting the standard but also pushing its boundaries to create better outcomes for business, people, and the planet.”
Celebrating Excellence, Empowering the Profession
The reimagined ASCM Awards of Excellence signals a new era of recognition—one that reflects the dynamic, interconnected, and purpose-driven nature of modern supply chain management. By celebrating achievements rooted in the SCOR DS model, ASCM aims to elevate the visibility of transformative work happening across industries while inspiring the next generation of supply chain professionals to aim higher, innovate faster, and lead responsibly.
As the 2026 ceremony approaches, the program is set to highlight stories of transformation, innovation, and collaboration—proof that excellence in supply chain is not static but constantly evolving. Through this initiative, ASCM reaffirms its role as a global catalyst for progress, empowering organizations and individuals alike to turn challenges into opportunities and build a resilient, sustainable, and high-performing future for supply chains worldwide.