Everywhere you look today, you will find notices of companies downsizing or merging which ultimately results in increased responsibilities for those remaining. With this general trend, which is affecting all industries, employee's responsibilities are growing at virtually every level, regardless of your position as a top-level executive or an account manager. Suddenly, you are hit with new responsibilities.

As the age of the specialist is quickly coming to a halt, employees are finding that a breadth of experience is more in demand than the concentration of knowledge in one specific area.

To help you demonstrate a broad knowledge, MHMS offers a two-tier certification program to its members. Certification is available as a Certified Professional in Materials Handling (CAMH) and as a Professional Certified in Materials Handling (PCMH).

Each provides a definitive measurement for recognizing the professional who has mastered a significant body of knowledge and experience.

Both certifications require the successful completion of a written examination. The CAMH is more general in nature and geared to the entry-level or more basic understandings of material handling. The PCMH involves more detailed planning, design and equipment application knowledge including some analytical capability. In order to continue the use of the certification designations, the recipient must recertify every three years to verify sustained levels of competence.

Certification as a CAMH and PCMH distinguishes the holder of the credentials as one who exhibits the highest standards of competence amid the rapid changes in the tools and technology which have become commonplace to the profession.

MHMS and the Material Handling Institute provide educational opportunities and resources for the materials handling professional to prepare them for certification.

Multi-tasking is a reality! A hard fact of business life is that there is no wizard who can build you a better career. You must do it yourself. You can sharpen your skills and advance your career by building a better you.

For more information on MHMS and its educational opportunities, local chapters, networking and social events, please visit our web site at www.mhia.org/mhms , call our headquarters at 704-676-1183.

Professional Activities is the official publication of the Materials Handling & Management Society. For membership, access the Society's home page on the World Wide Web at www.mhia.org/mhms or contact Bobbie Curtis, Executive Director of MHMS, by calling 704/676-1183. The address is 8720 Red Oak Blvd., Suite 201, Charlotte, NC 28217-3935.