Industry Certifications & Memberships

MHI is the largest material handling and logistics trade association in the US. It's the parent organization for several industry groups (including RMI and SMA) and runs the ProMat and MODEX trade shows — the two biggest events in the warehouse industry. MHI membership signals that a company is active in the broader material handling ecosystem, not just pallet rack.

RMI is the industry standard-bearer for storage rack. Its members are the manufacturers who produce pallet rack, and they collectively develop and maintain ANSI MH16.1 — the structural design standard that governs how rack is engineered, tested, and rated in the US. When you see rack that's 'RMI compliant,' this is what they mean.

MHEDA represents the dealer/distributor side of the material handling industry. Where RMI is about the manufacturers who make the rack, MHEDA is about the companies who sell, install, and service it. MHEDA members are the suppliers, dealers, and integrators who serve as the front line between the factory and your warehouse floor.

SMA is a product section within MHI that represents manufacturers of shelving, bins, drawers, and storage systems — essentially everything that isn't heavy-duty pallet rack. If a company makes industrial shelving, modular drawers, bin systems, or specialized storage products, SMA is their industry group.

WERC is the professional development organization for warehouse and distribution center management. It's less about the equipment and more about the people running the operations. WERC members are warehouse managers, VPs of distribution, and logistics professionals who use the organization for benchmarking, education, and peer networking.

ASCM (formerly APICS) is the global leader in supply chain management education and certification. Their CPIM and CSCP certifications are the gold standard for supply chain professionals. For racking companies, ASCM membership signals deep supply chain knowledge — understanding how warehouse storage fits into the broader flow of goods from factory to customer.