Academy of Innovation for Memphis (AIM)

The Academy of Innovation for Memphis (AIM), a program of the Greater Memphis Chamber, is dedicated to equipping business leaders with the skills they need to improve efficiency and productivity across their organizations.

What AIM offers

The Academy of Innovation for Memphis offers a wide range of in-person and online training, assessment, and consulting services designed to improve the quality and productivity of your organization:

Lean Six Sigma Certifications. AIM offers Lean Six Sigma training at the beginner  (Yellow Belt Certification),  intermediate (Green Belt Certification), and advanced (Black Belt Certification) levels. Depending on the level, training can last from two days to 14 weeks.

Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Performance Excellence Training and/or Assessments. Receive training and/or assessments based on the globally recognized Malcolm Baldridge Performance Excellence Program standards.

Process Activated Training System® (PATS) Training/Implementation. Over two days, participants will learn a systematic approach to formalizing on-the-job training and how to develop behaviorally-based on-the-job training scripts.

ISO Documentation Training/Consulting. Over one to three days, participants will learn how to document critical business processes and how to meet the International Organization for Standardization standards to pass third-party audits.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Training. This two-day course enhances problem-solving effectiveness by providing a model for deeply analyzing problem situations.

Project Management Training. This two-day course teaches project planning, how to manage a project after a launch, and how to manage project teams.

ISO 9000 Internal Auditor Training. This two-day course provides essential tools and the know-how needed to conduct internal quality system audits.

Strategic Planning. This two-day, on-site consultation will guide large, medium, and small organizations in creating a formal strategic business plan that includes identifying their vision, mission, and core values.  The plan will include identifying strategies, objectives and action plans with selected members of your team who will also be responsible for executing the various strategic action plans.

History of AIM

The Academy of Innovation for Memphis (AIM), previously known as the Mid-South Quality Productivity Center (MSQPC), was started in 1988, making it one of the nation’s first public-private partnerships dedicated to improving business quality and productivity in a major metro.

In 2023, the Greater Memphis Chamber rebranded and relaunched the program under the leadership of longtime Executive Director Donn Fisher, Ph.D.