IIMM Cochin had its beginning as "Indian Association of Materials Management” Kerala Branch and was inaugurated on 31st May 1975. Twenty five Purchase Executives from Public and Private Sector organizations in and around Cochin, under the leadership of Dr. K.C. Mathews from H M T, Mr. K. V Narayana Murthy from Indian Transformers and Mr.S.K Miglani, from Toshiba Anand Lamps took the initiative in starting the Branch. Mr. K V Narayana Murthy is the Charter Chairman of the Branch.

Various Associations formed in the Sixties in Bombay, Calcutta and Hyderabad as National Associations were combined and formed as Indian Association of Materials Management, with its Head Quarters at Bombay and was renamed as “Indian Institute of Materials Management” on April 23 1983. IIMM is a Charter member of International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM), now Headquartered in Atlanta, USA which has representations in more than 44 countries.

Later, IIMM Trivandrum and IIMM Palakkad were also formed with the encouragement and support from IIMM Cochin.