APICS GFTW Online - CPIM Course Descriptions

In March 2005, APICS announced the creation of the Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) designation to meet rapidly changing educational needs in the field of supply chain management. This new program is designed for professionals interested in increasing their knowledge of supply chain management, those currently working in the field of supply chain management, and for those individuals working with enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems.

APICS currently administers two internationally recognized certification programs—Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and Certified in Integrated Resource Management (CIRM). With the addition of the CSCP designation, APICS enhances its validation of the disciplines within operations management, specifically production, inventory, enterprise, and supply chain management. This diagram provides a depiction of the differences between the CPIM and CSCP programs.

APICS retained the services of The Holmes Corporation, specialists in the designing, marketing, and distributing of educational products for association certification programs, to develop the CSCP learning system. The CSCP learning system will consist of a blended learning approach incorporating self-directed study courses, Web-based learning, and classroom-based education offered through colleges and universities, corporations, and the APICS network of local chapters throughout North America.

APICS’ new, highly anticipated CSCP designation will provide individuals with the skill set necessary to understand and manage the integration of activities within today’s increasingly complex supply chains. The CSCP program will prepare individuals to effectively and efficiently manage supply chain activities that span across and beyond an organization’s four walls, leading to reduced costs and increased profits for the company.

The CSCP program will provide in-depth knowledge and understanding in the areas of supplier and customer relations, international trade, the use of information technology to enable supply chain management, and physical logistics.

Who should pursue the CSCP education and designation?
The CSCP program is for professionals in operations and supply chain management. This designation is ideal for you if you are:

Interested in more depth of knowledge and understanding in the areas of supplier and customer relations, international trade, the use of information technology to enable the supply chain, and physical logistics
A professional who is consulting or teaching supply chain functions
Employed in the field of supply chain management
Working with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
An employer wanting to create a common standard of understanding, vocabulary, resources, and frameworks within your company to address your supply chain challenges and opportunities.

The CSCP program will help you advance your career while giving you the foundation to improve your company’s competitive position and profitability.

Course components

The APICS CSCP Learning System is a comprehensive professional development and exam preparation program. It combines print materials with interactive online tools and covers the entire CSCP body of knowledge. Both the self-directed and instructor-led implementation formats utilize the CSCP Learning System as their foundation materials.

Print components

The APICS CSCP Learning System contains four print modules offering more than 800 pages of material. The following is a brief overview of what you will learn:

Module 1: Supply Chain Management Fundamentals

Understand how successful supply chain management adds value to your organization
Learn how to develop a supply chain strategy that aligns with corporate strategy

Module 2: Building Competitive Operations, Planning, and Logistics

Understand natural dynamics within the supply chain to optimize performance and profitability
Evaluate the process constraints and choices within global logistics to establish a plan linked to overall strategy

Module 3: Managing Customer and Supplier Relationships

Effectively use customer data to improve service performance and increase value to suppliers and customers
Understand the strategic importance of purchasing and supplier relationships

Module 4: Using Information Technology to Enable Supply Chain Management

Understand the innovative technologies enabling collaborative commerce and global visibility
Apply technology to enhance performance of distribution, reverse logistics, and global supply chain communications

Each section lists learning objectives, and progress check questions are provided throughout the text.

Online components

The online tools help you determine your initial level of knowledge, create a study plan based on your individual needs, reinforce your studies with practice tests, and track your learning progress through progress reports. The online portion of the course consists of the following components:

Overview
The overview will guide you through the APICS CSCP Learning System.
Pre- and post- tests
These practice tests, consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions each, cover content drawn from the entire system. After each question, you will be provided with immediate feedback, including the correct answer and the rationale for that answer. A running total of questions answered correctly is provided as you proceed through the test. The pre-test results will provide you with an indication of those areas that require the most attention. The post-test results will measure your progress following your completion of the course.
Module-specific tests
Functioning similarly to the pre- and post-tests, the module-specific tests allow you to check your understanding and retention of materials within a given module. The questions include immediate feedback, answer rationales, and reference to the relevant sections in the text so you can review trouble areas.
Online glossary
Accessible any time during the program, the pop-up glossary allows you to look up definitions of terms without leaving your current activity.
eFlashcards
These flashcards will supplement your exam practice sessions by testing your knowledge using an interactive drill-and-practice format.
Reports
Individuals and/or managers can track course progress through a reporting feature that includes pre- and post-test scores and module-specific test scores.

A test-timing feature is available on all tests. It measures the elapsed time and assesses whether you are on track to complete the CSCP exam in the allotted time.

To help prepare you for the CSCP exam, APICS has developed the CSCP Learning System. Based on the CSCP body of knowledge, the learning system is a comprehensive professional development and exam preparation program. It combines print materials with interactive online tools to deliver a customized learning experience.

Try a free demo of the CSCP Learning System today.

To earn the CSCP designation, candidates must pass one comprehensive four-hour exam. The CSCP exam will be administered in paper-and-pencil format on the following dates:

December 13, 2008 - Goal is to be the first exam to offer CBT (Computer Based Testing)

Becoming a CSCP Candidate
The CSCP designation is for professionals who are interested in increasing their knowledge and expertise in the field of supply chain management. This new designation is for individuals who have relevant work experience and would like to advance their careers in this growing field and gain a broader understanding of all of the areas that make up the supply chain.

To be eligible for the CSCP exam, a candidate must meet one of the following criteria:

Candidates must submit an application documenting their eligibility to take the CSCP exam. The CSCP Eligibility Application for the next exam will be posted when the application period begins.

APICS CSCP Subject Matter Experts
The CSCP Learning System was developed under the guidance of recognized experts in the field of supply chain management. These subject matter experts bring their expertise as high-level management executives to validate the CSCP Learning System, leveraging the complex challenges of today’s supply chain.

     Greg P. Allgair
          Chief Logistician, Biohazard Detection
          Northrop Grumman

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     Alan L. Milliken, CFPIM, CIRM
          Business Process Optimization
          BASF

     Peter W. Murray, CIRM
          Global Supply Chain Competency and Development Leader
          DuPont Global Operations

     Chad Stricklin
          Merchandise Supply Chain Manager
          Disneyland Resort

     Robert Vokurka, Ph.D., CFPIM, CIRM, C.P.M.
          Professor and Chair
          Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
          College of Business