APICS CPIM (CERTIFIED IN PLANNING AND INVENTORY MANAGEMENT)

Course Description

The APICS Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) provides a comprehensive body of knowledge, best practices and standards to allow candidates to better respond to supply disruptions, respond to demand variations and manage supply chain risk.

Earning the APICS CPIM demonstrates mastery of an organization’s internal operations and an in-depth understanding of materials management, master scheduling, forecasting, production planning and how it applies across the extended supply chain.

In addition to the guidance that you will receive in the classroom, you will also receive the APICS CPIM Learning System. The Learning System provides access to both printed and digital materials. The online platform also includes learning activities, a personalized study experience, microlearning, and convenient access to reading materials. The Certification Exam is NOT included in the class fees for this course but may be purchased separately when candidates are ready to take the Certification exam.

Audience

This course would be of interest to a Supply Chain professional wanting to enhance career opportunities up to Management level and beyond.

Professional development is highly valued by employers. Employees with just one certification, certificate or credential earn 17% more than those without. APICS certification is particularly in demand, as people with at least one APICS certification earn 25% more than those without.

Additionally, more than just a supply chain degree is needed to increase one’s value in the field. Professionals with APICS certification enjoy a 20% median salary increase, underscoring the tangible value of these industry-recognized credentials.

Prerequisites

Although there are no formal prerequisites for this course, experience in Supply Chain, such as Operations, Inventory, Planning, or Procurement would be beneficial. This is an excerpt from the CPIM Exam Content Manual published by ASCM: “…there is a strong assumption that the candidate has experience and/or knowledge of basic methodologies related to planning and inventory management.”

Those that do not have this experience are recommended to take the “Essential Skills of Operations and Supply Chain Management” class before taking CPIM. This course will give the student the fundamental knowledge necessary to succeed in the CPIM class.

For those that are uncertain, there is a complimentary 50-question (1 to 1.5 hours) test that can be taken and will give the students an indication of their experience and knowledge level. This test is completely confidential It is solely an assessment tool that the student can use in the decision-making process. The test can be found at https://sfvalley.ascm.org/BSCM_Self_Evalu

This is a college level course that provides in-depth Planning and Inventory Management knowledge. This class and materials can stand alone as a valuable professional development tool, however for those preparing to achieve certification designation by passing the exam, a minimum of an additional 100 hours of self-study using the included learning system is highly recommended. With over 1,300 pages of content, it is highly recommended that self-study is done as the class progresses, and that at least 6 hours of self-study is completed every week.

Topics and Course Content

This course will cover topics such as:

• Supply Chains and Strategy
• Sales and Operations Planning
• Demand
• Supply
• Detailed Schedules
• Inventory
• Distribution
• Quality, Technology and Continuous Improvement

Learning Goals and Results

At the conclusion of the course, the participants will be able to:

• Increase inventory accuracy and reduce inventory
• Improve forecasting
• Improve the S&OP process
• Understand the inputs and outputs of MRP
• Manage and apply capacity resource planning
• Work more productively with your company’s ERP system
• Understand strategic planning and how it impacts the supply chain
• Learn from an experienced instructor who provides expertise, insights, and one-on-one guidance
• Network, share experiences, and discuss topics with a diverse group of professionals
• Stay on track to earn your certification with a structured learning experience

Time Investment

This class is 64 hours of classroom time taken in two 2-hour sessions over a period of 16 weeks.