APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) Program

the APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) program is being offered to provide professionals with a program that will help them to better understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.  Since 1973, the APICS CPIM program has educated more than 90,000 professionals about essential terminology, concepts, and strategies related to demand management, procurement and supplier planning, material requirements planning, capacity requirements planning, sales and operations planning, master scheduling, performance measurements, supplier relationships, quality control and continuous improvement.

The APICS CPIM designation is earned upon successful completion of exams after completion of each of the following five courses/modules.  Note: students need to receive approval from APICS to take the exams based on qualifications. Exams should be taken after the completion of each module.

PROGRAM COURSES/MODULES

Basics of Supply Chain Management (Entry Module)

This 10 week module covers the basic concepts in managing the complete flow of materials in a supply chain from suppliers to customers are covered in the Basics module. Areas covered include manufacturing, distribution, service, and retail industries. This includes the fundamental relationships in the design, planning, execution, monitoring, and control that occur. Knowledge of the material in this module is assumed as a prerequisite for the other APICS CPIM modules, which cover similar topics in much greater depth.

Topics include:

• Understanding basic business wide concepts, including understanding various supply chain environments
• Managing demand, including markets and customer expectations
• Designing products, processes, and information systems
• Understanding supply issues including inventory costs, functions, and metrics

Master Planning of Resources (Core Competency Module)

This 10 week module helps individuals explore and be able to apply the principles of demand management, sales and operations planning, master scheduling, and distribution planning, and to identify conditions that require action. This module evaluates knowledge of both supply and demand planning for mid- to long-term independent demand. Topics include:

• Recognizing all demands for goods and services to support the marketplace
• Bringing together all the plans for the business
• Disaggregating the production plan into an executable schedule
• Planning the distribution network and replenishment

Detailed Scheduling and Planning (Core Competency Module)

This 11 week module helps individuals acquire a working knowledge of the tools and techniques for planning of inventory, including planning techniques such as MRP, CRP, lean, TOC, and projects. Understand the effect of using each technique; know standard measurements for inventory, materials, capacity and supplier performance; and recognize when to escalate issues. Topics include:

• Managing inventory, planning material requirements, planning capacity requirements, and procurement and supplier planning
• Recognizing the importance of supply chain management and deploying supply chain strategies related to scheduling, planning, and sourcing
• Translating product-level plans and schedules generated at the master planning level into requirements that can be procured or produced
• Bridging the master planning area with the execution and control function
• Planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and implementing projects that are used to manage the supply of products and services

Execution and Control of Operations (Core Competency Module)

This 10 week module helps individuals learn to translate plans into operational activities and define and apply techniques in the operations field. Topics include:

• Comparing actual output to plans and taking appropriate corrective actions
• Communicating ideas in a group setting and instructing others in tasks
• Creating operational solutions in the face of competing resources
• Explaining the release of work and reporting performance through data collection
• Understanding the execution of quality initiatives and continuous improvement plans
• Evaluating trade-offs and participating in design decisions

Strategic Management of Resources (Capstone Module)

This 10 week module moves your learning to the next level through the SMR module that includes higher-level thinking or strategic planning and implementation of operations. This includes an understanding of how market requirements drive the resources and processes of an organization. Topics include:

Understanding concepts that require a combination of elements and higher thinking within the entire CPIM body of knowledge

• Knowing the relationship of existing and emerging processes and technologies to operations and supply chain functions
• Understanding various business environments
• Knowing how business strategies are developed and how operation strategies are implemented