APICS Certifications - Professional Advancement through Education

Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

APICS The Association for Operations Management is the global leader and premier source of the body of knowledge in operations management. APICS’ certification programs are recognized worldwide as the standard of professional competence in production and inventory management and enterprise resources management. On March 8, 2005, APICS announced the expansion of its certification programs with the development of the new industry certification—APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) designation. With the addition of the CSCP designation, APICS enhances its validation of the disciplines within operations management, specifically production, inventory, and supply chain management, and the integration of operations within the enterprise.

The APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) certification provides a common platform for individuals to evaluate their knowledge of production and inventory management. CPIM focuses primarily on manufacturing and provides an in-depth view of materials management, master scheduling, production planning, forecasting, and quality improvement within the confines of the operation. Building on the depth of the CPIM knowledge, the CSCP certification will take a broader view, extending the CPIM knowledge outside a company’s internal operations to encompass all the steps throughout the supply chain—from suppliers through the company to the end consumer—and how to effectively manage the integration of these activities to maximize a company’s value chain.

Candidates in both the CPIM and CIRM programs should definitely continue to pursue their APICS certifications. The three certifications (CPIM, CIRM, and CSCP) are completely separate and distinct programs that concentrate on specific disciplines in the field of operations management.  

The APICS CPIM certification provides a common platform for individuals to evaluate their knowledge of production and inventory management. CPIM focuses primarily on manufacturing and provides an in-depth view of materials management, master scheduling, production planning, forecasting, and quality improvement within the confines of the operation. Building on the depth of the CPIM knowledge, the CSCP certification will take a broader view, extending the CPIM knowledge outside a company's internal operations to encompass all the steps throughout the supply chain—from suppliers through the company to the end consumer—and how to effectively manage the integration of these activities to maximize a company's value chain.

Visit the CSCP section of the APICS Web site for more information about the CSCP program.

 

Certification Fact Sheet

  The APICS certification programs, Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and Certified in Integrated Resource Management (CIRM), are recognized worldwide as the standard of professional competence in production and inventory control, supply chain management, and enterprise operations management.  By earning the CPIM and CIRM designations, individuals validate their knowledge and skill set in the field of operations management.  Obtaining an APICS certification shows a commitment to the profession that leads to a sense of accomplishment, demonstrates value to the employer, enhances earning potential, and provides a path to career advancement.

 Individuals who obtain their CPIM or CIRM designations gain

 ·        Specialized skills that boost productivity, collaboration, and innovation

 ·        Knowledge of how to positively affect lead times, inventory, productivity, and bottom-line profitability 

 ·        Expertise that leads to greater confidence, recognition, and professional success.

 Employers who encourage and support their employees in obtaining their CPIM or CIRM designations

 ·        Enjoy a skilled workforce that is better prepared, more knowledgeable, more capable, more productive, and able to contribute to a successful bottom line

 ·        Validate the knowledge and skill set of their employees leading to productivity improvement in the workplace  

 ·        Achieve competitive advantage in the marketplace through a highly trained, confident, and productive workforce.

 About CPIM

The CPIM program provides a common platform for individuals to evaluate their knowledge of the evolving field of production and inventory management. Since 1973, more than 80,000 professionals have earned the APICS CPIM designation. 

 About CIRM

The CIRM program concentrates on the integration and collaboration among the key business functions of product development, sales and marketing, human resources, finance, and operations. Since 1992, more than 4,000 professionals have earned the APICS CIRM designation.  

Go to the CSCP page of the APICS Web site at http://www.apics.org/Certification/CSCP to view the CSCP/CPIM Educational Relationship Diagram. 

Certification Maintenance

Certification Maintenance Background
In 1997, the APICS Board of Directors approved the implementation of the Certification Maintenance Program applicable to the APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory Management (CFPIM) programs. In 1998, APICS began mailing to information on the Certification Maintenance Program, including requirements and deadlines. As explained in correspondence and program publications and notices, the Certification Maintenance cycle for individuals originally certified before 1998 began in August 1997 and ended during 2003. The cycle for individuals originally certified sometime in 1999 began in January 2004 and ended sometime that year. To maintain the CPIM or CFPIM status, individuals were required to complete the application process by their anniversary date. As further explained, failure to meet the Certification Maintenance Program requirements by the communicated deadline would result in the suspension of your CPIM credentials.

Because of the apparent confusion surrounding the first two years of the program, APICS established an amnesty period for candidates originally due to apply in 2003 and 2004. Information about the amnesty program was posted to the APICS Web site and a letter was mailed to all individuals originally due to apply in 2003 or 2004 explaining that APICS was providing them with an additional opportunity to apply for Certification Maintenance without penalty through December 31, 2004. Furthermore, the letter mailed and the information posted on the APICS Web site explained that failure to meet program requirements by the amnesty deadline of December 31, 2004, would result in the suspension of the CPIM or CFPIM designation.

Reinstating Certification
An individual may reinstate his or her certification status by either

 ·   Acquiring an additional 15 CPIM points or 20 CFPIM points per year, over the core 75 or 100 points
 OR

 ·   Completing the full CPIM examination process or the full CFPIM certification process, which includes passing all required CPIM exams and submitting a

CFPIM application.

As of January 1, 2005, maintenance candidates originally due to apply in 2003 or 2004 are required to accumulate the additional 15 CPIM and 20 CFPIM points to reinstate certification status. Applying late, during the amnesty period for example, did not alter individuals. original maintenance cycle. For example, if a candidate originally due to apply for maintenance in July 2003 did not apply until November 2004, his or her next certification cycle will still end in July 2008, five years after the original due date, rather than in November 2009.

For more information log on to the APICS web site www.apics.org/certification/maintenance/default.htm

Suspension

We are writing to you regarding the impending suspension of CPIM and CFPIM designations. APICS is preparing to process the suspensions and to mail official notification of suspension to the individuals who did not fulfill the requirements of the Certification Maintenance program in 2003 or 2004.

 What Does Suspension Mean?
When an individual’s certification is suspended, he or she may not use the CPIM or CFPIM designation and will not be credited with such in any APICS publication or employment inquiry. APICS will retain every candidate’s original certification information and will not revoke the credentials through the suspension process. Suspension means that an individual’s certification status has lapsed and the individual is not currently considered CPIM or CFPIM certified.

 Suspension Communication Policies
The suspension letters may result in customer inquiries for your chapter and it is important that you are aware of current policies regarding communications with customers and members. Once the 2003 and 2004 suspensions are processed, APICS plans to conduct a thorough review of all policies. Until then, we want to help you and your chapter avoid potential liability issues and ask that you follow the guidelines below when interacting with customers regarding certification.

 

  • Am I certified? Chapters should not respond to any such inquiries. If chapters receive inquiries regarding an individual’s certification status, the inquiries should be directed to APICS Society headquarters. APICS requires that all inquiries of this nature be submitted in writing before the request will be considered.

 

  • Keep suspended status confidential.  If a chapter learns that a particular individual’s certification has been suspended, chapter representatives are responsible to ensure that the suspension information is kept confidential. Certainly, the chapter should not include the credentials after a member’s name if the member is not certified, but chapters are not at liberty to communicate that an individual’s credentials have been suspended. To do so may represent a legal liability for the chapter. For example, if an employer asks a chapter representative whether or not an employee let his CPIM lapse, the chapter representative must advise the employer to forward a written inquiry to APICS headquarters.

 

  • Do not contact suspended individuals.  Chapters must not use a candidate’s suspended status as a reason to contact the member or customer. For example, it would be inappropriate for a chapter to contact an individual about upcoming professional development opportunities for points towards reinstating the credentials. Unless the member or customers has personally informed the chapter of his or her suspended status, the suspension should not be referenced or discussed.

 

 

  • What this means for Chapter Reporting (My Chapter) Following the start of the suspension process, you will see the following changes in My Chapter report and view capabilities.

           

Find/Modify Members:  CPIM/CFPIM will not appear for any member whose certification has been suspended.

 Download Reports (Real-Time): When you use CPIM/CFPIM in your selection criteria, only members with current CPIM/CFPIM status will appear in your results. You will not be able to use the Real-time feature to identify members with a suspended certification status.

           Cert Maintenance Status:  This criteria selection option will be temporarily removed on Jan 19th, 2005.

 General Reporting:  Any reports generated containing detail on members with suspended certification will not include any information on their prior certification status.

 Effective, Wednesday, January 19th, 2005, APICS will temporarily disable any chapter/region officer’s ability to view suspended certification detail.  Once an individual’s certification status has been suspended, chapters will no longer be able to view the corresponding certification information.  Just to be clear, this only applies to reporting on members with suspended certification.  You will continue to be able to view APICS certification details for all members with current certification.  Please direct all questions regarding chapter reports to APICS Chapter Relations at chaprel@apicshq.org.

 To receive a copy of the Certification Maintenance Bulletin, contact APICS Customer Support at (800) 444- 2742 or (703) 354-8851 and request item #09033 or download a copy from the Certification Maintenance section of the APICS Web site at http://www.apics.org/certification/maintenance/default.htm.

 If you have questions about the Certification Maintenance Program or the suspension process, please contact APICS Customer Support at (800) 444-APICS (2742) or (703) 354-8851. You may also contact APICS by e-mail at service@apicshq.org  or certmain@apicshq.org

 Sincerely,

Herry Cordoba, APA                                                   
Henri Winfield, CAE Manager, Certification Operations                                 
Director, Membership

 

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