CPIM Certification: Planning and Inventory Management – ASCM (APICS)

Session 1 – Fundamentals of planning and operational management (4 days)

Module 1: aligning the supply chain with business strategy

• Introduction to fundamental supply chain management concepts and their strategic alignment.
• Critical success factors (CSFs) and key performance indicators (KPIs) in the supply chain.
• Supply chain architecture and its different models in relation to business strategy.
• Foundations for understanding the impact of supply chain decisions on financial performance.

Case study:

• Analysis of strategic alignment in a supply chain.

Practical exercises:

• Defining KPIs aligned with given strategic objectives.

Module 2: conducting sales and operations planning (S&OP) to support strategy

• Introduction to the S&OP process and its strategic role.
• The stages of the S&OP process and their objectives.
• Roles and responsibilities of key S&OP participants.
• Fundamentals of demand forecasting techniques used in S&OP.
• Methods for balancing supply and demand by identifying constraints and opportunities.
• KPIs for assessing S&OP process effectiveness.

Case study:

• Analysis of the impact of a well-structured S&OP process on company performance.

Practical exercises:

• Simulating a key stage of an S&OP meeting.

Module 3: planning and managing demand

• Introduction to different demand types (independent and dependent).
• Qualitative and quantitative forecasting techniques.
• Fundamentals of measuring and improving demand forecast accuracy.
• Demand management and collaboration with sales teams and customers.
• Integrating demand forecasting into overall planning processes.
• Methods for managing demand uncertainty and variability.

Case study:

• Analysis of the impact of an incorrect demand forecast on the supply chain.

Practical exercises:

• Applying a forecasting technique to a simple dataset.

Module 4: planning and managing supply

• Introduction to the supply process and purchasing cycle.
• Supplier selection and evaluation criteria.
• Fundamentals of supplier relationship management and negotiation.
• Managing delivery lead times and supply risks.
• The impact of sourcing decisions on costs and quality.
• Key Lead Time and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) concepts.

Case study:

• Analysis of a supplier risk management strategy in response to disruption.

Practical exercises:

• Calculating total acquisition cost for different suppliers.

Session 2 – Optimisation, advanced management and certification preparation (4 days)

Module 5: planning and managing inventory

• Introduction to different inventory types and their functions within the supply chain.
• Inventory management costs (holding, ordering and stockouts).
• Fundamentals of inventory management techniques (ABC, reorder point and EOQ).
• Determining safety stock levels based on demand and supply.
• The impact of demand forecasting on inventory management strategies.
• Measuring inventory management performance (turnover and service level).
• Techniques to reduce inventory levels and improve turnover.

Case study:

• Analysis of the impact of an inventory management policy on customer service levels.

Practical exercises:

• Calculating the reorder point and economic order quantity for a given item.

Module 6: planning, managing and executing detailed schedules

• Introduction to production planning concepts (MPS – Master Production Schedule).
• Material Requirements Planning (MRP).
• Fundamentals of capacity management and bottleneck identification.
• Scheduling and sequencing production and delivery operations.
• Monitoring plan execution and managing priorities.
• Managing changes and unforeseen events in schedules.
• Key Just-in-Time (JIT) and Lean Manufacturing concepts applied to detailed planning.

Case study:

• Analysis of a bottleneck's impact on the production schedule.

Practical exercises:

• Developing a simplified Master Production Schedule (MPS) for a product.

Module 7: planning and managing distribution

• Introduction to distribution network structures and their different models.
• Transport modes and their characteristics (costs, lead times, etc.).
• Fundamentals of warehouse and distribution centre management.
• Planning shipments and customer deliveries.
• Managing distribution costs.
• The importance of customer service in distribution operations.
• Reverse logistics and returns management concepts.

Case study:

• Analysis of distribution network optimisation to reduce costs.

Practical exercises:

• Comparing costs of different transport modes for a given delivery.

Module 8: managing quality, continuous improvement and technology

• Introduction to Total Quality Management (TQM) principles in the supply chain.
• Continuous improvement tools and techniques (Lean and Six Sigma).
• The impact of technology (ERP, WMS, TMS, etc.) on supply chain efficiency.
• Fundamentals of information system integration in planning and execution.
• Methods for measuring and improving overall supply chain performance.
• Introduction to sustainability and social responsibility concepts in the supply chain.

Case study:

• Analysis of Lean implementation in a warehouse.

Practical exercises:

• Identifying waste in a simulated supply chain process.

Module 9: preparing for the CPIM 8.0 exam

• Reviewing key concepts covered in each module.
• Tips and resources for preparing for the CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) exam.