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News & Events

See the Educational Offerings page for new APICS Educational Opportunities
Southern Tier Chapter of APICS- Professional Development Meeting
Cut Through the Hype!
A Fresh Approach to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Selection
Presented by Michael LoSapio
Are you frustrated with your current ERP system? You are joined by the vast majority of companies in this frustration. Survey after survey indicates that 70% to 90% of companies are dissatisfied with their current ERP systems.
There are plenty of theories why implementations have problems, but the key reason is fundamental. The legacy selection process that is commonly used is flawed.
The Typical Approach
  1. Creating a “System Requirements List” for software vendors to fill out.
  2. The arduous task of reviewing “sales demos” in an attempt to decipher the differences.
  3. Checking references to confirm that companies are happy with their systems.
  4. And voila … you have selected the very best system for your company. Or have you?
It all seems very logical, but it obviously does not work if more than 70% of companies using this process end up being unsatisfied with their selection.
Join us as Michael LoSapio provides a Fresh Approach To Selecting ERP Systems.
Get information about the real performance you can expect from an ERP Solution.
  • Learn techniques used by software vendors to make their product shine during a demo.
  • Learn how to request references so the vendor can’t give you’re their best three customers.
  • Learn the web sites and searches that can be used to find information from users.
About the Presenter:
Michael LoSapio, CPIM is a Senior Account Manager with Synergy Resources LLC, an affiliate of Infor Global; Solutions where he is responsible for ERP solution sales for Infor ERP Visual. Prior to joining Synergy Resources he was an implementation consultant for Exact software solutions. A 30 year member of APICS, Mike has served as a chapter president and various chapter board positions. Mike has been an instructor for certification courses and taught Operations Management courses at the collegiate level. Mike has s B.S. and MBA from Gannon University in Erie, PA.
Event Information:
Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Location: Grande’s Pizzeria
1250 Upper Front St. Binghamton, NY
5:30PMSign-in and Networking
6:00PMDinner
6:30PMGuest Speaker
Dinner:Order off Menu
Cost:Members $20. Non-members $25
Excludes beverages.
RSVP by 2/15/12 to Kelly.noreika@lmco.com or call 607-751-7311

Thanks and hope to see you there!
March Professional Development Meeting
March 22, 2012
Presented by Michael Ford
Ice Cream Sundae Production: From Job Shop to Lean Flow

Are you interested in comparing a job shop layout to a lean flow line? Or maybe you just missed dessert? Either way, this session will be an instructive and tasty experience!


This interactive workshop will engage you and your fellow participants by role-playing as customer order entry professionals, production planners, workstation operators, inspectors or hungry customers placing orders. The session involves two major exercises: first, a simulation of a traditional job shop layout; and then, creation of a flow line to demonstrate the improved lean environment.

Attendees will gain knowledge of the following concepts:
  • The advantages of empowerment and engagement
  • Lean improvements in productivity, space requirements, lead time and quality
  • Some secrets you never knew about Lean (which contradict the so-called “experts”)!

This experiential learning session provides valuable lessons learned that the audience will remember years or decades later. Participants engaged in a simulation will retain more information than the standard lecture format.


Scheduled in partnership with ISM. Details coming soon.

Lockheed Martin given the APICS 2011 Corporate Education Award of Excellence

The Southern Tier chapter again wins Silver award for C-BAR!

Your Southern Tier chapter has once again been awarded the Silver level for C-BAR! That’s now 4 years in a row.

C-BAR? What silly acronym is that?

C-BAR stands for Chapter Benchmarking and Reporting Program. It’s APICS’ way of assuring that each local chapter meets APICS’ minimum standards. The chapters are measured against a set of standard criteria. Those who excel – such as our chapter – win awards. Think of it as APICS’ form of quality control; it ensures that the Board of Directors promotes local educational opportunities and does not take a vacation to Aruba with your membership dollars.

As APICS’ corporate headquarters puts it,

Chapter Management Excellence is an integral component to enhancing the member experience. Successful APICS chapters provide their members with opportunities for stellar education, career development, and networking.

The APICS Chapter Benchmarking and Recognition (CBAR) program recognizes chapters that have exceeded minimum standards and exemplify excellence in overall chapter management. We are proud to announce the APICS Southern Tier Chapter received the 2011 CBAR Silver Award designation, an admirable accomplishment for an APICS chapter.

As a member of an APICS Silver Award Winning Chapter, the CBAR designation signifies your chapter’s commitment to providing an exceptional membership experience.

Award levels are Bronze, Silver, and Gold. This year Silver wins a $75 gift certificate for the chapter at the APICS bookstore, as well as recognition in the APICS Leadership Central newsletter and on the APICS website.

If you have any questions about the C-BAR program, please contact Lee Schechter at lschechter@stny.rr.com.

Re-Certification - An outstanding offer is currently being made from APICS for people whose certification has lapsed. The opportunity is limited so you must react soon.

The Southern Tier APICS Chapter is proposing a study group led by a Master Trainer (Either Dave Gardner or me) to do readiness training for the recertification exam. It will be scheduled once we have a roster of interested students. We are entertaining 4 afternoons (16 hours total-probably 2-6pm each session) to review materials from study notes. We will also do practice questions similar to what might be on the exam

The Cost will be $250 plus the book cost. We will use the 2010 APICS CPIM Exam Content Manual which can be downloaded with qualification approval by APICS for free (see http://www.apics.org/Certification/RecertificationExam.htm) and Brian Willcox Study Notes series also from APICS ($147).

If you are interested in this study class, please contact me at dsheldon@sheldoninc.com. If we get enough to sign up, we will run it. Thanks!

CSCP-Certification - Also we will be offering the CSCP (certified supply chain professional) readiness course in the spring. CSCP is APICS?s newest certification program. The cost for this 12 session course will be $825 plus book (which is $800) for Members and $1075 plus book (which is $800) for non-members which will include membership. I (Don Sheldon) will be the instructor. Please let me know if there is interest and we will inform you of the dates early next year.

If you are interested in this study class, please contact me at dsheldon@sheldoninc.com. The Board of Directors has decided to run this regardless of how many sign up

APICS is pleased to announce that a new certification product has been developed this year. The APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) Recertification Exam was approved by the APICS Leadership Team in February 2010.

APICS CPIM Recertification Exam
The APICS CPIM Recertification Exam provides a unique opportunity to individuals whose CPIM credentials have expired and previously were required to retake all five CPIM exams. Instead, candidates now can renew their certification by taking one exam. This exam is a limited-time offering and will be available only through December 31, 2011.

The three-hour exam will consist of 120 multiple-choice questions. The test will include 30 items taken from each of the following modules: Detailed Scheduling and Planning, Master Planning of Resources, Execution and Control of Operations, and Strategic Management of Resources. There will be no un scored items on this exam. 

First APICS Recertification Exam
Candidates will have the opportunity to take a paper-and-pencil exam at the 2010 APICS International Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. The exam is scheduled for October 17, 2010. The next opportunity to take the exam will be in December 2010.

Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for the APICS CPIM Recertification Exam, candidates must have obtained their CPIM before the year 2000 and have expired CPIM credentials.

Eligibility Process and Cost
Candidates will be required to go through an eligibility process that will verify that the candidates previously earned the APICS CPIM designation. Applications will be reviewed, and candidates will be notified if they qualify. Once the application is approved, candidates will be able to register online or by phone with Pearson VUE. There is a non-refundable application fee of $150. The cost of the exam is $425 for members and $575 for nonmembers. Candidates who are unsuccessful on their first attempt can retake the exam at a discounted rate of $350.  

Visit apics.org/recertification to learn more about the program, exam delivery, costs, application information and study options to prepare for the exam.

Dear Chapter Leaders,

Providing APICS certification candidates with the most flexible options for exam testing is critical to the success of our certification programs and a key element of the APICS strategic priorities. Recent updates to APICS certification exam delivery have been well received and are being used increasingly by certification candidates. Following is an update on the APICS paper-and-pencil exam testing and chapter group testing price.

APICS CSCP Paper-and-Pencil Exam Testing


APICS has received an overwhelming interest in the APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) computer-based testing (CBT) exam since its rollout in 2009. Candidates prefer the CBT format thanks to faster access to results, flexibility in deciding when and where to take the exam, and more convenient exam locations.

Taking these factors into consideration, effective January 1, 2011, APICS will no longer offer public APICS CSCP paper-and-pencil sites through ACT in North America. The APICS CSCP exam will be offered in Pearson VUE CBT window format only.

Please inform your chapter members about the APICS CSCP certification update and encourage them to register for the December 4, 2010-January 15, 2011, exam window. Reservations for the December?January window open October 6, 2010.

Chapter Group Testing Update


On Monday, July 26, APICS announced product pricing updates effective January 1, 2011. Effective January 1, 2011, the chapter group testing price will change from $135 to $145, consistent with the advertised member rate for the exam. A list of the 2011 price changes can be found here.

If you have questions, please contact APICS at certification@apics.org.

Sincerely,

Lisa Sallstrom
Director, Certification

The Southern Tier Chapter of APICS, based in Binghamton NY, serves Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. The chapter boasts a membership in excess of 30 members representing over 10 different local and international companies. These companies include Mead Westvaco, Raymond, IBM, and BAE plus many smaller companies. As a professional organization, our members are employed in all aspects of the resource management field including planning, forecasting, inventory control, scheduling, supply chain management and logistics.

Check out the Southern Tier Apicspage
Apics International