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 Certification

Reminder: Your APICS certification has great college and ultimate career value! If you have earned a CPIM certification it is important to keep it current through training maintenance. As you are aware, your certification has an expiration date. Not having it or letting it lapse can cost you a lot! If you have not yet earned your CPIM or CSCP certification, with this competitive job market, it is time to start

College Credit Recommendations Program

The American Council on Education (ACE) and The New York State Board of Regents recommend college credit is awarded for successful completion of exams in both the APICS CPIM and  APICS CIRM programs. College faculty review teams, chosen based on subject-matter expertise, evaluated each exam to determine college-level equivalency. The college credit recommendations can be used to

• obtain college credit from an accredited college or university
• qualify for job advancement and salary increases
• meet educational requirements for professional licensure or certification
• qualify for veterans' or insurance benefits
• enter new areas of employment

Participating colleges and universities have agreed to consider credit recommendations for both the APICS CPIM and APICS CIRM exams because of the integrity of the ACE and New York State Board of Regents examination review process. To learn how you can earn college credits log on to the APICS website at http://www.apics.org/Certification/collegecredit.htm. You can also contact Don Sheldon, Education Director, APICS Southern Tier Chapter, at dsheldon@sheldoninc.com to get the latest information on classes being offered in the greater Binghamton and surrounding areas.

Many of the top firms in the US require APICS certification for higher level materials and scheduling positions.

APICS certification is recognized world-wide as a statement of your knowledge and expertise in operations. It should be a goal of all operations people to accomplish this important goal.

Your Southern Tier Chapter of APICS will be running certification classes in the fall. Look for announcements in the monthly newsletter and if you have not renewed your membership to APICS do it today. Check out your APICS Southern Tier chapter website at http://www.stapics.org.

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.

CPIM Exam Modules

Basics of Supply Chain Management

Explore the basic concepts of managing the flow of materials in a supply chain. In
the Basics you get a complete overview of material flow, from internal and
external suppliers, to and from your organization. Topics include:

• Elements in the supply chain
• Just-in-Time (JIT)
• Total Quality Management (TQM)
• Manufacturing Resources Planning (MRP II)
• Demand Planning
• Capacity Management

Master Planning of Resources

Explore processes used to develop sales and operations plans and learn to
identify and assess internal and external demand and forecasting requirements.
The course focuses on the importance of producing achievable master schedules
that are consistent with business policies, objectives, and resource constraints. Topics include:

• Demand Management
• Sales and Operations Planning

Detailed Scheduling and Planning

Focus on the various techniques for material and capacity scheduling. The course
includes detailed descriptions of material requirements planning (MRP), capacity
requirements planning (CRP), inventory management practices, and procurement
and supplier planning. Topics include:

• Recognizing Techniques and Practices of Inventory Management
• Mechanics of the Detailed Material Planning Process
• Planning Operations to Support the Priority Plan
• Planning Procurement and External Sources of Supply.

Execution and Control of Operations

Focus on the areas of prioritizing and sequencing work, executing work plans and
implementing controls, reporting activity results, and providing feedback on
performance. The course explains techniques for scheduling and controlling
production processes, the execution of quality initiatives and continuous
improvement plans, and the control and handling of inventories. Topics include:

• Prioritizing and Sequencing Work
• Executing Plans and Implementing Controls
• Authorizing and Reporting Activities for Push and Pull Systems Evaluating Performance and Providing Feedback

Strategic Management of Resources

Explore the relationship of existing and emerging processes and technologies to
manufacturing strategy and supply chain-related functions. The course addresses
three main topics: aligning resources with the strategic plan, configuring and
integrating operating processes to support the strategic plan, and implementing
change. Topics include:

• Competitive Market Issues
• Choices Affecting Facilities, Supply Chain, Information Technology, and Organizational Design Configuring and Integrating Internal Processes
• Evaluating and Managing Projects

Applied Manufacturing Education Series

AMES is a comprehensive set of in-house training courses designed to provide top
quality, entry-level education to professionals within a company or organization.
The AMES courses teach the importance of integrating all areas of manufacturing
and corporate strategic goals. This series is a definite must for companies looking
to improve the knowledge base of their employees.

Master Planning

Explains basic industry concepts and the importance of planning to achieve maximum manufacturing productivity.

Material Requirements Planning

Teaches how to develop and execute a material requirements plan from developing and using a bill of material, through obtaining and interpreting scheduling data to selecting methods and techniques for implementing a material requirements planning system. Course description

Capacity Requirements Planning

Designed to teach the entire CRP process, including calculating capacity, gathering and interpreting necessary data, completing the CRP process, analyzing results and resolving potential problems, and monitoring the company’s output as a function of current resources. Course description

Production Activity Control

Discusses the flow of goods through the manufacturing cycle for maximum productivity. This course covers production activity control in job shop, repetitive, batch, and process manufacturing companies.

Inventory Management

Teaches the principles, concepts, and techniques for planning and controlling inventory at all stages of the manufacturing and distribution cycle, including establishing an inventory management plan, controlling inventory based on that plan, and monitoring performance.

Just-In-Time

Challenges program participants to learn how to improve quality, reduce manufacturing lead times and inventory, focus on waste reduction, and develop productive relationships with customers and suppliers

Fundamentals of Materials and Operations Management

The Fundamentals program delivers the tools needed to master the basics of materials and operations management.  Participants gain a solid understanding of inventory control, planning, manufacturing control, and operations management.   

Fundamentals of Inventory Control introduces participants to essential vocabulary and skills identifying and applying the basic principles of inventory management.  

Fundamentals of Planning teaches participants the principles of effective planning. 

Fundamentals of Manufacturing Control details priority and capacity management through the use of material requirements planning. 

Fundamentals of Operations Management maps out the relationship between goods and services and the operation of the systems.

Introduction to Enterprise Resources Planning

The Introduction to Enterprise Resources Planning course is ideal for ERP project managers, consultants employed as ERP integrators, and organizations beginning an ERP implementation. Introduction to ERP will enable participants to determine if their organization is ready for ERP.Session topics include

1. . Introduction to ERP and the Benefits of Implementation

2. . Developing a Business Case to Justify an ERP Implementation

3. . Business Process Alignment

4. . The Value Chain Process

5. . Technology and International Considerations

6. . Change Management and ERP Implementation

7. . Implementing ERP

8. . Expanding on ERP

Just-in-Time / lean

The Just-in-Time: Lean Operating Principles and Techniques instructor-led course is ideal for manufacturing and service-based organizations that seek to eliminate waste, reduce lead times, and improve quality to zero defects.  The JIT course includes instructor-led discussions, group work, and end-of-session quizzes.  Session topics include 

1. Introduction to JIT Concepts

2. Continuous Improvement Methodologies and Techniques

3. Statistical Process Control and Pull Signals

4. Production Considerations and Material Logistics

5. Planning and Scheduling and Paperwork/Transaction Reduction

6. Human Resource Development and Involvement

7. Integrating and Applying Different Techniques to Business Processes

8. Implementation Considerations

Certified Supply Chain Professional

• Learn to boost productivity, collaboration, and innovation
• Discover how to positively affect lead times, inventory, productivity, and bottom-line profitability
• Understand how to manage the integration and coordination of activities to achieve reduced costs and increase efficiencies and customer service
• Gain the knowledge to effectively and efficiently manage worldwide supply chain activities
• Achieve greater confidence and peer and industry recognition
• Enjoy the potential for career advancement and increased earnings.

Who should pursue the CSCP education and designation?
The CSCP program is for professionals in operations and supply chain management. This designation is ideal for you if you are:

• Interested in more depth of knowledge and understanding in the areas of supplier and customer relations, international trade, the use of information technology to enable the supply chain, and physical logistics.
• A professional who is consulting or teaching supply chain functions
• Working with enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems.

These workshops can be grouped into an area of emphasis such as inventory
management.