APICS CSCP

Certification Education

"SA has a desperate need for more Supply Chain Professionals"

The Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program is a new industry educational and certification program created to meet the rapidly changing needs of the supply chain management field. From the manufacturing to the service industry, regardless of whether a company is serving business or consumer markets or is for profit or not-for-profit, the increasingly important role of supply chain management is affecting all organisations. Customers already expect good quality at low prices, and speed of delivery is becoming more important. As a result, effective supply chain management has become essential to successfully compete in today’s global marketplace. The CSCP program takes a broad view of the field, extending beyond internal operations to encompass all the steps throughout the supply chain—from the supplier, through the company, to the end consumer— and provides you with the knowledge to effectively manage the integration of these activities to maximise a company’s value chain.

Benefits of the CSCP program

After earning your CSCP designation, you will 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 persue the CSCP qualification?

The CSCP program will help you advance your career while giving you the foundation to improve your company’s competitive position and profitability. 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

CSCP Domains

The CSCP body of knowledge is made up of the following four domains:-

Supply Chain Management Fundamentals
Building Competitive Operations, Planning, and Logistics
Managing Customer and Supplier Relationships
Using Information Technology to Enable Supply Chain Management

CSCP Exam Preparation

To help prepare you for the CSCP exam, APICS has developed the CSCP Learning System. Based on the CSCP body of knowledge, the learning system is a comprehensive professional development and exam preparation program. It combines print materials with interactive online tools to deliver a customised learning experience.

CSCP Maintenance:- Tel: +27 11 805 5677 Fax +27 11 315 3311

CSCP designees must maintain their certification every five years through the Certification Maintenance programme. A complete document is available on this subject from SAPICS Head Office, via APICS or on the SAPICS Website.

Exam Content Outline

I. Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management (SCM)

This section addresses the fundamental concepts used for effective SCM and will provide the foundation for the APICS CSCP exam. It includes an overview of SCM concepts and the need to align resources with the strategy of the organization. Management and improvement of the supply chain are then addressed. Exam questions covering this area will include elements related to the following:

Supply Chain Management Concepts: A thorough understanding of the roles in a supply chain network and the flow of value through it is required. A broad understanding of the supply chain management processes, objectives, integration, and benefits is also required.
Supply Chain Alignment with Business Strategy: The supply chain strategy should align with and enable the business strategy. Achieving appropriate alignment requires an understanding of the forms of competitive advantage being pursued. It also requires an understanding of the organizational strategy, priorities, capabilities, and the resolution of misalignments or gaps.
Supply Chain Design and Improvement Considerations: The supply chain strategy should be designed with an understanding of the marketplace. It also requires an understanding of supply chain management design and continuous improvement considerations.
Inventory Management: Inventories throughout the supply chain must be planned and controlled for effective supply chain management. Managing inventories, in turn, requires an understanding of the costs of maintaining inventory.
Logistics Fundamentals: An understanding of the logistics function is required. Understanding the role of logistics, types of logistics service providers, and reverse logistics is required.
Market Segmentation: An understanding of market segmentation is required. Understanding the reasons for identifying market segments, ways to segment markets, and understanding the wants and needs of each segment is important.
Demand Planning: An understanding of demand forecasting, the components of demand management, associated linkages, and demand management functional responsibilities and interfaces is required.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Concepts: Effective customer relationship management includes an understanding of the CRM philosophy. It also requires the understanding of the need, scope, elements, and benefits of CRM.
Supply Management Concepts: Effective management of all sources of supply requires an understanding of the components of the total cost of ownership and the considerations in deciding whether to source an item internally or externally. It also requires an understanding of the types of relationships that can exist between a firm and its suppliers, the development of supply plans, and supplier relationship management.

II. Supply Chain Strategy, Design, and Compliance

This section addresses considerations in the design of a competitive supply chain, the processes that support the organization’s strategy, improvement of the sustainability of the organization and its trading partners, and compliance with applicable regulations. Exam questions covering this area will include elements related to the following:

Sustainability: Designing and operating a supply chain requires an understanding of the concepts of sustainable business practices and how to adapt and apply them to a specific supply chain. Knowledge in this area encompasses:
Risk Management: Designing a robust supply chain requires recognizing the sources and forms of risks, the magnitude and potential impact of each, and methods of mitigating each form of risk.
Globalization: Managing globally dispersed sources of supply and demand requires an understanding of the requirements for operating in multiple countries and for moving goods and funds among countries.
Logistics: An understanding of the total effect that globalization and supply chain management has on inbound and outbound logistics is important. An understanding of trade-offs among warehousing, transportation, and logistics services’ decision making is also required
Managing the Supply Chain: Managing the supply chain requires an understanding of the dynamics of supply and demand and the need to balance efficiency and responsiveness in the supply chain. It also requires a set of comprehensive measures that are agreed upon and used by the organizations in the supply chain.
Technology: An understanding of technologies that enable designing, tracking, operating, and communicating among trading partners within a supply chain is necessary. The correct application of appropriate technology is needed for efficient and effective supply chain management.
Influencing and Prioritizing Demand: A thorough understanding of how the members of a supply chain can influence demand and how they may need to prioritize demand when necessary is required.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Effective customer relationship management includes understanding the underlying concepts; enabling technologies; and requirements for improved demand management, customer service, and alignment of customer-facing processes and resources.
Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): Successful implementation of supplier relationship management requires an understanding of the underlying concepts, the enabling technologies, and the requirements for improved management of sources of supply.
Inventory Planning and Control: Inventories throughout the supply chain must be planned, located, and controlled for effective supply chain management. Managing inventories in turn requires an understanding of the total costs of maintaining and not maintaining inventory and the techniques for planning and controlling inventory.

III. Implementation and Operations

This section addresses managing and balancing supply and demand by measuring, analyzing, and improving supply chain processes. Exam questions will include elements related to the following:

Supply Chain Dynamics: Managing supply chains requires an understanding of the dynamics of supply and demand and the need to balance efficiency and responsiveness in the supply chain. It also requires a set of measures that are agreed upon and used by the organizations in the supply chain.
Managing Supply from Internal Sources: Managing supply from internal sources requires an understanding of the operations planning and control processes.
Managing Supply from External Sources: Managing supply from external sources requires an understanding of the basic purchasing processes, selecting suppliers, and evaluating suppliers.
Implementation of Demand Plans: Requires an understanding of the methods for prioritizing and fulfilling demand.
Continuous Improvement: Enhancing the competitiveness of a supply chain requires an understanding of the techniques and tools of continuous improvement and the appropriate application of each.

Earning your CSCP

To earn the CSCP designation, candidates must complete and pass one comprehensive four hour exam. The CSCP exam will be administered in paperand pencil format. Please contact the SAPICS office for the next dates.

Becoming a CSCP Candidate

The CSCP examination is available to individuals who have relevant work experience and education. To be eligible for the CSCP exam, a candidate must meet one of the following criteria:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent, plus two years of related business experience
CPIM, CFPIM, CIRM, or C.P.M. designation plus two years of related business experience
Five years of related business experience
Individuals must submit an application documenting their eligibility to take the APICS CSCP exam

How to go about “ doing ” the CSCP

Currently revision sessions are available from selected AEPs however the majority of CSCP candidates opt to study via the self study method. APICS has provided online tests and support for students. Lecturer led classes may be forthcoming.

Duration

The CSCP can be executed successfully in 3 months although this is quite an undertaking. Many students prefer 6 months. There are only 2 exam dates in the year.

CSCP Exam

Dates 2012

Eligibility, Registration and International Exam Dates

Exam 1	Eligibility Deadline 27 April 2012 Registration Deadline 04 May 2012 Exam Date 23 June 2012	Pencil & Paper
Exam 2	Eligibility Deadline 19 October 2012 Registration Deadline 26 October 2012 Exam Date 15 December 2012	Pencil & Paper

All CSCP exam registration are handled through SAPICS Head Office, call 011 023 6707

APICS CSCP
Material Pricing

CSCP Material Pricing for 2012

APICS CSCP Material Pricing

	SAPICS Member	Non Member
CSCP Leaner Material	R7,500 + VAT	R8,700 + VAT
CSCP Exam	R5,400 + VAT	R5,900 + VAT
CSCP Retake Exam	R3,300 + VAT	R3,600 + VAT
Instructor Led Course	R4,500 + VAT	R5,000 + VAT
CSCP Slide Book	R275 + VAT	R325 + VAT

Students doing CSCP self study just need to buy the CSCP Leaner Material and pay for the CSCP exam.

Students attending an instructor led course in addition need to pay the instructor led course fee and the buy a CSCP slide book.

The Rand price for Exam Fees can fluctuate due to the Forex rate with the US$.

CSCP Leaner Material price includes access to the on-line resources on APICS Website.

All CSCP exam registration are handled by SAPICS on 011 023 6707

SAPICS membership is R680 including VAT per year