I often get asked by recruiters, seasoned practitioners, and those early in their supply chain and procurement careers if it is worth getting professional certification. Does it give an edge to getting hired? Does it increase salaries? Supply chain and procurement professionals considering a certification face a bewildering array of options—there are multiple organizations and certifications from which to choose. Whatever certification you want, you should first make sure it is as widely recognized as possible. The most recognized in the supply chain are the from ASCM, ISM, and CIPS:
- Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) from the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM – formerly APICS)
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) from the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM – formerly APICS)
- Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) from the Institute of Supply Management (ISM)
- MCIPS from Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS)
While acquiring a certification can have a positive effect on your career trajectory, it is a process that requires a considerable outlay of time and money. For individuals in the early stages of their careers, it can be challenging to make an informed choice. Before you select a professional certification, it is essential to know what areas of supply chain management appeal to you.
CPIM from ASCM
If you are early in your career, you will want to have a deep dive into the body of knowledge from a manufacturing/operations standpoint. ASCM’s CPIM is most suited for this. You will learn production planning, scheduling, and inventory management, along with the upstream and downstream processes. The CPIM certification is recognized by employers worldwide as the standard of professional competence, and it has been around for a long time. It covers functional knowledge of production and inventory management, internal operations, planning, and sourcing. According to ASCM, over 100,000 people have pursued the CPIM since its inception in 1973, making it the most recognized of all the certifications discussed here.
What I find most valuable about the CPIM certification is that the training provides everyone with a solid grounding in the terminology and thought processes involved in production and inventory management. As a result, people who have the CPIM share common concepts and terminology that are valuable in the workplace. For example, how you approach manufacturing capacity planning will likely be done similarly by CPIM certified professionals.
Pursuing CPIM certification is a time and cost commitment. It involves preparing for and passing exams in five different modules: 1) Basics of Supply Chain Management, 2) Master Planning and Resources, 3) Detailed Scheduling and Planning, 4) Execution and Control of Operations, and 5) Strategic Management of Resources.
CSCP from ASCM
If you are looking to gain a broad overview, the CSCP is ideal for general supply chain careers. First launched in 2006, over 13,000 supply chain professionals in 78 countries have since gained the CSCP. According to ASCM, it provides you with a mastery of supply chain management best practices and distinguishes you as an industry expert with specialized, high-level knowledge and skills. It covers everything in the end-to-end supply chain. It teaches you to look at the supply chain from a broad perspective; to view the relationships between the areas of the supply chain highway: plan, source, make, and deliver, and see how the overall supply chain integrates.
In a post-COVID 19 environment, employers are seeking more generalists – people with cross-functional knowledge, experience, and skills. The CSCP certification is a way to set you apart from the competition. Supply chain management is evolving into a truly end-to-end process that synchronizes cross-functional activities and includes suppliers and customers. Those that know how to impact the end-to-end value chain will have a competitive advantage in the hiring process.
For today’s supply chain practitioners, employers want to have managers that not only understand the function they are responsible for but also how their processes interact with other functional methods and organizations. It is especially important as the person’s career moves forward, and their responsibilities include more functions.
To become certified as a CSCP, another certification, such as CPIM, is a prerequisite. I found having the CPIM body of knowledge to be most helpful in successfully passing the CSCP exam.
CPSM from ISM
CPSM is ideal if you want to pursue a career in procurement. Launched in 2008 by the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), it focuses on procurement and strategic sourcing. It is very specialized—you will study procurement practices, contract management, financial management, and more. It is useful for early career practitioners at five to seven years in the function, and now want to advance as practitioners. Like the CPIM, the CPSM certification equips professionals with shared language, terminology, and ideas.
CPSM is the gold standard for procurement and supply management. Through an in-depth analysis of supply management functions across industries, the program addresses the realities of supply management, as well as workplace complexities, including globalization, use of technology, and expanded competencies that procurement and supply chain professionals employ to drive value in their organizations. It covers the following core skills and how they integrate with other functions.
- Sourcing
- Category Management
- Negotiation
- Legal and Contractual
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Cost and Price Management
- Financial Analysis
- Supply Chain Strategy
MCIP from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
The MCIP is similar to CPSM, but it is from UK based CIPS, which has broader recognition in Europe. CIPS and ISM have often collaborated and recognize each other’s certifications. Like the CPSM certification, it focuses on procurement and supply management and how these functions integrate with upstream and downstream supply chain processes.
Time and Cost Commitment
Whichever certification program you decide to pursue, be warned; there are significant time and cost commitments. Many employers who place value on these programs will reimburse the costs of class instruction, study materials, and test fees. Many employers will offer onsite classes or allow employees the time needed for off-site instruction.
Is it worth the time and money?
Whether students derive value from the certification experience comes down to the person and his or her employer. It depends on whom you work for because some companies value certification more than others. Before you sign up, figure out if it is going to benefit you and or your firm and whether your employer is going to put a value on the fact that you have completed this type of coursework. And while no education is ‘bad,’ in a sense that we should always be learning, in some cases, you may just be getting a certification for your benefit.
Visit the ASCM, ISM, and CIPS websites for details on cost, qualification, and time requirements for acquiring certification.
According to the three organizations, they all claim their program offers a path to promotions and higher salaries. Throughout my long supply chain career, I find all the certifications discussed here are excellent qualifications that will most likely set you apart from the competition when searching for a job. Having a BS degree is no longer enough of a differentiator. Getting an MBA is highly desired and often required by many employers. In the absence of an MBA, certifications are increasingly becoming a prerequisite in supply chain careers. If confronted with two candidates of equal experience, one of which has a formal certification, a recruiter will almost certainly opt for the certified individual.
Ultimately, a lot comes down to you—you will need to take the time to do your research and think carefully about your own career goals to decide which certification is best for you. The supply chain is changing rapidly, and these professional organizations are changing their offerings to ensure they teach appropriate skills in keeping with the changing times. Once certified, each of these professional organizations has minimum continuing education requirements for keeping up your certification.
If you are going to pursue these programs, it is best to do it early – no more than five to seven years into your career. Beyond that, it is your experience that counts. The key message to take away is this is continuing education and learning is the only way to stay relevant. Upskilling is the only way to keep adding value to your firm.
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