Production & Inventory Management

Awarding body: American Production and Inventory Control Society


The Certificate in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) was launched by APICS in 1973 to provide a common basis for individuals to assess their knowledge in the evolving field of materials management. Since then, APICS certification has become recognised around the world as a standard of professional competence in Supply Chain Management. The courses are run in collaboration with IPICS - The Supply Chain Management Institute, which is the certification administrators in Ireland and Britain, on behalf of APICS. IPICS may be contacted at Unit 2a Kilnap Business and Technology Park, Old Mallow Road, Cork City, by telephone on (021) 4909700 or on enquiries@ipics.ie .

Course Duration

  • 2 - 3 Years to Complete (5 Modules)
  • Each Module is 9 - 10 Weeks
  • 1 Evening Per Week
  • 7:00 - 9:30

APICS/CPIM Qualification

The CPIM program is currently divided into five modules, each covering specific, in-depth aspects of production and inventory management. A candidate earns the CPIM designation after passing exams for all five modules.

Module 1 - Basics of Supply Chain Management

  • Business-wide concepts
  • Demand planning
  • Transformation of demand into supply
  • Supply

APICS advises, "knowledge of the material in this module is a suggested prerequisite for the modules"

Module 2 - Master Planning of Resources

  • Developing and validating a plan of supply
  • Identifying, quantifying and assessing demand
  • Developing and validating the master schedule

Module 3 - Details Scheduling and Planning

  • Planning material requirements to support the master schedule
  • Planning operations to support the priority plan
  • Planning procurement and external sources of supply

Module 4 - Execution and Control of Operations

  • Prioritising and sequencing work to be performed
  • Executing plans, implementing physical controls, and reporting results of activities performed
  • Evaluating performance and providing feedback

Module 5 - Strategic Management of Resources

  • Aligning the resources with the strategic plan
  • Configuring and integrating the operating processes to support the strategic plan
  • Managing projects and implementing change

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