Certificate or Certification?

Paul, I am a member of both ISM and APICS. If you are interested in the manufacturing end of the business, my vote would lean towards APICS certification. I think you would receive more insight in to the manufacturing arena with APICS certification.

I was recently laid off after working as a buyer for an Electronics
distributor for 10 years. I was very lucky to get some immediate
offers within my industry but I would really like to work for a
manufacturer and get into planning. Getting a certification will
definitely up my knowledge and help me land a good job with a
manufacturer. I was looking with either going with ISM or APS for
their CPM or CPPM certifications. I read some feedback on both but
I’m still not sure. In your bottom line opinion, which would
you recommend? I know ISM will stop offering the CPM certification
after this year and I would first need to get my CPP with APS
before I can get the CPPM. I guess I would like to know which
certification has more muscle.

Ibarhim, Please email ISM at certification@ism.ws so that we can
advise you on the best course of action regarding the C.P.M. and
CPSM. Dina Giovale ISM

Go to The Institute for Supply Management website and look for the
C.P.M. link ism.ws You can no longer register for the C.P.M. If you
have a college degree you can seek the CPSM credential. Check
website. Also you can call ISM and acquire more information.

Could you advise me how to start and the cost to get a C.P.M.
Thanks

It seems to me that daily more and more is added in to the
procurement area. It is no longer buying, expediting and dealing
with our suppliers, but yet I do not see added employees or
training for current employees.

My company has recently transitioned to SAP and in the process,
Purchasing has taken on the role of AP and Logistics. All price,
qty, ERS, EFT, consignment and freight issues are coming back to
purchasing otherwise there is a blocked invoice and a screaming
supplier. With the current economic situation, changing markets and
prices and freight costs, it's a never ending battle to keep up. I
have to put in an estimated freight cost for every line item of a
contract whether it's one line or 75 lines and if that freight goes
over by a penny, I have to approve it. If I have a set freight term
on the contract and the plant decides to override that for whatever
reason, I also have to approve that because it's different than the
terms of the contract. In the case of dairy where pricing changes
upon shipment, order date, weekly or monthly, I also have to update
the contracts and then go in and find any releases against that
contract (we have over 20 plants) and update those releases. When
do I have time to manage the categories I buy or at least manage
them well? Especially in this economic state we're in? Does anyone
have similar situations with SAP or is it how our SAP team designed
the layout? I'd love to know because this is taking a toll on
everyone in the Purchasing Department.

Purchasing and supply management would be best served if the
profession could unite under one certifying body and a single
comprehensive certification. It's hard for the public or senior
management to get a handle on certification value because of the
ongoing proliferation of "supply" related certifications. Rather
than pursuing multiple certifications that cover much of the same
material I recommend that purchasing and supply management
professionals obtain a much broader perspective on business through
either advanced education or the Certified Business Manager (CBM)
program offered by the Association of Professionals in Business
Management. The CBM certification program is based on an MBA
curriculum and was designed to provide CPAs, C.P.M.s, CPIMs, and
any other specialty certification holders, the advanced
comprehensive business education they really need to succeed in
their specialty or in general management.

I am very active in the Institute for Supply Management and work
with a lot of great people in my area. I agree totally, after
talking with many members, some companies really promote and
acknowledge certifications, others put very little stock on it. The
company leadership makes the choice of value in the company.

I have found that my C.P.M. certification has value for me and a
few fellow professionals. Most other people, including the
management of the company that employs me, place no value on it.

I find companies look for competence in people they employ, for
example here in this case, purchasing or SCM. One of factors in
competence is education (knowledge), Certificate or certification
is expected to provide that. Whether it has Global recognition or
local value depedends on syllabus and its ability to create value.
For example, if a course is on issues of pure local interest like
legislation details, it may not be of much relevance except to
those who are going to be impacted by it. But SCM course, will be
relevant and could have Global impact since it is now a a trend all
over the world as a result of Globalisation of trade.

It is my understanding that many of the professional organizations
have met in the hopes of some of them joining forces, however it
seems that none of them have ever come to any agreement.

To have a truly globally recognised certification, it is imortant
that various Professional bodies (APS, ISM, CIPS) collaborate to
recognise certifiactions provided by one another, I am not sure if
this type of arrangemnt exist. A body I truly respct and recognised
as global is the CILT that is world recognised, I think it is time
our different national Procurement / Supply cahin bodies get of
their high horses and begin to collaborate in the interest of the
profession.

Most professional organizations offer many choices of study. I
study better alone. Many of my friends say a group study is the
only way to go. Do what works best for you. Set a completion date,
this helps you to get focused and meet your goal.

Self-study for certifications can be just as effective as paying
for expensive prep classes. In fact, I attained my C.P.M. through
self study. I did attend one prep class for one of the four modules
for the C.P.M. and was incredibly disappointed in the class.
Basically, the instructor read from the same study guide I had at
home and offered no new discussions or information. It was a waste
of time and money (my company's). Many professional organizations
such as CAPPO will offer members the study guides and other helpful
tools on a loaner basis. Some even offer sample timed tests on CDs.
Just ask!

I agree with Mary - certifications help you earn more money and are
usually well worth the investment. For example, a recent survey of
over 1,200 purchasing professionals throughout the world has shown
that purchasing professionals who have earned the SPSM
Certification earn an average of $13,634.46 (US) more per year than
those who haven’t. Purchasing Magazine''s salary survey
supports similar stats. Multiply that annual premium by the number
of years that you have left before retirement and the cost of
certification (even the expensive ones) is relatively small.
"Lower-paid guys" who do nothing to make themselves more qualified
will always remain the "lower-paid guys." Other surveys have found
that approximately 2/3 of companies do fund training for their
purchasing employees.

I am a believer in education. Certification is a distinction in
your field. There are not many companies that offer compensation to
their employees for study. Even if you accomplish it on your own,
pay for it on your own, somes companies do not value it. It would
be good if we could all work for companies that really support
training in the purchasing area. Much is spent on sales training,
however purchasing usually has a limited budget. We all sacrifice
for something we usually want, it could be time or money. You don't
know when this accomplishment could make the difference in moving
to a better position or possibly changing jobs. It is your benefit.

I had to do all of my work by self study as I did not have the
money for classes. It is the true situation of myself. And I do
agree with you the idea of resorting to books. And reading your
blogs also very encouraging. For my understanding, a lot of
companies are never willing to pay for their employees expenses for
training, especially for trainings from the intenational recognized
organizations. They think the guys will hop away after they got the
certifications. and the people got trained by their self cost
usually wish a higher salary level than their former company can
offer. It is really a contradiction.

I do not see a decrease in the cost of certifications. Most
organizations I am involved with that are offering new
certification programs are increasing the costs. I do believe they
are making a special effort to keep the cost down. If you are just
getting out of college, look for a company that supports
certification and education. Some companies pay for their employees
expenses and offer a increase in salary when they become certified.
I had to do all of my work by self study as I did not have the
money for classes. Also many people offer books at a reduced cost
after they pass the program. Inquire with the professional
organizations and see what they can offer you.

It sounds really good to get certain initials after a name. but the
more expensive process of geting certifications makes the lower
paid persons difficult to get improved, which is very popular for
my friends who just got university certificates from a 4-year
college life, but they have very strong eager to get improved in
their fields for a better occupational planning. Do you think there
will be a trend that the cost to a certification will be reduced
and pupular to open to the lower paid guys?

Charles, You are right, not all certifications are globally
recognized. Some organizations are trying to expand in other
countries, however I don't know what success they have had. Some
seem to be content to work in their own country. When we go from
purchasing to supply chain management, this seems to broaden the
scope on membership in some professional organizations. Mary

It is so refreshing to see that someone truly understands the
differences. I''''ve blogged on this same topic. One point that
I''''d respectfully disagree with is that certifications are
usually globally recognized. While the SPSM is globally recognized
and is being pursued in over 50 countries throughout the world and
ISM has some international recognition, most purchasing
certifications are country-specific. For example, CIPS from the UK
offers the MCIPS which is unheard of among the vast majority of
purchasing professionals in the USA, Eastern Europe, Asia, South
America, and Australia. The Purchasing Management Association of
Canada''''s C.P.P. (not to be confused with the American Purchasing
Society''''s C.P.P.) is viewed as a Canadian certification in other
parts of the world including the USA. Likewise, certifications from
the American Production and Inventory Control Society and the
American Purchasing Society are generally considered "American"
certifications in other countries and, therefore, not tremendously
valued in those countries. Notwithstanding that difference of
opinion, I think it is wonderful that you are promoting continuing
education in this forum. It is really necessary for us all to "push
the ball forward" and get C-level and industry-wide respect for the
purchasing profession.

Great Comments. Very informative article.