Cps Mexam Reg Info

8/7/2019 Cps Mexam Reg Info

1/12

ISMs Certifed Proessional

in Supply Management (CPSM)

CPSM ExaM

InforMatIon and rEgIStratIon


2/12

2

What Is ISM?

As the rst and largest supply management institute in the world, the mission o the Institute or Supply

Management (ISM) is to lead supply management. By executing and extending its mission through education,

research, standards o excellence, inuence-building and inormation dissemination including the renowned

monthly ISM Report On Business ISM continues to extend the global impact o supply management. ISMs

membership base includes more than 40,000 supply management proessionals in 75 countries.

Diversity and Inclusion

For ISM, diversity is valuing and respecting individual strengths, viewpoints and contributions, and it is a positive asset in the growth and

success o the supply management proession.

In principle and in practice, the Institute or Supply Management values and seeks a diverse membership. Individual viewpoints and con-

tributions are pursued and respected. Tere are no barriers to ull participation in ISM on the basis o ethnic background, gender, creed, age,

sexual orientation, national origin or disability.

What Is the Certifed Proessional in Supply Management (CPSM) Program?

Te Certied Proessional in Supply Management (CPSM) qualication is designed to lead

the proession by emphasizing the major components o supply management. Endorsed by

business leaders and thought-leaders across the globe, the knowledge, skills and abilities rep-resented in the CPSM reect the expanded education, skills and experience needed to excel

in strategic supply management.

Why You Should Pursue the CPSM QualifcationDemand or strategic supply proessionals is on the rise as man-agers take on more pivotal roles within organizations. Since theearly 1990s, the proession has witnessed a growing ocus onaccomplishing strategic goals related to cost and value. In order tobe proessionally competitive, supply managers must acquire thenecessary strategic skills that add value and enable efective align-ment with key business unctions at the senior management level.

CPSM Requirements

Te criteria or earning the CPSM qualication are:

reeyearsoffull-time,professionalsupplymanagementexpe-rience nonclerical, nonsupport.

Bachelorsdegreefromaregionallyaccreditedinstitutionorinter-national equivalent.

PassallthreeExams,ORi you are a C.P.M. in good standing,pass the Bridge Exam.

Current C.P.M.s (who hold a bachelors degree rom a regionallyaccredited institution) may take the Bridge Exam to attain the

CPSM. Te Bridge is a single exam covering contemporary subjectmatter and material not covered in the C.P.M. Exam, but ound

within the content o the three CPSM Exams. Te Bridge Examwill be available to test through the end o 2014.

o recertiy, CPSMs must earn 60 Continuing Education Hours(CEHs) during their three-year certication period.

Candidates may submit their work experience to ISM beore takingany exams to see i they qualiy or the CPSM. o download theorm, go to www.ism.ws and select Proessional Credentials, thenCertication Forms. Tere is a US$25 charge or this service.

How to Get StartedDecide which exams to take 1, 2, 3 or the Bridge and thestudy method and materials you want to use or preparation. Youmay take as many exams as you like at one time.

o register or your exam, you must rst register with ISM. Regis-tration is available in the ollowing ways:

Online: www.ism.ws; select Proessional Credentials, CPSM andthen CPSM Online Registration.

Phone: Call ISM Customer Service at 800/888-6276 or+1 480/752-6276, option 8. Please have credit card number andISM Member ID number ready.

Fax: ransmit completed registration orm with credit card inor-mation to +1 480/752-2299.

Mail: Complete the registration orm and mail with check or creditcard inormation to ISM Exam Registration, P.O. Box 22160,empe, AZ 85285-2160.

Re-Testing Exams: Tere is a required 30-day minimum waitingperiod beore you are able to re-take an exam.

Computer Exam Fees: USD $265 per exam/ISM members USD$180 per exam.

Registrations are valid or one ull year rom the date you registerwith ISM. Once you have registered with ISM, you will receive ane-mail conrmation within 24 hours that will include schedulinginstructions with Pearson VUE esting Centers.

Once you have passed the exams and you have documented your threeyears o supply management experience and bachelors degree rom aregionally accredited institution, you may apply or your CPSM. TeCPSM application is available on the ISM Web site. Select Proes-sional Credentials, then Certication Forms. You may also call ISM

Customer Service at 800/888-6276 or +1 480/752-6276, option 8,to have one mailed to you.


3/12

3

Studying or the Exam/Preparation Materials

Tere are a variety o ways to prepare or the exam. Please notethat ISM does not require the purchase or use o our study mate-rials. Here are some suggestions or study materials:

ReviewtheCPSMStudy Guideand ISM Proessional Series.

Takethepracticetest(s)intheCPSMDiagnostic Kitto nd

areas that need strengthening. StudytheCPSMSupplementaryReadingListandatleastone

supply management college text.

Takesupplymanagementcoursesatalocalcollegeoruniversity.

Readvariousprocurement,supply,businessandtradepublications.

Regardless o the study methods selected, each candidate shouldbe aware o the need to use a variety o sources or study. Pleaseremember: Te CPSM Study Guideprovides a general overviewo the subjects covered in the exam. It is not meant to serve as asubstitute or major textbooks in the eld. Te exam may includematerial NO covered in detail in the Study Guide.

The CPSM Exam

Te CPSM examination process consists o three separate examswhich together will cover the main components o supply manage-ment. Exam content addresses todays supply environment and

workplace complexities, such as risk, strategic sourcing, technologyand the increased skills needed or supply proessionals to drivevalue in their organizations.

Te CPSM Exam is a proessional qualications test. Te examwill NO evaluate or gauge how good you are or will be as asupply manager. It also does not indicate whether one candidate isa better supply manager than another candidate. It is not designed

to rank candidates against each other.Te likelihood o passing the exam is in no way afected by the per-ormance o other candidates. Your standing on the exam remainsthe same regardless o how well the other candidates score on thetest. Tere are no quotas or curves used on this exam.

CPSM Exam scores are valid or three years.

Who Should Take the CPSM ExamCandidates who meet the CPSM educational and work experi-ence requirements are eligible to take the CPSM Exam. estingor any other reason is strictly prohibited.

How the CPSM Exam Was Constructed

As a prime example o an occupational test, it is important to notethat the CPSM Exams are not nal exams in the eld o supplymanagement. Te exams are not designed to cover the content oany particular course or curriculum in the area o supply manage-ment. Rather, they are designed to reect the knowledge areasneeded to perorm the important occupational duties o proes-sionals employed in the eld o supply management. In developingthe CPSM Examination Specications, ISM drew upon the knowl-edge, expertise and skill sets o supply management proessionals

who were at the manager level or above rom organizations with rev-enues o more than US$1 billion. Te proessionals came rom var-

ious industries and areas within supply management to determinethe content o the examinations.

Number o Questions and Length o Time Allotted or Each Exam

Exams 1, 2 and 3 each contain 15 questions that are given solely orresearch purposes they are not used in the determination o yourscore. All questions appearing on the Bridge Exam will be used indetermining your score. Note that the unscored questions are inundisclosed and varied locations throughout the test. You shouldthereore perorm to the best o your ability on all questions.

Exams 1 and 2: 2 hours, 45 minutes are allowed to complete eachexam.

Exam 3 and Bridge: 3 hours are allowed to complete each exam.

Computer Exam Test Site Inormation

Pearson VUE is a worldwide provider o technology-based solutionsor testing and certication needs. Some locations have weekend orevening hours available. Visit www.pearsonvue.com/ism or details.

Computer Exam Confrmation

Ater ISM receives your registration, you will receive an e-mailconrmation within 24 hours (this may be delayed i registering

by phone, ax or mail) containing the ollowing:

1. Scheduling instructions with Pearson VUE esting Centers.

2. Your candidate ID number.

3. Instructions or items to take to the exam.

Making Your Appointment

Once you receive your conrmation rom ISM, please wait at least12 hours beore attempting to schedule your exam(s). Appointmentdates are given on a rst-come, rst-served basis. We recommendyou schedule your appointment as soon as you are able in order toget your desired date.

o schedule your exam, please use the Pearson VUE schedulinglink in your conrmation e-mail. You may also call Pearson VUEtoll-ree at 888/273-2971. When calling to schedule, please haveyour ISM candidate ID number that was provided in your conr-mation.You must wait 30 days before re-taking an exam.

Note:Pearson VUE conducts other tests unrelated to ISM and canexperience heavy volume during certain months. Plan to schedule

well in advance or your exam, especially i you are planning to takemultiple exams in one day.

Canceling/Rescheduling Your Appointment

You must contact Pearson VUE by e-mail or phone 24 hours prior to

your scheduled exam start time (local testing center time) or you willoreit your exam ees. For example, an exam scheduled on uesday at10 a.m. must be cancelled or rescheduled beore 10 a.m. on Monday.I you contacted Pearson VUE on Monday at 10:15 a.m. you wouldoreit your exam ees.


4/12

4

To Change Exams

Please cancel existings appointments with Pearson VUE rst, thene-mail your request to ISM at [email protected] or submit it by axto +1 480/752-2999. You will be re-registered and receive a newconrmation within 24 to 48 hours to schedule your exam.

Computerized Testing

Q: How much computer experience is needed to test?

A: No experience is necessary. Candidates receive an online tutorial onthe testing process. Tere is also a test center administrator available.

Q: Can I review my answers during the test?

A: Candidates may ag questions to be reviewed ater all questionshave been answered. I time remains, you may return to questionsmarked or review or may change an answer. All marked andunmarked questions are graded when the test ends, even i the candi-date has not marked a response to each question.

Special Accommodations

I you have a disability that would prevent you taking the CPSMExam under standard conditions, you may request special accom-modations. Please indicate your request when registering or yourexam with ISM.

Test Center Protocol and Dismissal From Exam

Plan to arrive 30 minutes beore your exam time. If you are morethat 15 minutes late, you will be considered a nonrefundableno show. Candidates cannot bring personal items into the testingroom. Items such as a cell phone, BlackBerry or PDA are prohibited.

A candidate may be dismissed rom the exam, at the discretion othe proctor, or improper or disruptive behavior. Grounds or dis-

missal include:

Creatingadisturbance

Givingorreceivinghelp

Attemptingtoremovetestmaterialsornotesfromtheexamination room

Impersonatinganothercandidate

Falsifyingidentication

I.D. RequirementsFor your exam, you must bring one valid photo I.D. with a signa-ture that reects the name on your exam registration I the name

on your I.D. is diferent rom the name on your exam registration,please contact ISM immediately. Your I.D. MUS be one o theollowing:

DriversLicense*;Passport*;MilitaryI.D.*;OcialState,Govern-ment or National I.D.; Employee I.D.; Student I.D.; Photo CreditCard

No other orms o I.D. will be accepted.

*Drivers License, Passport and Military I.D.s that have a digital sig-nature encoded will only be accepted as valid I.D. i accompanied byanother valid I.D. with signature.

I you are unable to produce a valid I.D. matching the name shown on

your confrmation on the day o your exam, you will not be allowed totest andall registration ees will be oreited.

Biometrics

ISM uses biometrics in various test centers worldwide. Biometricsare automated methods o recognizing a person based on a physicalcharacteristic, and are primarily used to combat identity raud. Onemethod involves the examinee placing a nger on a scanner, whichresults in an electronic ngerprint.

Exam 1:

Foundation o Supply Management165 questions 150 scored 2 hours, 45 minutes

Section A.Contracting and Negotiation (32 questions)

1A1 Prepare solicitations for competitive bids, quotations and proposals withpertinent specifications, terms and conditions (6 questions)

1A2 Prepare for and develop strategies and tactics for negotiations, includingdefinition of roles and responsibilities of team members (8 questions)

1A3 Lead/conduct/support negotiations with suppliers to obtain desired results

(8 questions)1A4 Manage the preparation and/or issuance o contracts/purchase orders/agreements (6 questions)

1A5 Administer contracts/purchase orders from award to completion ortermination (4 questions)

Section B.Cost and Finance (32 questions)

1B1 Prepare and/or administer a supply management department budget(5 questions)

1B2 Develop cost management program strategies for purchases (6 questions)

1B3 Identiy savings potential opportunities and strategies or speciic categoriesthrough spend analysis (7 questions)

1B4 Perform cost/benefit analyses on acquisitions (8 questions)

1B5 Develop financing and leveraging strategies for purchases (6 questions)

Section C.International (17 questions)

1C1 Identiy and assess international markets to source goods and services(7 questions)

1C2 Develop international sources of materials and services (6 questions)

1C3 Develop and maintain documentation regarding cross-border transactions(4 questions)

Section D.Social Responsibility (14 questions)

1D1 Develop and act upon a code o business conduct or the supplymanagement function and external suppliers (5 questions)

1D2 Establish and monitor environmentally responsible and compliant programsthroughout the supply chain and life cycle (5 questions)

1D3 Implement, monitor and promote organizational and supply chain safetypolicies and procedures (4 questions)

Section E.Sourcing (20 questions)

1E1 Analyze potential sources of goods or services (6 questions)

1E2 Evaluate competitive oerings to determine the overall best oer or aproduct/service (7 questions)

1E3 Plan and communicate sourcing and supply strategies based on orecasteddata (7 questions)

Section F.Supplier Relationship Management (35 questions)

1F1 Identify opportunities and benefits for rationalizing supply base (6 questions)

1F2 Develop/manage effective relationships with suppliers (8 questions)

1F3 Develop/implement a supplier diversity program (5 questions)

1F4 Develop new supplier qualification plans and reports to assure components,materials and suppliers meet specified requirements (regulatory, safety,reliability, quality) (6 questions)

1F5 Conduct supplier performance evaluations (6 questions)

1F6 Develop and execute supplier exit strategies (4 questions)


5/12

5

Exam 2:

Eective Supply Management Perormance165 questions 150 scored 2 hours, 45 minutes

Section A.Forecasting (19 questions)

2A1 Perorm analysis and provide data on current and uture and global/domesticmarket conditions, benchmarks and industry trends to management and/oruser departments (6 questions)

2A2 Develop supply forecasts in light of economic, competitive, technology andmarket and currency trends and conditions that aect procurement(7 questions)

2A3 Manage forecasted data with suppliers (6 questions)

Section B.Logistics (19 questions)

2B1 Design/modiy logistics acility layouts and equipment designs to supportbusiness model, increase productivity and lower operating costs(4 questions)

2B2 Direct traffic/distribution policies and procedures to ensure optimum flow ofmaterial and consolidation of freight (5 questions)

2B3 Manage international transportation, invoicing and documentation functionsto ensure corporate compliance with all governmental import, export, hazmatand air freight regulations (5 questions)

2B4 Manage the resolution o delivery/receiving problems including reight lossand damage claims (5 questions)

Section C.Materials and Inventory Management (19 questions)

2C1 Develop/implement a material and/or service standardization program

(6 questions)2C2 Develop/implement a warehouse and inventory management system

(4 questions)

2C3 Coordinate and/or monitor the movement of equipment and assets within theorganization (4 questions)

2C4 Develop, oversee and execute multichannel disposition plan for excessinventory and finished goods (5 questions)

Section D.Organization/Department Assessment (26 questions)

2D1 Monitor work against business plans and take action to resolve variances oradjusts plans as appropriate (7 questions)

2D2 Develop perormance criteria and evaluate supply management staperformance (6 questions)

2D3 Develop tools and processes to measure, report and improve compliancewith supply management policies (7 questions)

2D4 Analyze and resolve issues raised in supply management audit reports

(6 questions)Section E.Planning (15 questions)

2E1 Implement or utilize requirements planning (xRP e.g., ERP, MRP, MRP II,DRP, DRP II, WMS) to align supply management and operations activities tosupport organizational strategy (8 questions)

2E2 Develop, implement, maintain and monitor the forecasting, operationsplanning, scheduling and inventory control functions to ensure optimum useof capacity and resources (7 questions)

Section F.Product Development (12 questions)

2F1 Participate in product/service development or speciication/requirementchanges that support organizational merchandising and marketing efforts tomeet customer needs (6 questions)

2F2 Manage ramp-up strategy and implementation to ull-scale production ornew product introductions (6 questions)

Section G.

Project Management (19 questions)2G1 Perorm project management activities representing the supply management

organization (9 questions)

2G2 Implement a continuous improvement process within the supply chain inaccordance with organizational objectives (10 questions)

Section H.Quality (21 questions)

2H1 Develop/administer a supplier certification program (6 questions)

2H2 Develop measurements or continuous quality improvement and targetsetting (8 questions)

2H3 Develop, measure and evaluate quality requirements to continuously improvesupplier performance (7 questions)

Exam 3:

Leadership in Supply Management180 questions 165 scored 3 hours

Section A.Leadership (96 questions)

3A1 Represent the supply management organization in decisions related tothe organization-wide or project objective setting, budgeting, staffing andpolicies (6 questions)

3A2 Develop and implement business plans that will meet customer service,corporate profit and return-on-equity goals (6 questions)

3A3 Develop, implement and monitor a strategic supply management plan andoperating plan based on market conditions, business needs and availableresources (5 questions)

3A4 Plan/develop/provide operating policies, guidelines and procedures; modifyas necessary in order to achieve the optimal structure (5 questions)

3A5 Develop/implement changes to the organizations supply managementpolicies as needed (5 questions)

3A6 Participate in company acquisitions, and/or mergers, and/or divestitures toassure the continuity o supply and capture synergy opportunities(6 questions)

3A7 Represent the supply organization in meetings with corporations,government agencies, professional associations and other organizations(6 questions)

3A8 Lead or participate in cross-functional and/or multifunctional teams(e.g., project management, process improvement, international teams)(8 questions)

3A9 Disseminate information and promote training related to supply management

policies and procedures (5 questions)3A10 Market the value of strategic sourcing and sourcing strategies and initiatives

to management and internal customers (5 questions)

3A11 Evaluate the supply management organizational structure and modify asnecessary in order to achieve the optimal structure (5 questions)

3A12 Hire, develop, retain, promote and/or dismiss supply management personnel(5 questions)

3A13 Supervise and lead human resources to achieve initiatives (5 questions)

3A14 Conduct/authorize job training for the professional development of the staff(5 questions)

3A15 Develop/manage/evaluate/measure relationships with internal departments(5 questions)

3A16 Develop/utilize criteria for evaluating supply management departmentperformance (5 questions)

3A17 Conduct role design evaluation and potential job redesign requirements(5 questions)

3A18 Create and manage a succession plan, allocating work assignments in sucha way as to provide career development and growth opportunities(4 questions)

Section B.Risk and Compliance (32 questions)

3B1 Develop, implement and manage a risk profile and strategies in accordancewith existing contracts, applicable laws, regulations and organizational policy(4 questions)

3B2 Develop and implement a risk management and/or claims managementprogram (i.e., copyright violation, patent infringement, harassment)(3 questions)

3B3 Implement supply management processes in consideration o legal issues(5 questions)

3B4 Develop/implement/maintain a database/physical iling system o relevantinformation (3 questions)

3B5 Verify the existence, accuracy and completeness of relevant financialtransactions and commitments to third parties (4 questions)

3B6 Assess risk rom end o lie-cycle issues in the marketplace and establishproper risk mitigation contingency plans or all components in the product(5 questions)

3B7 Manage and control the storage/disposal of hazardous/regulated materialsand related documentation (4 questions)

3B8 Comply with programs that prevent and respond to discrimination orharassment (4 questions)

Section C.Strategic Sourcing (37 questions)

3C1 Establish and execute strategic sourcing plans, in congruence withorganizational objectives and sourcing strategies (7 questions)

3C2 Establish and standardize strategic sourcing procedures and businessprocess improvements (6 questions)

3C3 Identify, evaluate, select and implement technologies that support supplymanagement functions throughout the organization (6 questions)

3C4 Leverage spend through identification, prioritization, development andexecution of strategies (7 questions)

3C5 Conduct analysis to determine insourcing or outsourcing strategy(6 questions)

3C6 Create new systems and process improvements to help the organizationmeet sales goals (5 questions)


6/12

6

Scoring, Equating and Scaling

While the content o the CPSM Exam remains consistent romorm to orm, the questions used in the exam are continually beingupdated. For example, a test orm taken on one occasion will con-tain diferent questions rom a test orm taken on another occa-sion.Becauseofthis,thelevelofdicultywillvaryslightlyfromorm to orm. o compensate or these variations, a statistical pro-

cedure known as test equating is used to correct or diferences intestformdiculty.

As an example, suppose that there are two orms o Exam 1: Form Aand Form B. Suppose it is established that in order to pass Form A, aperson must get 100 out o 150 questions correct. Furthermore, sup-pose that Form B is somewhat easier than Form A. o compensate orthis diference, the passing score or Form B is adjusted to prevent anybonus being given to candidates taking Form B. Tus, it may beestablished that a candidate must get a score o 110 out o 150 onForm B in order to pass. Tis is what is done in test equating itholdscandidatestothesamestandardintermsofdicultyregardlesso the orm taken.

o maintain consistency in test scoring, a second statistical proce-dure called scaling is used. Scaling on the CPSM Exam convertsall scores to a scale ranging rom 100 to 600, with the passing scoreset at 400. Scores received rom ISM are reported as scaled scoresin increments o 10. I your scaled score on any particular exam isin the range o 100 to 390, youve ailed that exam. I your scaledscore is in the range o 400 to 600, youve passed that exam.

Task Scores and Weighting Process or Tasks

A group o practitioners and subject matter experts (SMEs) deter-mined the weight o each task area compared to all other task areasin a particular module. Te nal weight assigned to each task deter-mines the number o questions on the exam rom each task.

Value o Each Exam Question

Candidates receive one point or a correct answer and zero pointsor an incorrect answer. Sample questions are not used to determinescores. Candidates are advised to choose an answer or every examquestion, even i they are unsure o the correct answer.

What If I Fail?

Your score report will indicate pass or ail or each exam taken.Te score report includes a scaled score and the number o questionsanswered correctly out o the total number related to each task.Reviewing the number o questions answered correctly or each task

or a exam ailed will provide a general idea o the areas that gave thecandidate the most trouble. Tis may help in planning a course ostudy during the required 30-day waiting period to re-test.

Cancellation o Scores

Te candidate hereby agrees and understands that certication maybe denied or revoked, or CPSM Exam scores may be invalidated bythe Certication Committee o ISM in the event that the committeedetermines that (A) an individual has (i) alsied or misrepresentedinormation on the registration orm or inormation provided is inerror, including documentation o Continuing Education Hours(CEHs) or recertication; (ii) participated in an unauthorized disclo-sure o Exam questions, inormation or materials; (iii) plagiarizedquestions and/or answers on the Exam; (iv) mailed, received, relayed

in any ashion, or used copies o the Exam materials, questions oranswers without authorization rom ISM; (v) retained the Exammaterials ater the examination; (vi) engaged in cheating or othermisconduct or unproessional behavior with respect to taking,administering or preparation or the Exam; or (vii) ailed to adhereto the Principles and Standards o Ethical Supply Management Con-duct, or (B) (i) there is a testing irregularity with respect to theExam; (ii) there is a reason to question the Exam scores validity;

or (iii) the Exam score was the result o unusual or questionablecircumstances.

Te candidate grants ISM authority to make any and all inquiries,investigations or other communications that may be necessary orthe committee to grant, deny, revoke or invalidate scores. Te can-didate agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions set orthherein and by any and all policies and procedures o ISM applicableto the Certied Proessional in Supply Management program.

Retention o Score Reports

Candidates are responsible or retention o their original scorereports. Score reports are required when applying or CPSM orig-

inal certication or recertication. Scores are valid or three yearsrom the exam date.

Score Appeals ProcessWritten requests or re-scoring may be made to ISM i the candi-date wishes to dispute the results o an examination score. Resultso re-scoring will be nal. All requests or re-scoring must be made

within six months o the test date and must be submitted inwriting. Re-scoring provides verication o score accuracy and doesnot change the determination o the correctness o a question(s).E-mail all appeals to [email protected].

CPSM

Recertifcationo recertiy, CPSMs must earn 60 Continuing Education Hours(CEHs) during their three-year certication period. At least 40 CEHsmust be educational in nature. Up to 20 CEHs may be earned in theContributions to the Proession category.

Categories or earning CEHs include:

Collegecourses(takenortaught)

Continuingeducation(takenortaught)

Contributionstotheprofession

CPSMExam(butonlyinthelastyearofqualicationorduring the one year grace period)

ISM does not need to pre-approve CEHs or recertication.

LifetimestatuswillnotbeoeredfortheCPSM.

Please notiy ISM Proessional Credentials when you move or changejobs. We may attempt to notiy individuals when their designa-tion is up or renewal.


7/12


8/12

8

Types o Questions in the CPSM Exam

All o the questions used in the CPSM Exam are of the multiple-choice type, with four options per question (labeled A, B, C andD), only one of which is correct. There are, however, several variations on this type of question appearing in the exam. The mostcommonly used ormats are:

Closed-Stem Item:In this type o question, the examinee isasked a question and given our possible answers rom whichto choose.

Example:

Which of the following is a statement from a shipper listingcontents of multiple shipments?

(A) A manifest

(B) An independent inspection certificate

(C) A commercial invoice

(D) A dock receipt Answer: A

Sentence Completion Item:This question is characterizedby an incomplete sentence, ollowed by options that repre-sent conclusions to that sentence.

Example:

Leading supply management organizations typically includecontinuous improvement clauses within their contracts, inorder to target cost, quality and

(A) innovation enhancements

(B) customer responsiveness

(C) cycle times

(D) supplier performance Answer: D

EXCEPT Format:In this type o question, an examinee isrequired to recognize that there are three correct responseswithin the question. The respondent does this by identiyingthe incorrect option. A variation on this type o question isto use the word NOT instead o EXCEPT in the stem, in theorm o,Which one o the ollowing is NOT

Example:

Acquiring material on consignment may allow the supplymanagement professional to save on all of the followingEXCEPT

(A) interest costs

(B) storage costs(C) cost of obsolescence

(D) taxes Answer: B

MOST/LEAST/BEST Format:This type o question requiresthe examinee to identiy which option is better or worse thanthe others.

Example #1:

Which of the following forms of payment for international pur-chases is generally MOST favorable to the buying organization?

(A) Cash in advance

(B) Draft

(C) Letter of credit

(D) Open account Answer: D

Example #2:

Which of the following is the LEAST important concern

when contracting for the design and manufacture of a specialcomponent?

(A) The ownership of the design

(B) The location of the supplier

(C) The right to apply for a patent

(D) The ownership of special tooling Answer: B

Master List Format:This type o question is actually severalquestions in one. Here, the options are presented irst, ol-lowed by several questions, all o which apply to thoseoptions. It is important to note that each option can be used

once, more than once, or not at all by the questions.Example (only on paper-and-pencil exams):

Questions 1-3 refer to the following cost-type contracts:

(A) Cash-flow budget

(B) Flexible budget

(C) Zero-based budget

(D) Line-item budget

Choose rom the list above the type o budget that is BEST

described by each of the following. A choice may be usedonce, more than once, or not at all.

1. In this type of budget, funds are made available asexpenditures are required. Outlays are forecast overperiods of time.

2. This type of budget changes depending upon varyingconditions, such as increased or decreased output.

3. This type of budget is formatted to show individualexpenses during the budgetary period, without tyingthose expenses into programs or goals.

Answers: A, B, D


9/12

Exam Process Levels

In addition to the variety of question formats previously described, the CPSM Exam presents test questions at varying levels o dii-culty or learning. These levels range from questions that require the mere recall of material to questions that require the candidate toapply his or her knowledge to a novel situation. A description of each of these levels, along with sample questions, appears below.

Recall:This is the lowest or easiest level o learning. Ques-tions written at this level are those that demand the recall oideas, material or phenomena related to the topic o interest.The process used to correctly answer such questions is theexaminees memory o the material. Questions in this cate-gory ask individuals to deine, identiy and select inormation.

Example #1:

The type o document used to enter into an interim agreement

pending a definitive contract, so as to permit the start ofdelivery, is called a

(A) letter of intent

(B) purchase order

(C) customized contract

(D) standard contract Answer: A

To correctly respond to the question above, the examinee hasto recall the definition of a letter of intent.

Example #2:

The charge assessed by a railroad against a shipper that holds

a rail car beyond the free time allowed is called

(A) absorption

(B) demurrage

(C) drayage

(D) dockage Answer: B

To correctly respond to the question presented in Example #2,the examinee has to recall the definition of demurrage. For bothexamples, the form of the question is not much different fromthe way in which the actual definition of the term is stated intextbooks and other learning materials.

Comprehension:The second level o questions deals withthose that test or comprehension. Questions in this categoryrequire the examinee to grasp the meaning o the materialpresented in some novel way. The question testing orcomprehension describes some principle or act in words di-erent rom those used in textbooks, and oten uses somenovel situation as a way to present an idea. In order to get itright, the examinee must recognize the principle demon-strated in the question memory alone will not be suicientor getting the correct answer.

Example #1:

A supply management proessional decides to issue a separate

purchase order for each of several items, instead of combiningthe items on a single purchase order. The probable result ofthis policy will be a decrease in the

(A) overall number of purchases made by the organization

(B) average cost of processing a purchase order

(C) number of purchasing errors

(D) amount of staff needed by purchasing Answer: B

To correctly answer the question in this example, the exam-inee must recognize the consequences of using separate pur-chase orders. The examinee is asked to make an estimate orprediction based upon the circumstances described in the

question.

Example #2:

A supply management proessional orders paint rom a supplier

and specifies that the paint must dry tack-free in four hours,and dry hard in 12 hours. These specifications are examples of

(A) engineering specifications

(B) performance specifications

(C) restrictive specifications

(D) technical specifications Answer: B

To answer this question correctly, the examinee not only mustknow the definition of performance specifications, but alsomust be able to recognize circumstances which illustrate thisdefinition.

Application:Application questions measure the understandingo ideas or content to a point where the examinee can apply itto an entirely new situation. The objective o these questionsis to test whether the examinee can use the knowledge in anappropriate manner in a real-lie situation.

Example:

A certain byproduct of GHI Corporations manufacturing processis expensive to dispose of and does not decompose easily. GHIssupply management professional is tasked with identifying waysto reduce disposal costs associated with this byproduct. Giventhis situation, which of the following is the BEST course ofaction for the supply professional to take?

(A) Re-engineer processes to eliminate production of thebyproduct.

(B) Sell the byproduct to another manufacturer who has aneed for it.

(C) Organize a team to identify potential uses for the byproductin-house.

(D) Solicit competitive bids to identify recyclers who aremore cost-competitive. Answer: B

The distinguishing characteristic o application questions is

that they present speciic situations that the examinee has not

encountered previously, and cannot solve on the basis of gen-eral knowledge alone. The problem presented in the questionabove is a novel situation, and rather than rely on memory orcomprehension alone to answer it, the examinee is required todraw on knowledge and experience to identify the solution tothe problem.

The purpose of this is to ensure that those who receive theCPSM designation will have demonstrated an ability to applytheir supply management knowledge and skills to real-life worksituations.


10/12

CPSM ExaM REgiStRation FoRM

Member Type: ISM Nonmember ISM ID # ____________________________ (if known)Dr. Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss _______________________________________________________________________________

First/Given Name MI Last/Surname/Family Name(Please enter your name as it appears on your oicial identiication.)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________Title Organization

Home Mailing Address (required): Business Mailing Address:

___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________City State/Province City State/Province

___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________Country ZIP/Postal Code Country ZIP/Postal Code

( ) ____________________ ( ) ____________________ ___________________________________________Business Phone** Fax Number** E-Mail

**For phone numbers outside the United States and Canada, please include country and city codes.

CPSM Exam 1 CPSM Exam 3

CPSM Exam 2 CPSM Bridge Exam*

*You must be a current C.P.M. to register for the Bridge Exam. You must also still be a current C.P.M. when you apply for the CPSM using a BridgeExam score to meet the test requirement.

Please check here if you have any special needs that require accommodation. Include a daytime phone number: ( ) ______________________

I acknowledge the conidential nature o the CPSM Examination (the Exam) and hereby agree that I will not copy, retain Exam questions or disclose or transmit them in any orm to any otherperson. I certiy that I am working toward my CPSM designation or taking the Exam to meet the continuing education requirements or recertiication. I agree that taking the Exam or anyother purpose is strictly prohibited. I also acknowledge that the Exam review course instructors are prohibited by ISM rom taking Exams or the purpose o preparing students to take the Examand/or or the creation o their course materials. I ex pressly agree and understand that certi ication may be denied or revoked, or the Exam scores may be invalidated or withheld by the Cert i-ication Committee o ISM (the Committee) in the event that the Committee determines that (A) an individual has (i) alsiied or misrepresented inormation on the registration orm orinormation provided is in error, including documentation o Continuing Education Hours or recertiication; (ii) participated in an unauthorized disclosure o Exam questions, inormation ormaterials; (iii) plagiarized questions and/or answers on the Exam; (iv) mailed, received, relayed in any ashion or used copies o the Exam materials, questions or answers without authorizationrom ISM; (v) retained the Exam materials ater the examination; (vi) engaged in cheating or other misconduct or unproessional behavior with respect to taking, administering or preparation orthe Exam; or (vii) ailed to adhere to the Principles and Standards o Ethical Supply Management Conduct, or (B) (i) there is a testing irregularity with respect to the Exam; (ii) there is a reason to

question the Exam scores validity; or (iii) that the Exam score was the result o unusual or questionable circumstances.I agree to abide by the ISM Principles and Standards o Ethical Supply Management Conduct, whether or not I am a member o ISM. I grant ISM permission to make any and all inquiries

which are necessary to evaluate my credentials or certi ication or recertiication and agree to re spond to requests or inormation related to any o the above. I urther authorize ISM to pub-lish (via e-mail, Web site, or print) inormation about my certiication and to make any and all inquiries, investigations or other communications which m ay be necessary or the Committeeto grant, deny or revoke certiication, or to invalidate or withhold exami nation scores. I hereby certiy th at the inormation submitted on or with this orm is true and acc urate to the best omy knowledge, and I agree to be bound by the terms and conditions set orth herein and by any and all policies and procedure s o ISM applicable to the CPSM Program or the Exam as maybe amended rom time to time.

Signature: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Date: ___________________________________________

FS SC 290 10/09

Method of Payment (U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank only)

Personal Check Organization Check Amount $ _________ Organization/Affilate Name ________________________

Credit Card: VISA MasterCard American Express Diners Club

Cardholder Signature ____________________________________________ Number _____________________________ Exp. ___/___

ISM Use OnlyP/C Ck # ______________________ Amount $ __________________________ A/C ___________ /___________

Approval # _____________________ Date Entered _______/_______/_______ Initials _______________________

All CPSM Exam scores are valid for three years.

Computer Exam Pricing

Member Nonmember

$180.00 $265.00

ONLINERegister online atwww.ism.ws. SelectProfessional Credentials, thenCertification Forms.

MAILMail completed registrationform with check or creditcard inormation to:ISM, P.O. Box 22160,

Tempe, AZ 85285-2160.

PHONECall 800/888-6276 or+1 480/752-6276,option 8.

FAXFax completed registrationform with credit card infor-mation to: +1 480/752-2299(24 hours).


11/12

CPSM Study Guidehe CPSM Study Guideprovides inormation on test speciications, exampleso the testing ormat and question styles. With the use o additional reerencematerials to round out your knowledge, the CPSM Study Guideis an essentialpart o your study program. Bridge Exam content is noted.

Item #CPSMSGI

USD $89/ISM members USD $59

ISM Glossary o Key Supply Management Termshe ISM Glossary o Key Supply Management Termsis a valuable reerence toolor supply proessionals, academics, researchers and students. Greatly expanded,the new ith edition includes inormation rom all disciplines within supplymanagement.

Item #GL5USD $50/ISM members USD $30

CPSM Diagnostic Kit, Web or Print Versionshe CPSM Diagnostic Kit, in Web or print version, helps you ocus your studyeorts by identiying areas o supply management that need strengthening.

You get a sample test or the CPSM Exam(s) with a grading scale and correctanswers, including justiication and reerences. Use with the CPSM Study Guide.

Print version, Exam 1, 2 & 3: USD $99 nonmembers/USD $79 ISM members

Web version, each exam: USD $69 nonmembers/USD $49 ISM members

Web version set, Exam 1, 2 & 3: USD $169 nonmembers/USD $129 ISM members

CPSM and CPSM Bridge Exam Review Courses Face-to-Face SeminarsCourse content covers topics within the CPSM exams and includes contentrom the CPSM Study Guideand the ISM Proessional Series, and includes exer-

cises, case studies and sample exam questions. hese review courses are a supple-ment to a candidates practical experience and individual learning. Check theSeminar Catalog on the ISM Web site to see dates and locations o upcomingreview courses.

CPSM Bridge Exam Review Course: USD $1,595 nonmembers/USD $1,295 ISM members

CPSM Exam Review Course: USD $1,795 nonmembers/USD $1,495 ISM members

CPSM

Online Review Courseshese courses enable candidates to assess their knowledge acquired through edu-cation and experience against the content tested in CPSM and CPSM BridgeExams. Participants get an in-depth review and assessment o the material in theCPSM Study Guideby tailoring the course to their speciic study needs. heseinteractive courses include sample test questions, case studies and bonus supple-mental content developed by subject-matter experts. his bonus content givescandidates additional study material or tasks with the most questions on theexam. Get immediate eedback with these online review courses to customizeyour personal study program. Register at www.ism-knowledgecenter.ws.

USD $295 nonmembers/USD $195 ISM members

CPSM Bridge Exam Sel-Study Workbook CourseEspecially designed or C.P.M.s with a bachelors degree studying or the CPSMBridge Exam, this workbook uses the CPSM Study Guideto provide an over-

view o the types o material covered on the CPSM Bridge Exam. Not or can-didates taking the ull CPSM Exams. Earn 21 Continuing Education Hours.

USD $199 nonmembers/USD $159 ISM members

Self-study courses for Exams 1, 2 and 3 are in development and will be available inearly 2010.

ISM Proessional Serieshe ISM Proessional Seriescovers the major aspects o supply management andis an essential resource or every supply proessional. he series draws inorma-tion rom all industries and levels, ormulating a macro view o the proession.Each volume in the series supports the content in one o CPSM Exams.

CPSM ExaM FEES and Study MatERialS

Item Member* Nonmember*

CPSM Computer-Based Exams $180 $265

CPSM Application Fee $90 $150

International Shipping Surcharge(For all applicants outside the U.S. and C anada. Candidates can also provide t heir own shipping account number.)

$75 $75

*All prices are in U.S. dollars.

Each BookItem #PS1, #PS2 or #PS3

B he hree-vome se SaVE!

USD $115/ISM members USD $85

USD $280/ISM members USD $195Set of 3 (Item #PS4)

Protecting Your Companys IntellectualProperty

Deborah BouchouxItem #B87USD $23/ISM members USD $19

Lean Extended EnterpriseTerrence Burton and Steven Boeder

Item #B88USD $45/ISM members USD $40

Strategy: A View From The Top (2ndedition)Cornelis A. De Kluyver


Strategic Supply Chain ManagementJoseph Roussel and Shoshanah Cohen


Straight to the Bottom LineRobert A. Rudzki, Douglas A. Smock, Michael Katzorkeand Shelley Stewart, Jr.


Finance or ManagersHarvard Business School


The Economist: Guide to BusinessPlanning (2nd edition)

Graham Friend and Stefan ZehleItem #B105USD $29/ISM members USD $26

Quality Essentials: A Reference GuideFrom A to ZJack B. ReVelle

Item #B92USD $25/ISM members $21

The Supply Management HandbookEditors in Chief: Joseph L. Cavinato, Anna E. Flynn, andRalph G. Kauffman

Item #4USD $129/ISM members USD $124

CPSM Supplemental Reading List

ISMhascompiledaCPSMSupplementalReadingListtohelpcandidatespreparefortheirexams.ebooksonthelisthavebeenchosenbecause o their ocus on the expanded components o supply management. More books may be added to this list as they are identied.Check the ISM Web site or updates.

ISM is a member of the International Federation

of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM)

www.ism.ws For details on Professional Credentials, call 800/888-6276 or +1 480/752-6276, extension 3027


12/12

12

CPSMs earn 13% more than

those without the designation.Source: ISM 2009 Salary Survey

Get Your CPSMSupply professionals are pivotal in strengthening the bottom line.Bu ie-

e skill se is ecessiy se yu p. Yu ee me kwlee epe-

iece e jump he cmpeii. the Certified Professional in Supply

Management (CPSM) m he Isiue Supply Meme (ISM), he is

les supply meme sscii i he wl, c ive yu he ee yu

ee i his lbl mkeplce.

f siiicly less mey h semese busiess schl, yu c bs he

eeciveess yu bchels eee wk epeiece by becmi CPSM.

as CPSM, yu iee skill se i es such s finance, supplierrelationship

management, organizational global strategy risk compliancewill ive

vlue i evey lik he supply chi.

Learn more.Visi www.ism.ws y.

800/888-6276 +1 480/752-6276

Strategic Planning and SourcingManufacturingProduct/Service DevelopmentPhysical Distribution and WarehousingNegotiationsSupplier EvaluationPurchasing/ProcurementInventory Control and ManagementMaterials ManagementEconomic Forecasting

Relationship ManagementProblem-SolvingContract Development and AdministrationTransportation and Logistics

Documents

Cps Mexam Reg Info