November 2009 Issue

APICS Update

APICS Certification Testing and Courseware Spotlight: Important News

Deadline Extended for Bulk Purchase Discount Exam Vouchers
The discount promotion for bulk purchase of exam vouchers has been extended through 2010. In May, APICS began offering discounts on the bulk purchase of exam vouchers to help partners drive more revenue by bundling the cost of the vouchers with course registration fees. The vouchers apply to both computer-based testing and paper-and-pencil exams. To order discounted vouchers, call APICS customer support at (800) 444-2742 or (773) 867-1777. Vouchers cannot be purchased through Pearson VUE or the APICS Website. There is a 48-hour turnaround for orders. Vouchers expire one year from date of purchase.

The discounts are tiered by purchase amount and the discounts apply to both member and nonmember vouchers.

• 5–15 = 10 percent discount
• 16–25 = 15 percent discount
• 26+ = 20 percent discount

Note: This discount is not valid with other discount vouchers.

2010 Group Testing Dates
Provide your members and clients with the opportunity to take an APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) exam in their local area. You can do this by participating in the chapter group testing program. This service makes it more convenient for individuals to complete the APICS CPIM exams. Group testing provides chapters an opportunity to offer full service to their corporate clients from training to testing. Many corporate companies prefer testing together, and this medium gives them this benefit.

Here are some updates to the program:

• The 2010 group testing dates are now available. Click here to view the 2010 dates.
• Enhanced candidate registration forms and the group testing procedures can be accessed through http://www.apics.org/Membership/Volunteers/GroupTesting.htm
• Monthly group testing dates offered throughout the year beginning in March, 2010.

If you have any questions about the program or are interested in scheduling a group testing event, please contact the APICS group test manager, Jeff Unterman, at junterman@apics.org.

APICS CPIM Courseware Update (DSP and SMR Module)
The APICS CPIM modules, Detailed Scheduling and Planning (DSP) and Strategic Management of Resources (SMR) have been entirely rewritten and the design of the course materials has changed as well. As part of the update process, feedback from instructors was solicited and incorporated as appropriate. The new content was reviewed by a team of domestic and international subject matter experts to ensure that operations management and supply chain management professionals around the globe will be able to benefit from the courses.

New! APICS Strategic Management of Resources (SMR) References Sourcebook
APICS, with the professional assistance of Pearson Custom Publishing, has created the SMR References Sourcebook. The sourcebook is a compilation of four major reference books for the SMR module plus all required technical papers in one complete text. The SMR References Sourcebook effectively presents a varied amount of resource information in a convenient, accessible format for instructors, developers, and exam candidates. It enables candidates to prepare for the exam without having to purchase or locate multiple texts and resources.

The new custom text (stock # 03989) will be priced at $250/APICS member, $280/nonmember.

Pre-Order the CPIM Materials! The new CPIM self-study materials are now available for pre-order from the APICS Bookstore here.

APICS CPIM Participant Guide Returns
Chapters that have unused CPIM Participant Workbooks that were purchased within the last 90 days (after August 14, 2009), will be able to return for replacement. When sending a return please include the original purchasers name, address, and approximate date of purchase. A receipt is not mandatory but appreciated. For more information, contact APICS Customer Support at (800) 444-2742 or (773) 867-1777. Please send the covers to the following address:

Attention: APICS Customer Support
APICS The Association for Operations Management
8430 West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60631

Check Out New Topics and Bloggers on APICS Blogs
APICS blogs enable you to experience the lives of operations and supply chain management professionals around the world. Visit the blog to share your point of view on a variety of topics.

The newest APICS blog, featuring Ireland-based blogger Kehinde Mobayo, focuses on international issues. Visit the blog to join the discussion about energy production, globalization, sustainability, and ecotourism. More topics will be introduced regularly into the blog, so stay tuned!

Share your related stories, thoughts, and experiences. Get started and view the APICS International Blog here.

View the APICS Blog disclaimer.

APICS Live Learning Center: APICS 2009 Content at Your Fingertips
Be sure your members have access to the best practices, tools, and techniques from the 2009 APICS International Conference & Expo by telling them about the APICS Live Learning Center.

APICS members receive free access to educational session presentation handouts. Members can select educational sessions from the each of APICS 2009’s six relevant learning paths. Click to access now.

Don’t forget: The APICS Live Learning Center is free to conference attendees and discounted for APICS members. Remind your members who attended the 2009 APICS International Conference & Expo that they have free access to audio files synced to conference presentations. APICS members may purchase this content at a discounted rate. Click to access now.

Coming Soon: 2010 APICS CPIM Pearson VUE Jumpstart Program
The APICS CPIM Pearson VUE Jumpstart Program will launch January 1, 2010. Only the first 100 APICS student members will be able to obtain vouchers to test for the Basics of Supply Chain Management exam. Applications for this exam will be accepted January 1 through February 15, 2010. This exam is one of five exams needed to earn the APICS CPIM designation. Encourage your students to apply. For more details, visit APICS CPIM Pearson VUE Jumpstart Program.

Best Practices

Updated APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook
APICS has improved and updated APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook and it is now available through C-BOX for immediate free downloading, or for order in the APICS Bookstore. The APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook enables your chapter to navigate through membership recruitment and retention, and it provides information on promoting APICS member benefits and capturing prospective members. This resource is your membership best practices manual, compiled with years of practical chapter experience.

Some highlights in the APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook include:

Ideas for Recruitment and Retention

• Member referrals—Encourage each member to invite a colleague to a chapter event and invite these guests to join APICS.
• New prospect mailing—Follow up with these potential members using a letter and a copy of the professional membership brochure. Several sample letters are provided and written to target a specific professional or audience.
• Cross marketing—Ask instructors to promote membership during classes, and ensure they always have promotional materials available to hand out.
• And much more!

Exploring the Benefits of Being an APICS Member
Your membership has many benefits. As membership director, it’s important to regularly communicate these benefits to new and existing members. The APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook is a great resource in providing ways to communicate this message.

Understanding Membership Categories and Processing
Additionally, the APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook details the different membership types available and how to process a membership. This will assist your chapter in answering questions at new member recruitment events and in fielding inquiries from existing members. In this section of the handbook you will find the renewal cycle explained, how to avoid delays in processing an application, how to explain to members about updating their information on the APICS Web site database, how to manage professional and enterprise memberships, and how to process a chapter transfer request.

Where to find the APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook and Additional Chapter Management Tools
The APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook is now available on C-BOX in the Chapter Leaders, Handbooks section, or view here.

A hard copy can also be ordered through the APICS Bookstore. If you have any questions about the APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook (Stock #01021), please contact APICS District and Chapter Services at chaprel@apics.org or (800) 444-2742 x 5436.

Additional resources are available in C-BOX including the latest edition of the Chapter Resources Catalog (Stock #82032). There, you can access chapter management materials, tools, and samples. All the resources found on C-BOX are created to provide you with the comprehensive tools you need to assume your leadership role and manage a successful chapter.

Chapter Development

Promote Your Chapter’s Courses and Generate More Revenue
APICS launched the Chapter Course Listings Ad Campaign to get your chapter’s courses promoted for others in your local area to see. With more than 30 keywords purchased for each district’s campaign, the chapter course listings have made more than 2.5 million impressions across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Ensure that your chapter’s courses are listed and generate additional revenue. Complete the Web-form now or visit apics.org/sitefiles/forms/chapter_course_listing.html.

Congratulations 2009—3Q Chapter Incentive Program Winners
See the winners recognized on the Chapter Incentive Program page in the APICS Volunteer Resources section. Click here.

For further details or questions about the Chapter Incentives Program, contact APICS District and Chapter Services at (800) 444-2742, ext. 5436, or send an e-mail to chaprel@apics.org.

Share Your Industry-Related Jokes with APICS
Do you have an operations or supply chain management joke that you’re excited to share? Your joke could be featured on the APICS Facebook page for nearly 700 of our colleagues to enjoy. Credit will be given to the person who submitted the joke. Please submit your joke submissions to Trisha Ashbrook, member services marketing manager, at tashbrook@apics.org. Encourage your members to share their funny jokes and pass the humor around!

Q&A

APICS Chapter Locator

Q: The information posted on the apics.org Chapter Locator for our chapter is outdated. How can we update this information?

A: Chapter Locater details can be updated through My Chapter. If you are chapter president or an approved chapter officer, you can access My Chapter by selecting the View/Edit My Info link on the upper right side of the APICS webpage (www.apics.org) If you have My Chapter you will see a menu option on the right hand navigational menu, Manage My Chapter. Once you access the My Chapter portal, select the Chapter Profile’ link to update your chapter’s location, description, and calendar of events. 

Q: How does the Chapter Locator work?

A: The public uses the locator to find the nearest chapter. Users can search by entering a zip code, chapter name, chapter code, country, or state/province.

Q: How does the chapter locator benefit our chapter?

A: The chapter locator supports your effort to market your chapter to the public. When maximized to it’s highest level, it can provide pertinent details about your chapter, and provides a way for those interested to contact your chapter directly.

The chapter locator also provides the public with an indication of the chapters commitment to management excellence by recognizing a chapters’ level of achievement in the APICS Chapter Benchmarking and Reporting (C-BAR) program. C-BAR recognized chapters have demonstrated exemplary management standards and outstanding service to members.

Tools of the Trade

Access Three New and Informative APICS Webinars

Sales Strategies for the DOD—Chapter Resources and Tips for Military Engagement
This webinar was presented by Lisa Sallstrom, director of certification for APICS. In this session, information was provided on sales strategies for the Department of Defense, various chapter resources, and tips for creating interest among the military. The webinar also outlined the various initiatives undertaken by APICS to promote APICS CSCP program to the service members.

Click here to download the webinar.

U.S. Copyright Overview Webinar
The U.S. Copyright Overview Webinar was presented by Dean Martinez, executive vice President of operations and general counsel, and Jennifer Proctor, director of industry content. During this session, they provided an overview about the legalities that surround the reproduction, publishing, sale, and distribution of APICS materials. It also has information about using other publications for works created for APICS.

Click here to download your Webinar.

APICS CPIM Courseware Update Webinar
Find out about the latest CPIM Courseware Update by downloading the webinar. The 2010 APICS CPIM Courseware Development Team—Fran Scher, Henry Lum, and Jerry Kilty— provided a high-level overview of the changes to each of the modules and information on how to acquire the new materials.

• Basics of Supply Chain Management
• Master Planning of Resources
• Detailed Scheduling and Planning
• Execution and Control of Operations
• Strategic Management of Resources

Click here to download the webinar.

Newly Posted Resources on C-BOX
Take advantage of online tools, services, programs, and information for your chapter or district through C-BOX, the partner collaboration toolbox, at http://cbox.apics.org/Pages/default.aspx.

C-BOX is primarily organized by program, with resources for each of the APICS three pillars of membership, certification, and education having separate sections. In addition, there is a separate section for chapter management tools, called Chapter Leaders, where you will find resources for running your chapter.

See the latest resources below.

Chapter Leaders, Handbooks section
APICS Membership Chapter Leadership Handbook

Chapter Leaders, Marketing & Communications section
APICS Webinars
Sales Strategies for the Department of Defense—Chapter Resources and Tips for Military Engagement Webinar

Membership, Program/Administration section
October Membership Summery Count Report
(Membership Count Reports are also found in Chapter Leaders, Resources section.)

Membership, Marketing section
CDC’s Chapter Marketing and Sales Tool Kit
Chapter Marketing Tool Kit

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