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APICS Update
The APICS CSCP March and April CBT Exam
Spread the news! Let your chapter members know they can become APICS Certified Supply Chain Professionals (CSCP) by registering for the March and April APICS CSCP computer-based testing (CBT) exam, and start benefiting from the new credential. The APICS CSCP CBT exam window is March 12–April 16, 2011.
Click here for more information.
The APICS CPIM Recertification Exam
The APICS CPIM Recertification exam provides a unique opportunity to individuals whose APICS CPIM credentials have expired, and who would normally be required to retake all five APICS CPIM exams. Instead, candidates now can renew their certifications by taking just one exam.
Candidates had the opportunity to test for the APICS CPIM recertification at APICS 2010. There still is an opportunity for candidates to take the APICS CPIM Recertification exam through December 31, 2011. APICS is actively marketing the exam, and it is hoped that its partner network will help spread the word.
Visit apics.org/recertification to learn more about the program, eligibility guidelines, exam delivery, costs, application information, and study options. If you have any questions about the APICS CPIM Recertification exam, contact certification@apics.org.
New product: APICS Principles of Operations Management
APICS is proud to announce the launch of the APICS Principles of Operations Management program. This launch is the first step in an effort to update and rewrite the APICS Fundamentals of Operations Management program.
This update includes a new, professional design; updated content elements; and added instructor tools. We are confident the APICS Principles of Operations Management program will give APICS channel partners an opportunity to offer up-to-date foundational training to customers and communities.
The first course, Principles of Inventory Management, is available now. The other courses will be released over the next year, as they become available. For more information on the APICS Principles of Operations Management program and its launch, please view the recent webinar and visit APICS C-BOX. If you have questions, contact us at pdadmin@apics.org
The Role of the APICS Exam Committee Webinar
Do you ever wonder what the APICS exam committee does? This webinar, which took place on March 10, 2011, provides all the answers. In the presentation, Mark Williams, CFPIM, CSCP, chair of the Master Planning of Resources committee, provides an overview of the role of the APICS exam committees that oversee all aspects of the examination development process.
The responsibilities of the committee include the development of the descriptions in the APICS Exam Content Manuals (ECMs), approval of questions for use on certification examinations, and ensuring that exams are developed in accordance with the outline stated in the ECMs. Click here to access the recording.
For information, contact pdadmin@apics.org.
APICS certifications accredited by the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council
It is with great pleasure that APICS announces the APICS CPIM and APICS CSCP programs have been accredited by the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council. This comes on the heel of the decision by the National Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI) to accredit the APICS certifications. You can find a full list of the programs Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council has accredited here.
These just in: APICS 2011 tool kits, Channel Partner Resources Catalog, and editable APICS CSCP brochure
Several valuable resources have been made available this week. Check out these great tools.
Channel partner leaders are critical to APICS conference marketing efforts. APICS 2011 Marketing Tool Kits are ready for you to download promotional items. This year, we've made your promotion easy with a set of marketing tools available online and, beginning later this month, available for order through your district field associate.
Check out the 2011 APICS International Conference & Expo tool kit.
The APICS Channel Partner Resources Catalog is your guide to the useful tools necessary to carry out membership development, certification marketing, and management objectives. Many of the resources listed are available at volume-discounted pricing or at no cost via the APICS website.
Click to access the catalog.
The 2011 APICS CSCP brochure has been uploaded to C-BOX. The last page of the brochure is editable so you can include contact information for your organization. For editing instructions, and to download the 2011 brochure, please refer to the international marketing page on CBOX.
The 2011 APICS CPIM brochure will be posted to C-BOX later this week.
Upcoming maintenance schedule
APICS will be performing database updates which may disrupt access to certain areas of the APICS website on the following days:
Date Length of Disruption Affected Areas
March 28, 2011
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5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. CT
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C-BOX, e-Downloads
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April 1–April 4, 2011
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5:00 p.m. (Friday)–8:00 a.m. (Monday)
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C-BOX, e-Downloads
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April 11, 2011
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5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. CT |
Email and Web Access*
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*Your ability to contact APICS staff may be affected on April 11, 2011.
Best practices: social networking
Overview and introduction
Social media has quickly become an integral part of many people's personal and professional lives. APICS has developed its own presence on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. In this month's edition of Leadership Central, we'll discuss what APICS is doing, and what your organization can do, to attract social media users and how to keep them engaged.
APICS presence and platform options
APICS currently uses Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Each platform measures activity differently. As of March 2011, APICS has more than 2,000 Facebook "Likes," 537 followers on Twitter, and more than 20,000 LinkedIn members. Several chapters and international partners already have their own pages on these sites. Perhaps not surprisingly, considering the proximity to Silicon Valley, but the APICS Santa Clara Valley Chapter leads the way with 716 members in their LinkedIn group.
Developing a social media strategy
Whether your organization already has a social media presence, or you're starting from scratch, it's a good idea to lay out a plan. Consider the following questions:
1) What are you looking to promote (professional development meetings (PDM), upcoming courses, membership, etc.)?
Social media can be used to promote both "soft" objectives (community and brand awareness), and "hard" objectives (members, product sales, and conference registrations).
2) Who are you looking to attract (recent graduates, job seekers, senior managers)?
Facebook and Twitter tend to attract younger users, while LinkedIn is viewed as more professional and career oriented.
3) Who are your champions?
Do you know a member who is consistently vocal and enthusiastic about APICS? Consider enlisting them to create Facebook posts or Twitter "tweets" about their experiences.
Tips for developing content
One challenge of social media is coming up with new content on a regular basis. Follow these tips to keep your content fresh:
1) Re-post. If you find an article related to supply chain, share it by re-posting a link. Re-posting fosters community and is an easy way to facilitate discussions between your followers and fans. If a current news story has supply chain implications, re-post the story with a note about how it applies to the APICS body of knowledge.
2) "Let's give them something to talk about." This one applies to Twitter, in particular. Tweet a statement or question related to supply chain or inventory management that will spark discussion. Twitter is fueled by strong opinions, so posting about "hot button" issues is a great way to attract attention and start online conversations.
Using LinkedIn at your organization
LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) has a reputation as the most business and career oriented social network. Users create profiles that include work history, and they connect to online groups and individual contacts.
APICS is considered an important resource for career development and there is room to expand our presence on LinkedIn, globally and locally. If your chapter or organization hasn't formed a LinkedIn group yet, start one now. Invite your PDM and class attendees to join, and start engaging your community.
To start a LinkedIn page, follow these steps:
1) Log in, or if you do not have a personal account, create one.
2) Once you're logged in, select "Create a Group," from the options listed under "Groups" on the main toolbar.
3) Create a profile for your group. You can upload your chapter or organization's logo, type a quick summary, and choose whether your group will be "open" (no approval required to join), or "members only" (invitations must be approved by administrator; content not visible to nonmembers).
Note: All APICS chapter or affiliate groups should be "professional" groups.
4) After you submit this information, you have the option to send invitations to potential group members. Send invitations to everyone you think would be interested in joining your group.
5) You're all set. Start recruiting group members and fostering online discussions!
Using Facebook to engage members
Facebook, with its millions of members, presents an excellent marketing opportunity for your chapter. The best news is it's free!
Here are useful tips and the basics you need to get started:
There are three categories on Facebook:
- Profiles: For individuals.
- Groups: These don't have to be official organizations.
- Pages: These are for companies or nonprofit organizations (chapters).
The following are differences between profiles and pages:
- Profiles are for individuals, and pages are for organizations.
- Pages are optimized for mass communication.
- Profiles are optimized for individual communication.
How to set up a Facebook page
1. Go to www.facebook.com.
2. Scroll down, and click on Create a Page.
Choose your company type—Facebook applies templates based on company type. Give the page your business name (for example, APICS Portland Chapter). Set up the Facebook account in your name.
Note: From the Create a Page section, you can read the step-by-step process on the tabs provided, or you can download a tutorial PDF about how to manage pages, including examples. If you are ready, click on the Create a Page button.
3. Add information to your profile. Upload a photo or logo, and list any events you might be planning. Start searching for APICS related groups that you can connect to, and build a fan base.
Facebook tips
The plus sign at the top of the page allows you to add applications like videos, notes (articles or information you want your fans to have access to), photos, and discussions.
To effectively market using social media, you need to provide constant value to your fans (members). You should be consistent in providing a steady stream of new and valuable content.
The Portland Chapter offers a great example of using Facebook to provide meaningful content. The APICS Portland Chapter page gives up-to-date job information, upcoming plant tours, and PDMs to remind the fan base of chapter events. The page also offers pictures of recent events and links to website registration.
Chapter Development
Quarterly board update from 2011 Chair Eric Schaudt
To facilitate information sharing and transparency, the new Chair of the 2011 Board of Directors, Eric Schaudt, has begun releasing quarterly board updates following each APICS Board of Directors meeting. The first update covers operations in 2010, strategic priorities for 2011 to 2013, and updates on channel partner agreements. The update is available on C-BOX. Click to view the full update.
Chapter Rebate Q&A
Q. There seems to be some discrepancy in my chapter's rebate amount this month. What could be the cause? On occasion, the chapter receives a rebate amount that is not evenly divisible by $50 or it contains cents. Why is this?
A. In most cases the chapter's rebate amounts are $50 or some factor of that amount. The amount provided per member is detailed within the monthly rebate report which is posted in My Chapter. Each month APICS Corporate office posts an Excel file containing details of each chapters rebate activity. This report provides you with the names, contact information, membership type and the amount rebated to the chapter per member. By totaling the rebate amounts listed you can determine if it matches the amount the chapter received. If you find that you did not receive the full chapter rebate for a member scroll to the right of the report and take a look the membership type column. There are reduced and prorated dues for certain member types:
Young Professional $25
Academic $50 (may be reduced by the chapter)
Retired $25
Enterprise-E Members $25
New or renewed enterprise membership fees are sometimes prorated in order to align the person's membership end date with that of the enterprise company. Remember, members who transfer into a chapter and member extensions for the unemployed appear at $0.00 dollars, because no dues are required for those transactions.
If you require assistance with rebate analysis please contact the District and Chapter Support Department at (800) 444-2742 ext 5436 or via email: chaprel@apics.org.
Update on Student Case Competitions
The Southwest, Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes districts recently held student case competitions. Hundreds of students from dozens of schools participated, and thousands of dollars of prize money was awarded to the case competition winners. For a full description of the individual competitions and list of winning universities, please visit C-BOX.
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