Supply Chain & Operations · Exam preparation
CPIM
Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM)
Why planning and inventory management matters
Every delivery promise a company makes rests on a plan: how much to make or buy, when, and with how much stock in reserve. When planners link S&OP, the master schedule, materials and capacity, production and warehousing work to one set of numbers, and inventory supports service instead of absorbing cash.
When planning breaks down, the symptoms are familiar: forecasts nobody trusts, schedules changed every day, constant expediting, shortages next to excess stock, and suppliers left guessing. CPIM gives planners and operations staff one structured method for internal operations, under an ASCM credential recognised as the standard for internal operations expertise.
What you will be able to do
- Align operations with organisational strategy and monitor performance with KPIs
- Run the S&OP process and reconcile aggregate demand and supply plans
- Select forecasting methods, and measure and improve forecast accuracy
- Create the master schedule and plan materials and capacity with MRP and CRP
- Plan inventory levels and policies, calculate inventory costs and control accuracy
- Select and manage suppliers, plan distribution and replenishment, and lead continuous improvement
Course outline: 9 modules
Each module below shows what it covers and what you will be able to do at the end of it.
1. Supply Chains and Strategy
Places operations within the supply chain and its environment, and links organisational strategy to performance measures.
- Analyse the business environment and strategic scope
- Align operations with organisational strategy
- Monitor performance with KPIs
2. Sales and Operations Planning
Covers the purpose and process of S&OP, from aggregate demand and supply plans to reconciling them into one plan.
- Run the S&OP process step by step
- Build aggregate demand and supply plans
- Reconcile plans and resolve gaps
3. Demand
Explains demand management, the sources of demand and forecasting methods, and how to measure forecast performance.
- Manage demand from all sources
- Select and apply forecasting methods
- Measure and improve forecast accuracy
4. Internal Supply
Covers operational strategies and environments, the master schedule, MRP, capacity planning, order promising and handling supply disruptions.
- Create and maintain the master schedule
- Plan materials and capacity with MRP and CRP
- Manage changes and supply disruptions
5. External Supply and Key Support Functions
Addresses suppliers and procurement, purchasing and maintenance, risk management, sustainability and reverse logistics.
- Select and manage suppliers
- Identify and respond to supply risks
- Apply sustainability and the waste hierarchy
6. Inventory
Covers inventory planning, costs, basic accounting and metrics, and the management and control of inventory.
- Plan inventory levels and policies
- Calculate inventory costs and metrics
- Control inventory accuracy
7. Detailed Schedules
Explains planning and creating production and service schedules, production activity control and scheduling materials.
- Plan and build detailed schedules
- Apply scheduling and PAC methods
- Manage schedules and materials day to day
8. Distribution
Covers distribution planning, replenishment, order management, track and trace, and distribution KPIs.
- Plan distribution and replenishment
- Manage orders and track shipments
- Measure distribution performance
9. Quality, Business Investments, and Continuous Improvement
Addresses quality, capital equipment and facilities decisions, technology, and continuous improvement.
- Apply quality management tools
- Evaluate equipment, facility and technology investments
- Lead continuous improvement
Programme details
| Exam structure | Since CPIM 8.0 there is one exam covering all former Part 1 and Part 2 topics; CPIM 9.0 is current from 1 June 2026. |
|---|---|
| Award name | APICS CPIM: Certified in Planning and Inventory Management, ASCM's current title for the former Production and Inventory Management credential. |
| Eligibility | No eligibility requirement: no degree or work experience is needed to sit the CPIM exam. |
| Exam authorisation | The Authorization to Test (ATT) is valid for six months from purchase, or 12 months when bought as part of a bundle; the exam must be scheduled and sat within that window. |
| Retake rule | A candidate who does not pass must wait at least 14 full calendar days before retaking the exam. |
| Results | Results are given immediately after the exam; the electronic certificate is available in the ASCM account within 24 hours. |
| Online exam rules | OnVUE online exams require a government photo ID and webcam throughout; no breaks are allowed and check-in opens 30 minutes early. |
| Learning system | Official CPIM Learning System (2026): pretest and personalised study plan, print and digital books, microlearning, quizzes, videos and case studies, flashcards, a practice exam and the Exam Content Manual. |
| Study time | ASCM recommends about 100 hours of study to prepare for each certification exam. |
| Digital badge | A digital badge is issued on certification; ASCM members keep ongoing access, non-members can use it for one year. |
| Maintenance | Renew every five years with 75 professional development points; ASCM membership earns 6 points per year. |
| Next step | Experienced holders may apply for Fellow status (CPIM-F); related ASCM certifications are CSCP and CLTD. |
Your path to CPIM certification
- Enquire and choose your format. Classroom in Cairo, live online, or an in-house cohort for your team.
- Learn the nine modules with practitioners. 72 hours over 12 sessions, every live session recorded on our learning platform.
- Practise with module tests and question banks. Exam-style questions with instant results; ASCM recommends about 100 hours of study for each certification exam.
- Book your ASCM exam. You book the exam with ASCM, separately from training, and sit it at a Pearson VUE test centre or online through OnVUE within your Authorization to Test window. If you do not pass, you can retake it after at least 14 full calendar days.
- Earn the CPIM designation. Your result appears as soon as the exam ends, the electronic certificate reaches your ASCM account within 24 hours, and a digital badge is issued. You renew every five years with 75 professional development points.
- Keep climbing. Experienced holders may apply for Fellow status (CPIM-F), or add the related ASCM certifications CSCP and CLTD.
What you walk away with
- A planning method you can apply the next working day, from S&OP to detailed schedules
- The ASCM CPIM designation and digital badge
- Recordings of every live session, official study material, question banks and module tests on our learning platform
- Support until exam day, then a clear next step to Fellow status (CPIM-F), CSCP or CLTD
Want the full picture?
The CPIM brochure has the complete module outline, exam facts and delivery options in one PDF.
Download the CPIM brochure (PDF) Enquire about the next cohort
How you will learn
- Classroom: Interactive sessions at our training and exam centre in Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
- Live online: Instructor-led virtual classes for participants anywhere in the region.
- In-house: A private cohort for your team, at your premises and tailored to your context.
- Every live session recorded: Watch any session again, or catch up on one you missed, on our learning platform.
- Official study material: Books, handbooks and course files for the programme, in one place.
- Question banks and module tests: Exam-style practice with instant results.
- Support until exam day: Keep studying on the platform after the live sessions end, right up to the exam.
Exam and certification
Exam preparation for ASCM
| Exams | 1 exam |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 questions (130 scored + 20 pretest) |
| Exam time | 3.5 hours |
| Pass mark | 300 or above on a 200–350 scale |
| Where you sit it | Pearson VUE test centre, or online (OnVUE) |
| Good to know | The exam is booked with ASCM, separately from training |
Who should attend
- Production and inventory management
- Operations and supply chain management
- Procurement and materials management
- Manufacturing information systems
Frequently asked questions
What is the CPIM course?
Prepares participants for the ASCM CPIM credential, recognised as the standard for internal operations expertise. It covers strategy, S&OP, demand, internal and external supply, inventory, detailed schedules, distribution and quality.
Who should take CPIM?
It suits: Production and inventory management; Operations and supply chain management; Procurement and materials management; Manufacturing information systems.
How long is the CPIM course at Transights?
72 hours, 12 sessions. It runs live online, in class in Cairo, or in-house for company teams in Egypt and the GCC.
What is the CPIM exam like?
The exam is set by ASCM; you book and sit it with ASCM directly. 1 exam. 150 questions (130 scored + 20 pretest). Exam time: 3.5 hours. Pass mark: 300 or above on a 200–350 scale. Where you sit it: Pearson VUE test centre, or online (OnVUE). The exam is booked with ASCM, separately from training.
Who awards the CPIM certification?
ASCM awards CPIM to candidates who pass its exam. Transights provides the exam preparation course.