Supply Chain & Operations · Accredited certification
CSCA
Certified Supply Chain Analyst (CSCA)
Why supply chain fundamentals matter
Supply chain work crosses planning, purchasing, production, warehousing and transport, and each function has its own terms. When a team shares one vocabulary and understands how inventory, lead time and order fulfilment affect cost and cash flow, discussions move faster and ERP and Lean projects start on common ground.
Without that baseline, the same word means different things in different departments, improvement projects stall on definitions, and operational choices are made without seeing their financial effect. CSCA gives entry-level professionals and cross-functional teams that common foundation, leading to an electronic ISCEA certificate; ISCEA exams are accredited by the IISB (ISCEA International Standard Board).
What you will be able to do
- Use standard supply chain terminology and relate operational decisions to financial performance measures
- Distinguish strategic, tactical and operational planning, and build a simple aggregate plan from demand forecasts
- Calculate basic inventory measures and net component requirements using MRP logic and a bill of material
- Evaluate make-or-buy and sourcing options, and apply criteria to select suppliers
- Compare transportation modes and measure warehouse, distribution and order fulfilment performance
- Apply basic Lean and continuous improvement tools, and identify sustainability impacts across supply chain activities
Course outline: 14 modules
Each module below shows what it covers and what you will be able to do at the end of it.
1. Foundational Topics: Overview, Strategy and Framework for Discussion
Introduces supply chain terminology, strategy and a framework linking operational activity to financial measures.
- Use standard supply chain terminology accurately
- Relate operational decisions to financial performance measures
2. Planning and Strategy: Fundamental Issues
Covers fundamental planning issues and how planning levels connect strategy to daily operations.
- Distinguish strategic, tactical and operational planning levels
- Explain how demand and supply plans are linked
3. Aggregate Planning
Covers medium-term aggregate planning of production, workforce and inventory to meet forecast demand.
- Compare aggregate planning strategies and their cost effects
- Build a simple aggregate plan from demand forecasts
4. Role of Inventory
Explains why inventory is held, its types and costs, and basic methods for controlling it.
- Classify inventory by type and function
- Calculate basic inventory measures such as turns and order quantities
5. Material Requirements Planning
Introduces MRP logic, bills of material and how component requirements are calculated from the schedule.
- Explain MRP inputs, logic and outputs
- Calculate net component requirements using a bill of material
6. Sourcing
Covers sourcing strategy, supplier selection and make-or-buy decisions.
- Evaluate make-or-buy and sourcing options
- Apply criteria to select and evaluate suppliers
7. Purchasing
Covers the purchasing process from requisition to payment and its role in cost and supply continuity.
- Describe the steps of the purchasing cycle
- Identify purchasing measures that affect cost and service
8. Manufacturing
Covers manufacturing environments, process types and their implications for planning and inventory.
- Distinguish make-to-stock, make-to-order and related environments
- Relate process choice to capacity and inventory decisions
9. Transportation
Covers transportation modes, costs and their role in supply chain performance.
- Compare transportation modes by cost and service
- Explain how transport decisions affect inventory and lead time
10. Warehousing and Distribution
Covers warehouse functions, distribution operations and their contribution to customer service.
- Describe core warehouse and distribution processes
- Identify measures of warehouse and distribution performance
11. Sales Order Fulfilment
Covers the order-to-delivery process and how fulfilment performance affects customers and cash flow.
- Map the sales order fulfilment process
- Measure fulfilment performance such as on-time and complete delivery
12. Lean and Continuous Improvement Tools
Introduces Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement tools for reducing waste and variation.
- Identify the types of waste in a process
- Apply basic continuous improvement tools to a process problem
13. Sustainability
Covers environmental and social sustainability considerations in supply chain decisions.
- Identify sustainability impacts across supply chain activities
- Describe practical measures to reduce environmental impact
14. Team Dynamics
Covers team roles, communication and collaboration in cross-functional supply chain work.
- Describe the stages of team development and member roles
- Apply communication practices that support cross-functional collaboration
Programme details
| Eligibility | No prerequisites; aimed at entry-level supply chain professionals and teams needing a common baseline language. |
|---|---|
| Practice exam | A 30-minute practice exam of 25 multiple-choice questions precedes the 100-question final exam. |
| ISCEA body of knowledge | Four modules: fundamentals, planning and strategy, tactical topics (sourcing, inventory, MRP, transportation) and related topics such as Lean and sustainability. |
| Languages | ISCEA offers the CSCA programme in English, Spanish, French and Arabic. |
| Study materials | ISCEA provides a study guide with all slides and exercises, plus a two-hour programme review. |
| Retakes | The first retake is free within 30 days; later retakes are in 30-day windows, and a fourth retake needs a 180-day wait. |
| Results | Results show on screen as soon as the exam ends; official notice is emailed within 48 hours. |
| i-Proctor rules | Remote exams need a webcam, stable internet and a government photo ID sent beforehand; a calculator is allowed, books and phones are not. |
| Certificate | An electronic certificate is issued after passing; ISCEA exams are accredited by the IISB (ISCEA International Standard Board). |
| Renewal | Valid three years; renewal requires continuing education (PDUs). Apply about 120 days before expiry. |
| If not renewed | Non-renewal suspends the credential; the only way to restore it is to retake the exam. |
| Next step | The CSCA is ISCEA's foundation level; the CSCM is the related manager-level ISCEA certification. |
Your path to CSCA certification
- Enquire and choose your format. Classroom in Cairo, live online, or an in-house cohort for your team.
- Learn the 14 modules with practitioners. 18 hours over 3 weeks, every live session recorded on our learning platform.
- Practise before the final exam. A 30-minute practice exam of 25 multiple-choice questions comes before the final, alongside our question banks and module tests.
- Sit the ISCEA exam. 100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, online and proctored, with a 70% pass mark. You sit it on the last workshop day or within 30 days via ISCEA i-Proctor. The first retake is free within 30 days.
- Receive your CSCA certificate. ISCEA issues an electronic certificate after you pass. It is valid for three years and renewed through continuing education.
- Move up to manager level. The CSCA is ISCEA's foundation level; the CSCM is the related manager-level ISCEA certification.
What you walk away with
- A common supply chain language you can use with your team the next working day
- The ISCEA CSCA certificate, issued electronically and valid for three years
- 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 the manager-level CSCM
Want the full picture?
The CSCA brochure has the complete module outline, exam facts and delivery options in one PDF.
Download the CSCA 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
ISCEA
| Exams | 1 exam |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 multiple-choice questions |
| Exam time | 120 minutes |
| Pass mark | 70% |
| Where you sit it | Online, proctored |
| Good to know | Sit it on the last workshop day or within 30 days via ISCEA i-Proctor. One free retake is included |
Who should attend
- Entry-level supply chain professionals
- Teams needing a common supply chain language
- ERP, Lean and improvement project members
- Professionals seeking career progression
Frequently asked questions
What is the CSCA course?
An entry-level programme covering industry terminology and the links between financial and operational measures. It spans planning, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution, with an introduction to Lean and Six Sigma.
Who should take CSCA?
It suits: Entry-level supply chain professionals; Teams needing a common supply chain language; ERP, Lean and improvement project members; Professionals seeking career progression.
How long is the CSCA course at Transights?
18 hours, 3 weeks. It runs live online, in class in Cairo, or in-house for company teams in Egypt and the GCC.
What is the CSCA exam like?
1 exam. 100 multiple-choice questions. Exam time: 120 minutes. Pass mark: 70%. Where you sit it: Online, proctored. Sit it on the last workshop day or within 30 days via ISCEA i-Proctor. One free retake is included.
Who awards the CSCA certification?
ISCEA awards the certification. Transights is an approved partner of ISCEA.