In order to complete this course, you will need the following materials. The following items may be obtained by contacting APICS at 1-800-444-2742. These materials are not part of the course fee and will require payment to APICS.

APICS Participant Guide Basics of Supply Chain Management. You will need to purchase the Basics of Supply Chain Management Participant Guide from APICS. The participant guide comes with a copy of the Sample Test.

Introduction to Material Management, 4th Edition by J.R. Tony Arnold.

If you do not already have the two following items, you will also need a Ninth Edition Dictionary, stock number 01102 and the most recent CPIM Exam Content Manual, stock number 09001. The cost for APICS members is $10.00 for each item. These items may be obtained by contacting the APICS national office at 1-800-444-2742.

There are several other reference materials and reprints that are useful for this course but are not necessary for this class or to pass the APICS international exam. The use of additional materials is dependent upon your own work experience and background. A listing of additional reference materials is provided in the Bibliography in the back of the Participant Guide and there is a list provided in the Exam Content Manual.

Credit Issues: 2 Semester Hours

You can take this course for:
1). Credit/no Credit (which is essentially pass/fail),
2). For a grade, or
3). As an audit, no credit is received.
You need to declare which method you choose before the 3^rd week of the month in which you start the course.

The University provides these options. You may want to check your company reimbursement policy, as many companies require students to take the course for a grade.

Passing this course is no guarantee that you will also pass the international exam. However, we are using the material provided by APICS and proven teaching methods in bringing this course to you. Our pass rate in distance learning is a little higher in comparison the pass rate of students in our traditional classes. This may be due to the self-discipline that is often present in a successful distance learning student.

If you take the APICS international exam before you complete the class and you choose not to complete the class, you may elect to receive a B for passing the international exam, or an A if you pass the international exam with distinction.

This course provides basic education in production and inventory techniques and practices. It is NOT designed to help you manage a specific type of product or plant or to implement a specific type of system. Rather, this course is designed to provide you with principles and concepts, that you may attain an understanding of WHY certain approaches are better than others.

The course is also designed to help you pass the APICS international exam the first time you take it; provide you with knowledge and information generally not available in other forums; give you ideas to improve your company; increase your credibility with others in the organization.

Education is most meaningful when you internalize the principles that you learn and subsequently change your ways of dealing with daily work issues (behavior).

Grades will be taken from the following: 10 quizzes, one term paper, one homework assignment, a mid-term exam and a final exam.

Before you begin the course, please complete the student assessment. The assessment will go directly to your WebPortfolio. You can check that portfolio at any time.

When you complete the course, please take the time to complete the Course Evaluation. When your Book & Participant Guide arrives, go to the Assignments link on the menu bar.