CIPS Level 3 case studies
CIPS Level 3 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations is a professional qualification offered by CIPS, the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. It is designed for people working in or moving into procurement and supply roles who want a recognised foundation in the field. The qualification typically covers procurement principles, operational processes, stakeholder relationships, and the systems that support procurement workflows. However, the official CIPS webpage for this qualification returned a 404 error when retrieved on 2026-11-04, so no verified details are available for the number of questions, exam duration, passing score, fee, format, retake policy, or validity period. Topics on this exam: Procurement and supply principles, Procurement and supply operations, Procurement and supply stakeholder relationships, and Procurement and supply workflow and systems. The CIPS Level 3 case studies are 5 cases and about 3,280 words.
1Quarter-End Laptop Quotes with Hospitality Attached
You are a procurement officer at a district council. The field services team needs 60 rugged laptops before the new inspection season. The approved budget is £48,000. Three quotations arrive.
666 words, about 3 min2Verbal Order on a Breakdown
You are the purchasing coordinator at a food processing plant. A critical conveyor motor fails at 06:40 and the main line stops. The maintenance manager estimates downtime costs £7,000 per hour. The approved supplier has the motor but cannot deliver before three days unless an express service is used.
638 words, about 3 min3The Campaign Agency Already Chosen
You are a procurement business partner in a consumer goods company. The marketing director has already chosen a creative agency for a £120,000 product launch campaign. She says a competitive process will delay the launch, which is six weeks away, and that procurement does not understand the brand. The agency has sent a contract with 40% payable upfront, no performance KPIs, unlimited revisions, and automatic renewal unless cancelled 90 days before expiry.
680 words, about 3 min4Spreadsheet Requisitions and Duplicate Suppliers
You are a procurement analyst at a construction firm with 600 employees and 14 sites. Requisitions arrive by email and spreadsheet. There are 4,200 active supplier records, including many duplicates with slightly different names and bank details. About 38% of invoices are matched manually, average approval takes nine days, and maverick spend is estimated at 25%.
625 words, about 3 min5Packaging Supplier Squeeze
You are the category buyer for packaging at a cosmetics manufacturer. One supplier provides 80% of your printed cartons. Its reject rate is 3% against a specification of 0.5%, and 18% of deliveries have been late in the last quarter, causing two line stoppages. The supplier has now requested a 12% price increase, citing resin costs.
671 words, about 3 min