CPIM study plan

Map the end-to-end supply chain into a one-page diagram showing plan, source, make, deliver, and return flows for a product you know

Define and write out the four competitive priorities (cost, quality, time, flexibility) and give one trade-off example for each

Distinguish strategic, tactical, and operational planning horizons and list which decisions belong to each

Convert the CPIM exam weights into a personal scorecard by writing target scores per domain

Explain how supply chain strategy aligns with corporate strategy using one real company example and its order qualifiers versus order winners

Sequence the five steps of the S&OP cycle and state the inputs, outputs, and typical participants for each step

Build a small S&OP agenda and one-page template covering demand review, supply review, financial reconciliation, and executive review

Contrast level, chase, and hybrid production plans and calculate rough capacity requirements for each in a sample scenario

Classify demand forecasting methods into qualitative, causal, time-series, and simulation, and match each to a use case

Compute a three-period moving average and simple exponential smoothing forecast from a supplied dataset

Decompose a forecast into level, trend, and seasonality components and explain how each is used in planning

Calculate and interpret forecast error metrics including MAD, MAPE, and tracking signal, then state the reaction rule when tracking signal exceeds a threshold

Describe the master production schedule and list the four inputs that constrain it

Distinguish make-to-stock, make-to-order, and assemble-to-order from a planning and MPS perspective

Solve five MPS problems where demand exceeds available capacity and document the trade-off chosen

Perform MRP explosion for a simple multi-level bill of materials and record net requirements, planned orders, and lead-time offsets

Interpret the bill of materials hierarchy, including parents, components, and scrap or yield allowances

Define inventory carrying cost, ordering cost, and stockout cost and compute each from supplied figures

Apply economic order quantity and reorder point logic to three scenarios with differing lead times and demand variability

Distinguish ABC classification, cycle counting, and safety stock policy, and set safety stock for one item using a stated service level

Explain the functions and parameters of shop floor control, including priority rules, dispatch lists, and input/output control

Compare scheduling techniques such as forward and backward scheduling, finite and infinite loading, and Gantt representations

Compute order quantity and lead-time elements for a work center using available capacity and run-time data

Describe theory of constraints and identify bottleneck versus non-bottleneck resources in a simple routing

Align material availability, capacity, and release dates to build a short-horizon detailed schedule for a job shop

Explain the objectives of distribution planning and how inventory positioning affects customer service and total cost

Distinguish warehouse activities including receiving, put-away, picking, packing, and shipping, and specify one performance measure for each

Compare transportation modes on cost, speed, capacity, and reliability, and select an appropriate mode for three scenarios

Describe distribution requirements planning logic and how it links to the master schedule and MRP

Explain reverse logistics, including returns, recalls, and sustainability considerations, and list the process steps for a customer return

Evaluate supplier selection criteria and build a weighted supplier scorecard covering quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness

Explain purchasing and procurement processes, including requisition, sourcing, contract, and supplier relationship management

Describe key support functions in supply chain planning, including engineering change control, product lifecycle management, and finance interface

Apply the seven basic quality tools to a defect dataset and identify the most frequent cause

Distinguish quality control, quality assurance, and total quality management, and explain the cost of quality categories

Explain continuous improvement frameworks including PDCA, lean, and Six Sigma, and match each to a supply chain problem type

Justify business investment decisions using payback, net present value, and return on investment calculations

Re-derive the linkages among the nine domains by tracing one product from strategy through S&OP, forecast, plan, schedule, distribute, and quality control

Review and re-answer every item missed on prior practice quizzes and document the corrected reasoning

Take two full-length timed practice exams and analyze missed items by domain