CPSM Exam 2 case studies
CPSM Exam 2 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
CPSM Exam 2, Supply Management Integration, is the middle of the three computer-based examinations that make up the Certified Professional in Supply Management credential administered by the Institute for Supply Management. It is built for procurement and supply chain practitioners who already know core purchasing mechanics and now need to show they can connect supply management to the rest of the business. The exam carries 165 multiple-choice questions in a 2.75-hour testing period and is delivered at Pearson VUE centers or through online proctored testing, in English, Chinese, or Korean. Content centers on cross-functional collaboration with finance, operations, engineering, and quality; strategic sourcing implementation across organizational boundaries; risk mitigation, compliance, and legal coordination; demand forecasting collaboration, inventory optimization, and logistics coordination; and supplier relationship management, performance measurement, and continuous improvement. The CPSM Exam 2 case studies are 5 cases and about 3,291 words.
1Launch Deadlock: Quality Gate, Cost Target, and Buffer Inventory
MedLine Devices is launching a single-use surgical stapler in 10 weeks. Supply management has one qualified resin supplier, but Quality's supplier-qualification protocol requires 12 weeks for a new molding supplier because of biocompatibility testing.
730 words, about 4 min2Centralizing Private-Label Packaging Across Co-Packers and Stores
NorthLine Grocers operates 140 stores and uses three co-packers for private-label snacks. Over 15 years, store-level buyers have chosen local packaging suppliers; each co-packer buys its own film.
654 words, about 3 min3Sole-Source ASIC: Seismic Exposure, Price Demand, and Export Classification
VoltEdge Systems designs industrial power converters. Its custom controller ASIC is sole-sourced from a foundry in Kumamoto, Japan, with a 26-week lead time.
655 words, about 3 min4Forecast Error, Lead-Time Variability, and Refrigerated Fill Rate
FreshCrate Foods sells refrigerated meal kits through 3 distribution centers. SKU-week forecast accuracy is 62% (MAPE 38%), and promotional weeks are worse.
657 words, about 3 min5Green Scorecard, Deteriorating Service: IT Managed Services at Year Three
MetroWater Utilities has a 5-year, $60M IT infrastructure managed-services contract with a strategic supplier, now in year 3. The supplier's monthly scorecard shows 99.2% availability, 94% first-contact resolution, and all 12 KPIs green.
595 words, about 3 min