CPSM case studies
CPSM · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) is a credential administered by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) for procurement and supply chain professionals. It targets practitioners with existing experience - three years of professional supply management work with a qualifying bachelor's degree, or five years without one - who want verified competency across three domains: supply management core (procurement fundamentals, sourcing, contract management, supplier evaluation), supply management integration (cross-functional collaboration, risk, compliance, analytics), and leadership and transformation (change management, digital transformation, sustainability, strategic planning). Candidates sit three separate computer-based, multiple-choice exams at Pearson VUE centers or through online proctoring, available in English, Chinese, and Korean. Exam 1 has 180 questions in three hours; Exams 2 and 3 each have 165 questions in 2.75 hours. The CPSM case studies are 5 cases and about 2,737 words.
1Consolidating a Fragmented Fastener Supply Base
A contract manufacturer of outdoor power equipment buys 1,240 fastener SKUs from 17 distributors. Annual spend is 4.2M.
570 words, about 3 min2Responding to a Resin-Driven Price Increase
A manufacturer of commercial coffee equipment buys injection-molded housings from a single supplier under a fixed-price contract through December 31. Annual spend is 6.8M.
564 words, about 3 min3Late Procurement Involvement in a New Product Launch
A consumer-products company is seven months from launching a connected thermostat and 16 weeks from planned production start. At design freeze, procurement learns that engineering has selected a sole-source microcontroller unit at 4.85 per unit with an 18-week lead time and no second source.
524 words, about 3 min4Maverick Spend in a Decentralized ERP Landscape
A business-services company has grown through acquisition and now runs three ERPs. Indirect spend is 310M.
549 words, about 3 min5Transforming a Transactional Procurement Team
An industrial distributor with 780M revenue has a 22-person procurement team. Roughly 70% of team time goes to PO processing and expediting.
530 words, about 3 min