CSCP (WorldatWork Rewards Certifications) study plan

Map the end-to-end supply chain into plan-source-make-deliver-return processes and label where each of the four CSCP domains touches the flow

Define the strategic, tactical, and operational planning horizons and classify at least ten real supply chain decisions by horizon

Compare the main competitive strategies (cost leadership, differentiation, responsiveness, resilience) and state how each reshapes network design choices

Explain how supply chain strategy must align with corporate strategy and the voice of the customer, using one worked example from an industry you know

Build a personal glossary of 30 core strategy terms with your own one-line definitions

Size a distribution network decision by comparing centralized versus decentralized warehousing on cost, lead time, and service level

Apply total cost of ownership logic to a network or facility decision, including transportation, inventory, handling, and obsolescence costs

Identify the major regulatory and compliance areas that constrain supply chain design (product safety, customs and trade, environmental and reporting requirements) and note who owns each

Describe how sustainability and circular economy goals change network design, packaging, and reverse logistics flows

Practice ten scenario-style questions on network design and compliance, then write the reasoning behind each correct and incorrect option

Distinguish forecasting methods (qualitative, time series, causal) and select an appropriate method for four different demand patterns

Compute a moving average, exponential smoothing, and seasonal index by hand on a small data set to internalize the mechanics

Calculate and interpret forecast error metrics (MAD, MAPE, bias, tracking signal) and state what each tells a planner

Explain how sales and operations planning (S&OP) and integrated business planning connect demand, supply, and financial plans across a monthly cycle

Diagnose the bullwhip effect in a described channel and propose three concrete dampening actions

Translate a demand plan into master production scheduling and material requirements planning inputs, showing the time fences involved

Work through MRP explosion logic for a small bill of materials: gross requirements, scheduled receipts, projected on-hand, net requirements, planned orders

Compare inventory replenishment policies (continuous review, periodic review, min-max, DRP) and match each to a suitable product profile

Apply ABC and XYZ classification to a sample item list and justify differentiated planning rules per class

Explain capacity planning levels (rough-cut, capacity requirements planning) and how a constrained plan is resolved

Compare sourcing strategies (single, multiple, dual, global, local) on risk, cost, lead time, and flexibility, and recommend one for a stated scenario

Outline a supplier selection and evaluation process, including criteria weighting and total cost of ownership in the award decision

Distinguish manufacturing environments (make-to-stock, make-to-order, assemble-to-order, engineer-to-order) and describe how each affects planning, inventory, and order promising

Explain lean and theory-of-constraints concepts (takt, pull, kanban sizing, bottleneck scheduling) and apply one to a described production line

Map the core logistics functions (transportation modes, warehousing, last-mile, reverse) to cost and service trade-offs

Calculate landed cost for an international shipment including freight, duties, insurance, and handling, and explain how Incoterms shift cost and risk between parties

Describe customs and trade compliance essentials (classification, valuation, origin, documentation) and the consequences of getting them wrong

Design key performance indicators for source, make, and deliver processes and explain how they ladder up to strategic objectives

Identify the main categories of supply chain risk (supplier, demand, operational, financial, geopolitical, cyber) and match each to a mitigation tactic

Build a risk register for a fictional product line with likelihood, impact, owner, and response

Explain supplier relationship management tiers and the governance cadence appropriate to strategic versus transactional suppliers

Describe collaboration mechanisms (joint forecasting, vendor-managed inventory, collaborative planning) and the conditions under which each succeeds

Outline business continuity planning for supply chains: criticality assessment, alternate sources, buffer strategy, and recovery time objectives

Apply a structured problem-solving approach to a cross-functional conflict scenario involving procurement, operations, and sales

Explain the role of ethics, codes of conduct, and supplier audits in managing reputational and compliance risk

Re-take all practice sets and log every missed question by domain and root cause (knowledge gap, misread, calculation error)

Close the top ten logged gaps by writing a short corrected explanation for each from memory

Complete two timed full-length practice exams under exam conditions and compare domain-level scores to identify remaining weak spots

Rehearse calculation types (forecast error, MRP, landed cost, inventory metrics) until each can be done without reference

Finalize a one-page formula and concept sheet you can review in the last 48 hours