February 2009 Issue

The APICS Connection is a monthly e-newsletter designed to keep you informed about news and educational opportunities in the APICS membership community.

Learn and Network

• APICS Connection Live: Member Advocacy, the Economy, and More
• Sneak Peek: APICS Magazine, March/April Issue
• APICS CSCP Program: Moving Closer to Computer-Based Testing
• APICS Presents Operations Management Now
• APICS Member Benefits Spotlight

Connect and Contribute

• APICS Members: Stay Connected with APICS
• Share Your Industry Knowledge: Become a P&IM Journal Author

Enhance Your Earning Power

• APICS Certifications Help to Recession-Proof Your Career
• Free APICS-SAP Benchmarking Study for APICS Members
• Upcoming APICS Educational Events

Learn and Network

APICS Connection Live: Member Advocacy, the Economy, and More
Join APICS CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE, on February 18, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. CT, for APICS Connection Live. This APICS online event is designed to inform APICS members about important developments within the organization. Take this opportunity to learn how APICS is addressing today’s challenging economic situation and about the strategic direction of APICS. Register for APICS Connection Live to:

• Gain insights and understand APICS’ role in minimizing the effects of today’s economic situation
• Learn how APICS is working to assist the profession and APICS members in today's challenging economy
• Hear about APICS’ results from 2008 and organizational priorities for 2009

Register for APICS Connection Live.
Submit your questions for APICS CEO Abe Eshkenazi in advance.

Sneak Peek: APICS Magazine, March/April Issue
Don’t miss the March/April issue of APICS magazine, which includes the following feature stories.

Energy Efficiency How-Tos
APICS magazine’s first spotlight on sustainable business features a story by lean six sigma experts David Rucker and J.D. Cunningham. They argue that building on lean six sigma manufacturing and process management methodologies enables professionals to discover new ways to reduce the carbon impact of their products and processes and create truly lean, green businesses. This article offers insights on how to realize the benefits of continuous improvement and how to apply sustainability principles to all areas of an operation to provide dramatic bottom-line results.

Coping with Long-Distance (Supply Chain) Relationships
In today’s very difficult economy, it is more important than ever to maintain solid supply chain partnerships and streamline business transactions with your customers and suppliers. By focusing on relationships, leading supply chain performers are reaping tremendous gains in shareholder value, including lower costs, improved productivity, and increased revenues. Author Mike McGuigan outlines the steps to maximizing a company’s profits by capturing global market share and optimizing the worldwide supply chain.

Turning Skeptics into Advocates
Without some effective intervention, the efforts of a change agent are likely to suffer a fatal stall and, after a while, be forgotten. Despite our best efforts to identify and implement improvements, change agents often struggle to overcome resistance while facilitating continuous improvement activities, executing plans, and sustaining gains. The author of this article discusses his experiences with change agents and ways to overcome obstacles.

Watch for the March/April issue of APICS magazine in the mail and read it online at apics.org/magazine.

APICS CSCP Program: Moving Closer to Computer-Based Testing

APICS CSCP CBT Beta Test Will Have Windows

March Beta Exam Window
Domestic: March 15-April 11, 2009
International: March 21-April 11, 2009

Where Can I Find CBT in March?
The following Pearson VUE testing locations will be available for the APICS CSCP CBT beta test in March 2009. 

March 2009 Domestic Beta Sites

March 2009 International Beta Sites

CSCP CBT Beta Registration Process
CBT beta registration will begin February 23, 2009. Domestic candidates will be able to register for the exam directly through the Pearson VUE Web site (www.pearsonvue.com). International candidates will work directly through their local certification or international associate to register. A detailed registration process will be posted on the APICS Web site by February 1, 2009.

Got Questions?
If you have any specific questions, please contact:
Ayana Nickerson, Director of Certification
anickerson@apics.org

APICS Presents Operations Management Now
In each edition of the weekly e-newsletter Operations Management Now, APICS CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE, discusses timely topics in today’s economy. These topics range from risk management to excess inventory and more, and how they relate to the APICS operations management body of knowledge. Watch your inbox each Friday or view the latest Operations Management Now online here or at apics.org/advocacy.

APICS Member Benefits Spotlight
Joining APICS was the first step in shaping the direction of your future. The next step is to use the benefits of membership to enhance your knowledge and skills. Be sure to take advantage of the following APICS resources:

APICS Operations Management Body of Knowledge (OMBOK) Framework
In today’s challenging economy, the APICS OMBOK Framework, which defines the scope of the operations management field and the vast APICS body of knowledge, is more important than ever. APICS members receive a complimentary electronic copy. Visit here or apics.org/resources/ombok.htm to download your complimentary copy.

APICS Learning Communities
One of the most important benefits of APICS membership is the ability to use valuable online resources. Participate in the APICS Learning Communities with more than 6,900 of your colleagues online to discuss emerging trends and share solutions in areas such as lean, process industries, project oriented operations, and supplier relationship management.

Member participation is the key to the ongoing growth and success of learning communities. The APICS main community is open to all. Join APICS to participate in special content communities. Log in to the APICS Web site at www.apics.org/communities.

APICS Career Center
Fill a position or find a job at the APICS Career Center, the online career destination for operations management professionals. Only members can confidentially post their resume for review by potential employers and subscribe to a job alerts service. To help recruit qualified employees for your staff, members receive discounts on job posting packages. Job seekers can also take advantage of career development tools such as the Career Advice Column, which is full of relevant publications on topics such as interviewing techniques, resume and cover letter writing, and keeping employed in a down economy. Access the online APICS Career Center at apicscareercenter.org or here for details.

Aberdeen Research Publications
Get the latest research findings on enterprise resources planning, supply chain, and manufacturing in free reports provided by Aberdeen Research, included with your APICS membership. Visit apics.org/benefits or click here to download these reports and access the Aberdeen Archive.

• ERP in Complex Manufacturing: Improving Collaboration and Visibility
  Best-in-class complex manufacturers are creating a collaborative environment to integrate functionality to produce quality, speed, and agility.

• The Secret SaaS: On-Demand Supply Chain
  Software as a Service (SaaS) is a key deployment mechanism that has the potential to provide companies an approach that minimizes total cost of ownership (TCO), but the key question is - does SaaS enable companies to realize the business ROI?

• Making Integrated Business Planning Pay Off: Bridging Supply, Demand, and Finance
  Aberdeen’s June 2008 research on sales and operations planning (S&OP) processes at more than 300 companies revealed that best-in-class companies were twice as likely to have their financial goals aligned with their supply chains. Integrated business planning (IBP) is the process that enables this alignment.

• Compliance and Traceability in Real-Time: Accelerating the Speed of Business
  This report will show how this executive focus is enabling best-in-class manufacturers to transform their businesses and improve both product quality and customer satisfaction by implementing enterprise wide compliance and traceability through quality and manufacturing systems.

To read more about your member benefits, visit apics.org/membership.

Connect and Contribute

APICS Members: Stay Connected with APICS
In this challenging economy, it’s more important than ever to stay informed on current industry trends and valuable knowledge. By updating your contact information with APICS, you are ensuring that you continue to receive valuable member benefits. Stay connected with APICS by updating your contact information at www.apics.org/myinfo.

Share Your Industry Knowledge: Become a P&IM Journal Author
Launching in 2009, The Production and Inventory Management Journal (P&IM Journal) publishes timely industry research relevant to operations and supply chain management professionals. The P&IM Journal is currently accepting author submissions of original manuscripts containing information related to operations and supply chain management. For author criteria and requirements, please visit or apics.org/Resources/pandimj_submit.htm.

Enhance Your Earning Power

APICS Certifications Help to Recession-Proof Your Career
It is always wise to take charge of your professional development and career options. In tough times like these, operations and supply chain professionals must hone their skills to enhance job security and help your organization stay viable.

Stand out from your colleagues, become a valued asset to your employer, and enhance your marketability by earning an internationally recognized APICS certification. APICS world-renowned certification programs provide operations management professionals with relevant, essential education that equips them for today’s fast-changing marketplace. APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) designations demonstrate to your customers, competition, employers, and staff that you have the skills and knowledge needed to be successful.

For more information on how APICS certification can affect your career and improve your skills during this challenging time, visit here or apics.org/certification.

March APICS CSCP Exam Registration Deadline Extended
Register for the March 21 APICS CSCP exam by February 13, 2009. There’s still time to gain the competitive edge you need with an APICS CSCP certification. For more information on how to register view here or at apics.org/cscp.  

Free APICS-SAP Benchmarking Study for APICS Members
The APICS-SAP Benchmarking Program can help you benchmark important aspects of your business, such as supply chain planning, SRM and procurement, warehouse management, and five other studies, against the practices of other leading companies. You will receive a report outlining your company’s performance compared to others in the industry, and have a one-on-one session with a benchmarking expert to analyze the results and help identify steps to take your business to the next level.

The program, free to APICS members, is confidential and is technology independent – you do not need to run SAP to benefit from this offer. The results focus on key metrics and actionable improvement. This service can be valuable for helping to maintain the bottom line.

To find out more information or to take the APICS-SAP Benchmarking survey visit here or apics.org/Resources/sap_survey.htm.

Upcoming APICS Educational Events

APICS Workshops

APICS CPIM Workshops:

APICS workshops are a great way to prepare for the APICS CPIM exams and improve your knowledge of topics. APICS is offering four exceptional workshops:

• March 9-11, 2009, Master Planning of Resources
  Chicago, Illinois
• June 15-17, 2009, Detailed Scheduling and Planning
  Chicago, Illinois
• August 10-12, 2009, Execution and Control of Resources
  Chicago, Illinois
• November 16-18, 2009, Strategic Management of Resources
  Chicago, Illinois

Visit the APICS corporate office while taking advantage of hands-on certification review. Learn valuable techniques to become a leader in your field. APICS certification designees earn 24 professional development points toward certification maintenance for attending APICS workshops. Register today.

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