The Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM 8.0) (CPIM-8.0)

The discrete available-to-promise (ATP) method is a calculation based on the available-to-promise figure in the master schedule. For the first period, the ATP is the sum of the beginning inventory plus the MPS quantity minus backlog for all periods until the item is master scheduled again. For other periods, the quantity that is available for an item is based on the quantity available within an individual purchase. Therefore, the master production receipt quantity is committed to requests only for shipment before the next MPS receipt12. References:

•1: APICS CPIM Part 2 Exam Content Manual, Version 8.0, p. 29

•2: NetSuite Applications Suite - Available to Promise Methods3

The supply planning team is responsible for developing a supply plan that balances the demand plan with the available resources and capacities. The functional representatives on the supply planning team, such as production, procurement, engineering, and finance, need to ensure that their functional objectives are considered when developing the plans. For example, production needs to consider the impact of the supply plan on the production schedule, capacity utilization, and labor requirements. Procurement needs to consider the impact of the supply plan on the supplier relationships, lead times, and inventory levels. Engineering needs to consider the impact of the supply plan on the product design, quality, and innovation. Finance needs to consider the impact of the supply plan on the costs, revenues, and profitability. By ensuring that the functional objectives are considered, the supply planning team can create a feasible and optimal supply plan that aligns with the overall business strategy12. References: 1 S & OP: A Comprehensive Overview of Sales and Operations Planning 3 2 CPIM Exam References - Association for Supply Chain Management 1

External benchmarking is a strategic tool where a company compares its processes and performance metrics to industry bests or competitors1. Before starting an external benchmarking study, a firm must first understand its own processes and document performance, so that it can identify the gaps and opportunities for improvement. This is also a requirement for regulatory compliance2. Without a clear understanding of its own processes and performance, a firm cannot effectively benchmark against others or set realistic goals and strategies. References:

•What Is External Benchmarking? (with picture) - Smart Capital Mind

•5 Strategies for Effective ASC External Benchmarking - Becker’s ASC

 Forecast error is the difference between the actual demand and the forecasted demand for a given period. Forecast error can be caused by various factors, such as changes in customer preferences, market conditions, competitor actions, or random variation. Forecast error can be measured using different methods, such as mean absolute deviation (MAD), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), or tracking signal. Forecast error typically triggers forecast revision when it is continually increasing, which indicates that the forecast model is not capturing the underlying demand pattern or trend. A continually increasing forecast error can lead to poor customer service, excess or obsolete inventory, or lost sales opportunities. Therefore, it is important to monitor the forecast error and revise the forecast when necessary to improve the forecast accuracy and reliability. Forecast error does not trigger forecast revision when it is used in computing the tracking signal, associated with the introduction stage of the product life cycle, or caused by random variation. These are not valid reasons for revising the forecast, as they do not indicate a systematic or persistent deviation from the actual demand. References:

CPIM Part 1 Study Guide, Chapter 4: Demand Management, Section 4.2: Forecasting Techniques and Performance Measurement

CPIM Part 2 Study Guide, Chapter 3: Demand Management, Section 3.1: Demand Planning

A Critical Look at Measuring and Calculating Forecast Bias, Section: What Is Forecast Bias?

How Can Forecast Error be Calculated?, Section: Introduction

Rough-cut capacity planning (RCCP) is a type of capacity planning method that uses the master production schedule (MPS) as its primary input. RCCP is a technique for checking the feasibility of the MPS by comparing the available capacity of critical resources (such as machines, labor, or materials) with the capacity required by the MPS. RCCP helps to identify and resolve any potential capacity problems or bottlenecks at an aggregate level, before committing to the MPS. RCCP can also be used to evaluate alternative MPS scenarios and to support the sales and operations planning (S & OP) process12. References: 1 Rough Cut Capacity Planning (RCCP) - Definition, Example, and … 3 2 CPIM Exam References - Association for Supply Chain Management

Sharing of demand data with a supplier is an example of collaboration between suppliers and operations which would give more lead time visibility. This is because it allows the supplier to plan and adjust their production and delivery schedules according to the customer’s needs, reducing the risk of stockouts or excess inventory. It also enables the supplier to provide feedback and suggestions to improve the demand planning process and the accuracy of the forecasts. Sharing of demand data is a key component of supplier relationship management (SRM) and collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR). References :=

CPIM Exam Content Manual, Module 4: Supply, Section 4.2: Supplier Relationship Management, p. 15

Essentials of Supply Chain Management, Chapter 6: Demand Planning and Forecasting, Section 6.4: Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment, pp. 101-103

In inflationary environments, LIFO assigns the most recent (higher) costs to the cost of goods sold, resulting in higher COGS and lower taxable income. FIFO does the opposite, leading to lower COGS and higher profits.

“When inflation occurs, the LIFO method results in higher cost of goods sold because it uses more recent, higher-cost inventory values.”

— CPIM Practice Questions, Inventory Valuation (DSP Page 97)

Point-of-use storage is a stock location system that places inventory close to where it is needed or consumed in the production process. This reduces waste, handling, and transportation costs, and improves material flow and visibility. Point-of-use storage is a key element of a lean environment, where inventory is minimized and replenished frequently based on demand signals. References: EXAM CONTENT MANUAL PREVIEW, page 15, section 7.1.2. Manufacturing Planning and Control for Supply Chain Management: The CPIM Reference, Second Edition, page 462, section 13.3.

In a lean environment, the batch-size decision for planning “A” items would be done by lot-for-lot (L4L). L4L is an inventory management technique that orders exactly the quantity needed to meet the demand for each period. This minimizes the work in process, cycle time, and inventory holding costs. L4L is consistent with the lean principles of reducing batch sizes, eliminating waste, and responding to customer pull. The other options are not suitable for a lean environment, as they either order more than the demand (least total cost, min-max system, periodic order quantity) or incur more setup costs (least total cost, periodic order quantity). References:

•[CPIM Part 2 - Section A - Topic 3 - Lean and Just-in-Time]

•Optimize Production Batch Sizes

•How to determine your Lot Size - Part 1