APICS to Implement Certification
Maintenance Program

On January 1, 1998, APICS will demonstrate its commitment to lifelong learning by initiating the new APICS Certification Maintenance Program. At that time, every five years, people certified in the APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory Management (CFPIM) programs will be required to document professional development points earned for activities in four categories. These categories are: continuing education; presentations, publications and educational development; contributions to the profession; and professional memberships.

"With today's technology changes and a rapidly changing workplace, it is critical that people holding APICS certification demonstrate that they are staying on the cutting edge in the P&IM fields and in integrated resource management, said Ray Ayoub, senior manager, certification. "The APICS certification maintenance program is designed not only to be flexible, but also to allow a variety of lifelong learning experiences to qualify for continuing professional development."

For example, people certified before, or during 1998, must earn and document the required number of professional development points by 2003 while those certified in 1999 must comply by 2004.

In January, APICS will send all CPIM and CFPIM designees and candidates a packet of detailed information that will include a list of specific professional development activities that qualify for certification maintenance points and a journal for recording professional activities, accomplishments and points earned.

Additional information including certification maintenance deadlines and processing fees can be obtained from APICS by calling APICS Customer Service and requesting the Certification Maintenance Fact Sheet (item #09033).

The second of two Complex Industries (CI) Technical Conferences will be held Nov. 10-11, in Los Angeles. Sponsored by the CI SIG, the theme of the conference is "Next Generation Manufacturing (NGM)." The program is designed to help manufacturing professionals understand the NGM process and learn how to develop an NGM action plan. The conference will focus on topics including virtual corporations, dual-use technology, contract manufacturing and enterprise integration in the NGM environment. One of the highlights of this conference is a workshop titled "Using Commercial Leverage to Reduce Defense Cuts." Led by Michael F. McGrath, Ph.D., assistant deputy undersecretary of defense (commercial programs), this session will cover the Department of Defense's strategy for dual use technology (applicable to both defense and commercial applications) as well as new government programs and funding opportunities in this area.

For more information, call APICS Customer Service and request the Complex Industries Technical Conference Brochure (item #04028).

To better serve its customers with timely information, APICS has implemented Fax-on-Demand, an automated system where APICS members and nonmembers can call APICS Headquarters and request free information about APICS products and services — including brochures and application forms. Upon receiving the request, APICS will fax the information within minutes. Fax-on-Demand can be accessed seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Available to APICS members and nonmembers in the United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Fax-on-Demand is accessed , pressing #5 from the main menu and following the directions. Customers should note that when entering their fax number they only need to enter a 10-digit phone number (area code and fax number). They should not place a one before the area code. Callers also can transfer to APICS Customer Service from the Fax-on-Demand menus.

Information will be available via fax from areas including membership, certification and SIGs. Also accessible are publication order forms, workshops and APICS Educational and Research Foundation information.

Among the items already accessible by Fax-on-Demand are:

• Membership applications
• Call for Presentations (for '98 conference)
• Certification test sites
• Chapter events listing form for APICS—The Performance Advantage
• Employment referral forms for candidates
• Employment referral forms for employers

New documents will be added as they become available.

The final Process Industries Production Planning and Scheduling Workshop for 1997 will be held Nov. 3-4 in Houston. The workshop is designed for experienced process industry planners and schedulers who wish to learn advanced techniques in these areas to increase productivity and improve performance. Process manufacturing covers areas such as chemical, food and beverage, furniture and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The workshops will address topics including:

• how to reengineer a company around the supply chain
• theory and practical applications of planning and scheduling
• how finite capacity scheduling complements material requirements planning logic
• how to blend business strategies with the reality of limited capacity and resources

For more information about the workshop, call APICS Customer Service and request the 1997 Process Industries Production Planning and Scheduling Workshop Brochure (item #04051).

The APICS Educational and Research (E&R) Foundation has received $30,000 in gifts and pledges for a study, to be done in conjunction with the Marketing Sciences Institute, titled "Managing the Flow of Information in the Business Enterprise." The latest contribution of $5,000 was presented by John Boyle, director of commercial procurement and material systems at Rockwell International Corp., based in Seal Beach, Calif. Boyle presented the gift to the foundation during its Summer Academic/Practitioner Workshop, held this past August in New Mexico. The study will explore ways of implementing and managing cross-functional activities, emphasizing how marketing and operations interface, how relationships affect production and profits, and how information sharing adds to competitive advantages.

To qualify for the competition, research teams must be made up of members from diverse business specialties such as operations and marketing.

For information about this, and other partnering opportunities, contact the APICS E&R Foundation at (800) 444-APICS (2742) or (703) 237-8344, ext. 2202, or by e-mail at [email protected]