Certified Supply Chain Associate (CSCA)
The CSCA Online Training and Certification Program includes access to the Online Learning Portal, Instructor Support, Exam and Certification. There are 116 modules in total that need to be completed for this certification course.
Duration: 80 Hours
Fee: US $500 or EUR 425 or CAD $665 or INR 25,000 (Including Exam)
The User ID and Password will be valid for 1 year from time of enrollment. Please note 80 hours is just an indication of effort in terms of hours to view all the 116 modules, Library and sample test papers. If you spare 2 hours a day, all the modules can be completed within 40 days (80 hrs/2 hrs = 40 days). That is approximately 1 month and ten days.
On average, most members complete the CSCA Exam within 2 to 4 months depending on the hours spent per day. The modules can be viewed any number of times without restriction, and access will continue to be valid for 1 year even if a member completes the Exam in the fourth month. The online exam is conducted on the 14th and 28th every month. Members are expected to complete the online exam within the 1-year time frame.
Who can do this course?
- In case of a Manufacturing set up, Supply Chain is nothing but the entire chain that starts right at the point of procuring raw materials for manufacturing a particular commodity/product to the point where it is sold. This involves managing the supply of raw materials, its inventory, maintenance of machinery required to manufacture the product, manpower, factory premises, packaging, transportation/logistics and delivery of the product from the factory to the warehouse, from the warehouse to the distributor and from the distributor to the retail outlet. Supply chain is also applicable to service industry. In case of a services set up, supply chain is nothing but the entire chain that starts with the different modes of delivery infrastructure such as the employees, desktops, laptops, kiosks, websites and anything else that is used to deliver a service in a company framework. It also involves data centers, servers, storage devices and firewalls.
- The CSCA program is a self-paced supply chain management training and certification program covering industry fundamentals, terms, models to follow, trends, and best practices. This training program is for those looking to work in supply chain management Industry. This allows participants to earn a certificate in supply chain management by fulfilling the course requirements and receiving a passing grade on the online examination.
- Anybody who is interested to start a career in Supply Chain/Procurement Industry can do this course.
- The certification provides individuals with recognition as a professional ready to work effectively in the Job market.
- This is one of the most preferred certification by companies looking to hire resources in the Supply Chain Departments at a entry-level
How will this Certification help me in my professional career?
By passing the exam for Certified Supply Chain Associate, you will join an elite group of professionals who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in Supply Chain Management. The CSCA designation can be mentioned after your name just like a Ph.d. The CSCA designation will also be a proof of your technical expertise and will enhance your credibility in the Industry.
What is the Eligibility?
- Should have a minimum of 3 years work experience in Research or should have completed the CRE Exam.
- Should be a under graduate or Post graduate from a recognized University.
- Should have minimum 50% marks in school and college.
I have completed my graduation in the year 2005. Am I still eligible?
Yes. The year of completion of the college degree does not matter.
Is there an age limit to join this course?
No. Anyone with an interest in Research can join this course.
I had backlogs/arrears during college but cleared it now. Will that be a problem in finding a job?
The recruitment policy at each company is different. Hence it cannot be standardized. While some companies hire people who have had backlogs/arrears during college, other companies hire members who have not had any backlogs/arrears. So it depends on the
company and its recruitment policies.
Some members who had backlogs/arrears during college and had a second-class college degree have been able to find jobs in leading MNCs after they cleared this certification due to the huge industry demand.
How will the course be delivered?
The classes for the Certified Research Analyst program will be by means of E-learning. The classes will be completely online. The classes can be taken either at your home or office, provided you have an internet connection and a computer.
- IIPMR uses State of the Art Online Learning Management System called Moodle to deliver the classes. Moodle is considered to be the world-class e-learning platform that adheres to SCORM International Standard.
Members can view the video lectures, download study materials, case studies, take practice tests, and also take the online exam on this platform.
- Classes can be taken online 24/7, Anytime Anywhere.
I would like to take the classes from home. I have a computer & an Internet connection. Do I need a high-speed net?
Yes. A high-speed connection is required. A minimum speed of 2 Mbps is required to view the classes.
I may have doubts. Do we have doubt clearing sessions?
Yes. There will be doubt clearing sessions from 5 pm – 7 pm US EST on the 4th Sunday every month. During this session, you can chat with the tutor face to face using a webcam to ask any questions and get your doubts cleared.
How will I get the access to view classes online?
After you submit the application form on our website, the User ID and Password will be sent to your email within 2 hours. Detailed instructions on how to view the Modules (Video Lectures), Download Study Materials (PDF files), Download Case Studies (PDF
files), take Practice Tests, and the procedure for the Online Exam will be provided in the welcome email. You can log in at training.iipmr.com to view the modules, take practice tests, and also the exam.
Where should I log in for the doubt clearing sessions?
The doubt clearing sessions will also take place at training.iipmr.com. You can use the same login ID and Password to join the doubt clearing session.
Can I view a demo of the online class?
Yes. Please click here.
What are the course contents for Certified Supply Chain Associate (CSCA)?
There are 116 modules in total that need to be completed for this certification course.
Course Overview
- Introduction to Supply Chain Management
- Examples of different Supply Chains
- Supply Chain Strategy - How to choose between efficient and responsive strategy with examples
- How to Build a Sustainable Supply Chain - Learn 3 types of sustainability, closed-loop supply chain, and supply chain ethics
- Bullwhip Effect in Supply Chains - practical evidence and theoretical background
- Economic Sanctions and Consumer Boycotts: Effect on Supply Chains
- Procurement (Supplier selection, Procurement policies, etc.)
- Deep Dive on Procurement with Examples
- Game Theory in Supply Chain
- - Introduction to Game Theory and Elements of a Game
- - Revenue-sharing Contracts
- - Buyback Contracts
- - Procurement Auctions as a Game
- - Hidden Information in Supply Chains
- - Moral Hazard Games
- - Supply Chain Cooperation
- What is TCO? Understanding the concept of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and considerations for calculating TCO
- - Elements of TCO Concept
- - Estimating Useful Life
- - Lead Times as Part of TCO
- - Flexibility Costs
- - Quality Costs
- - Compliance Costs
- What are Distribution Channels and how to design an effective distribution channel?
- - Alternative Distribution Channels
- - Performance of Distribution Channels
- - Customer Service Performance Measures
- - Cost Performance Measures
- - Omni-channel Distribution Strategy
- - Types of Distribution Network Design
- - Framework for Distribution Network Design
- - Optimization of Distribution Network Configuration
- How to use Precoro Procurement Software to improve efficiency
- Introduction to Reverse Auctions. Overview of top Reverse Auction tools such as SAP Ariba, Coupa, Ivalua, Zycus, GEP, Jaggaer, Procurex, ProcurePort etc
- How to conduct Reverse Auctions using Easibuy tool
- Step by step instructions to implement Procure to Pay (P2P) and Source to Pay (S2P)
- SAP Ariba - How to create and send RFP on SAP Ariba
- - Section-1
- - Section-2
- How to Conduct Reverse Auctions on SAP Ariba
- - Section-1
- - Section-2
- - Section-3
- How to Conduct Japanese Reverse Auctions on SAP Ariba
- - Section-1
- - Section-2
- - Section-3
- How to Conduct Dutch Reverse Auctions on SAP Ariba
- - Section-1
- - Section-2
- - Section-3
- How to Conduct Forward Auctions on SAP Ariba
- - Section-1
- - Section-2
- - Section-3
- How to Conduct Bid Transformation Auctions on SAP Ariba
- - Section-1
- - Section-2
- - Section-3
- Procurement Planning & Implementation
- Blockchain, Big Data and IoT's Impact on Future of Procurement and Supply Chain
- How to Leverage Procurement to Realize Cost Savings
- Manufacturing/ Production (plant location, product line selection, capacity planning, production scheduling etc)
- Deep Dive on Manufacturing with Examples
- Distribution (Warehouse location, Customer allocation, Demand forecasting, Inventory management, etc.)
- Deep Dive on Distribution with Examples
- How to do Demand Forecasting with practical examples
- Logistics (selection of logistics mode, selection of ports, direct delivery, vehicle scheduling, 3PL, 4PL etc.)
- Deep Dive on Logistics with Examples
- First to Fifth Party Logistics (1 PL to 5 PL)
- How to do Vehicle Route Planning and Scheduling using Open Door Logistics (ODL) Software
- Global Logistics and Transportation
- Emergence of 5 PL
- Omni Channel Logistics & Retailing - Latest trends in Logistics
- How to Financially Optimize your Company's Supply Chain
- End to End Supply chain in Global Health
- Global Decisions (product and process selection, planning under uncertainty, real-time monitoring and control, integrated scheduling)
- Knowledge on how to optimize back end operations. Key technologies : EDI (for exchange for information across different players in the supply chain); Electronic payment protocols; Internet auctions, e-bidding (for selecting suppliers, distributors, demand forecasting, etc.); E-logistics; Continuous tracking of customer orders through the Internet; Internet-based shared services manufacturing; etc.
- United States Trade Compliance for Export and Import. Important US Customs regulatory compliance, BIS/ITAR export control
- Supply Chain Risk & Business Continuity
- Best Practices on Contract Management
- How to Create a Effective Contract Strategy with Examples
- What is Strategic Sourcing? (Examples & Case Studies)
- Strategic Sourcing for a Major Oil & Gas Co
- How to improve the efficiency of a company’s supply chain? (How to improve the purchasing, procurement, other supply chain functions of a company to lower cost, improve quality, and achieve savings)
- Traditional Procurement Process
- Procurement Transformation - A Continuous Process
- How to use Vizibl Tool for Supplier Collaboration and Innovation
- What is E-Procurement
- E-Sourcing
- Procure to Pay (P2P)
- Source to Pay (S2P)
- Reverse Auction
- Quality Concepts
- Introduction to Lean Manufacturing and Quality Management Principles
- Introduction to 5S, 7 wastes found in manufacturing, Six Sigma, JIT, Kanban
- JIT with Examples
- Seven Wastes in Manufacturing with Examples
- 5S with Examples
- Kanban with Examples
- Six Sigma with Examples. How to implement Six Sigma
- Kaizen with Examples
- Spend Management
- Inco Terms
- Payment & Discount Terminologies
- Top 5 Procurement Predictions
- Top 5 Supply Chain Trends
- Top 5 steps to Insuring your Supply Chain
- Preparing Global Supply Chains Against Uncertainty
- Strategic Procurement
- Need for Market Research
- Importance of Crude Oil
- Important Economic Concepts that Market Research Professionals and Supply Chain Professionals Should Know
- Sourcing Process
- Sourcing Process in Pharmaceutical Industry
- Low Cost Country Sourcing
- 3 PL & 4 PL
- 10 Common 3 PL Mistakes
- Guest Lecture on Supply Chain Risk Management
- Export & Import Management
- Pallets & Fork Lifts
- Warehousing & Distribution
- Warehouse Management
- How to manage warehouse
- What is a Warehouse Management System (WMS) and what are the top WMS in market?
- How does Amazon manage its warehouse?
- Inventory Management
- How to manage inventory efficiently?
- Inventory Carrying Costs: What It Is and How to Calculate It
- Economic Order Quantity
- Why is Economic Order Quantity so important?
- How to calculate Economic Order Quantity with example
- Stock Keeping Units
- What is a SKU?
- How to create Stock Keeping Units?
- RFID
- RFID Introduction
- Potential of RFID Technology and its impact
- What is RFID Inventory Management?
- Introduction to Market Research - Why is it extensively used in Supply Chain Management
- Research Skills in SCM/Procurement Industry
- Primary Research - How to do Primary Research - Step by Step Instructions with Examples
- Secondary Research - How to do Secondary Research - Step by Step Instructions with Examples
- Primary vs Secondary Research
- Look At What Matters Before Doing Research
- Top 5 Market Research Trends
- How Should Social Media Be Used In Market Research
- Current Market Research Trends
- Porter's Five Force Analysis
- PESTLE Analysis
- SWOT Analysis
- Supplier Diversity - How to find minority suppliers and what are the top databases?
- Magic Quadrant Analysis
- Supplier Ranking & Capability Matrix
- Price Forecasting
- Price Forecasting - Simple Linear Regressions
- Price Forecasting - Multiple Linear Regressions
- Price Forecasting - Time Series Decompositions
- Price Forecasting - Exponential Smoothing Methods
- Price Forecasting - ARIMA (Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average Model)
- Price Forecasting - How to calculate CAGR and AAGR
- Price Forecasting – Practice Sheets (Step by Step Calculation Examples using Practice Sheets for Exam Preparation)
- Price Forecasting – Conclusion
- Case Studies and Best Practices (Downloadable PDF Files)
- Case Study on Amazon's Supply Chain
- Case Study on Apple's Supply Chain
- Case Study on BMW's Supply Chain
- Case Study on Dell's Supply Chain
- Case Study on Ford's Supply Chain
- Case Study on McDonald's Supply Chain
- Case Study on Starbucks' Supply Chain
- Case Study on Walmart's Supply Chain
- Real-Time Example of How Companies are using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in their Supply Chain
- Real-Time Example of How to Forecast Price of Commodities on Monthly, Weekly, and Annual Basis
- Real-Time Example of Kanban, Kaizen, 5S, JIT, and Six Sigma Quality Principles
- Real-Time Examples of Demand Forecasting
- Real-Time Examples of How Blockchain Is used in Supply Chain
- Case Study on Saving Beyond Price Negotiations - Inco Terms
- Case Study of Fuyao Glass USA's Sourcing Dilemma
- Case Study on How to Select Optimal Sourcing Strategy under Certainty and Uncertainty
- Healthcare Supply Chain Management - A Case Study of Indonesia
- Honda Canada - Managing Supply Chain in Crisis
- Supplier Disruption - A Case Study of Ashmark Corporation
- 10 Ways to Get a High Paying Job in Supply Chain
- Practice Test-1 (It has 200 questions)
- Practice Test-2 (It has 200 questions)
- Exam
What is the course duration?
It is 80 hours totally. You may complete all the modules as per your convenience and once you are well prepared you can take up the exam at training.iipmr.com.
The User ID and Password will be valid for 1 year from time of enrollment. Please note 80 hours is just an indication of effort in terms of hours to view all the 116 modules, Library and sample test papers. If you spare 2 hours a day, all the modules can be completed within 40 days (80 hrs/2 hrs = 40 days). That is approximately 1 month and ten days.
On an average, most members complete CSCA Exam within 2 to 4 months depending on the hours spent per day. The modules can be viewed any number of times without restriction and access will continue to be valid for 1 year even if a member completes the Exam in the fourth month. The online exam is conducted on 14th and 28th every month. Members are expected to complete the online exam within the 1 year time frame.
What is the course fee?
It is US $500 or EUR 425 or CAD $665 or INR 25,000 (Includes Online Exam)
What is the minimum score to pass the exam?
A minimum score of 60% is required to pass the exam and be eligible for certification.
I did not pass the exam on my first attempt. Is there a second attempt?
Yes. If you have not passed the exam in the first attempt, you are permitted to take up the exam again.
How many re-attempts are allowed?
There are no limits to the number of attempts one can take. The first two attempts are free of cost. However from the third attempt onward there is an exam fee of USD 50 for each attempt thereafter.
Please note 90% of our members pass the exam in the very first attempt. With good preparation and by utilizing the practice tests available on the training portal, one can definitely pass the
exam with ease in the first attempt.
I did not pass even the second attempt. What should I do now?
You will have to view all the modules again (Free) and take the exam as a third attempt. However USD 50 will be charged for this re-exam.
What is the question pattern in the exam?
There will be totally 254 questions with multiple choice answers.
What is the time duration for the exam?
1 hour and 45 minutes (Total 105 minutes)
When will I know the results? How will I know what is my score in the exam?
Your score will be displayed immediately after you submit answers to all the questions.
When and Where will I take up the exam? Are there any specific dates for the exam?
The online exam is conducted on 14th and 28th of every month. You need to register in advance by submitting this form here: Exam Registration Form.
Once you choose the date, your account will be configured for the exam and an e-mail confirmation will be sent to you. On the day of the exam, you need to login with your User ID and Password
at training.iipmr.com to take up the exam. The exam can be taken online from your home/office or at any of our Authorized Training Center as well. Please
note that you may login anytime of the day to take up the exam.
I have scored 60% and passed the exam. When will I receive the certificate?
The certificate will be mailed by express delivery via FedEx or DHL to the address provided during the time of registration. For residents in USA, Canada, UK, Cameroon, and India, the Certificate
will reach you within 10 business days. For residents in other countries, it will take 15 business days to reach your address. In case there is any change in the address, please write to contact@iipmr.com clearly mentioning your membership id number and username.
Do you offer placement services to certified members?
Yes. We do. Please click here to view the partial list of members who have been placed after becoming certified. Most of the time, many MNCs usually
contact us in order to recruit people with CRP certification, and during those times we share the CVs of our members with these companies.
Do you guarantee a job after I pass the exam?
The CSCA Certification is widely recognized by the Supply Chain industry & the members are of high demand. We do not guarantee a job. However we do provide the latest job openings. IIPMR brings you the latest jobs available in 24 countries that can be accessed at the Job Openings section in the menu panel. The starting salary of an individual with a CSCA certification in USA is $60,000 to $90,000 per annum. The starting salary of an individual with a CSCA certification in Canada is CAD $50,000 to CAD $80,000 per annum. Whereas the starting salary in Europe is in the range of EUR 45,000 per annum to EUR 70,000 per annum. The starting salary of an individual with a CSCA certification in India is Rs.2.4 lakhs/year – Rs.4 lakhs/year. Please click here to view the latest job openings.
Are there any opportunities abroad in the Research Industry?
The Supply Chain industry is booming incredibly across the world as the international trade is vibrant. So the demand for supply chain professional is very high. There are lots of opportunities abroad in the Supply Chain/Procurement/Purchasing Industry in almost all the countries especially Australia, USA, New Zealand, Canada, UK and the Middle East.
Do you offer Interview Guarantee?
We do not guarantee interviews. However, we do share the CVs of our members when employers approach us for recruitment. We also bring you the latest jobs available in 24 countries that can be accessed
at the Job Openings section in the menu panel. Please click here to view the latest job openings.
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