You have been taking the CPIM exam for a long time tea way to certify your knowledge, not only in product management, but also in inventory management, purchasing, supply chain management and operations management. The APICS website puts it succinctly:
“The APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) program validates a professional’s ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s overall operations.” – from APICS.org
Having said it that way, it’s no wonder more than 93,000 people have sought this designation in the last 40 years or so. But with its grueling 5-part structure and in-depth coverage of various aspects of supply chain management, CPIMs make people wonder: Am I up to the challenge?
The Good News About CPIM Exam Pass Rates
Thanks to the painstaking folks at APICS, we can give you this assurance: Most people who take your CPIM exams are, in fact, up to the challenge. Here is the data for the last four years, broken down by subject:
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Supply Chain Management Basics, 73%
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Master resource planning, 71%
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Detailed scheduling and planning, 75%
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Execution and Control of Operations, 66%
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Strategic resource management, 61%
- Grand total, 66%
The most recent year, 2012, shows these statistics:
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Supply chain management basics, 74%
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Master resource planning, 71%
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Detailed scheduling and planning, 65%
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Execution and Control of Operations, 70%
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Strategic resource management, 51%
- Grand total, 62%
To pass your CPIM exams, you need a total of 300 points or more. While these exams are designed to be competitive, careful study and some test-taking strategies can help you prepare and succeed. While it’s not uncommon for people to fail – nearly 5 out of 10 struggled with that Strategic Resource Management section – it’s even more common for them to succeed.
In my experience, the first module was the least challenging due to the fact that it is more of an overview of the full content outline and less focused overall. I got a score of 309 on that first round, but my scores slowly decreased towards the 300 cutoff with each exam going forward. My trend and the past approval rate trend seem to be correlated; Make sure that your focus and effort improve As you progress through the modules, you will do well.
So be inspired, not intimidated, by the passing rates of these CPIM exams. Others in the industry have been successful because of prior study and preparation; We are sure that you can too!