Any CPP's/SCMP's in the house?

[annasuave]

The Alberta Institute has just released the fall seminar schedule. It doesn't matter to me in the slightest which seminar(s) I take - honestly, I just need the credits and don't want to be bored to death doing it.

Laurie Turnbull and Bob Worthington are presenting - and both are solid presenters with good information.

Jacqueline Iny is presenting 2 seminars that could be useful. Never having met her or attended one of her seminars before - I was looking for some kind of feedback on the calibre of her seminars. Anyone?

[polak]

I'm going to sign up for it once I have some money saved up. I got the SCM degree from MRU so Im already half way through it technically (so my profs said at least). I can't help you much since I haven't done it yet but I've only heard negative things about pretty much everything related to SCMP from people I know who are taking it. Doesn't make me overly excited...

[dubc80]

I've previously gotten credits for the designation with "in-house" company training.

You have to submit the agenda/table of contents (showing the curriculum covered) and a Certificate of Completion. PMAC reviews it then lets you know how many credits you can get for it.

I've been to a few Bob Worthington seminars. Entertaining guy.

And yeah, there certainly are lots of PMAC skeptics, but if you're in Supply Chain, it's the only designation you can get in Canada, I believe. Based on what I've heard from colleagues, most companies don't actively endorse it, but they'll certainly support it and pay for the membership, seminars, etc.

[dubc80]

Originally Posted by polak

I'm going to sign up for it once I have some money saved up. I got the SCM degree from MRU so Im already half way through it technically (so my profs said at least). I can't help you much since I haven't done it yet but I've only heard negative things about pretty much everything related to SCMP from people I know who are taking it. Doesn't make me overly excited...

When I did my residence week before the national exam, I met lots of people from other parts of the country who were really into getting it, and they made it sound like getting their designation would give them a huge edge (and salary bump) over others in the job market.

Since you're 1/2 done, may as well finish! Having it won't hurt you.

I know they were working hard to raise the profile of the designation and they talked about the whole re-branding (from CPP to SCMP) piece a lot a few years ago. I actually saw a SCMP advertisement on a Calgary Transit bus not long ago. haha.

[polak]

Yeah don't get me wrong the negatives were all related to how awfully boring and how big of a pain the process is. Im looking for an SCM job now and almost every position lists the designation as a requirement.

[annasuave]

I've had the designation for a few years. The road to certification wasn’t always fun, and yes – there are a few boring classes along the way. I’ve never met a CPP who doesn’t wax nostalgic about how long it took and how much it cost, me included.

More employers are asking for it, and having the designation has made a positive difference in my salary. I’m seeing more value in it now that I was 5 years ago.

I guess WGMG is the ongoing credits. Seminars work out to be the easiest way to get the 30 credits in the 3 year cycle. But sitting in a room for two days listening to someone drone on about intermodal transportation logistics makes me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in life. I’ve claimed in-house training too. Not always worth the same credit as a PMAC-sponsored event, but if you have to do it anyway, you might as well claim the credits.

@ Polak – if you have an SCM degree, you can apply for advanced standing for the designation. You might even be more than halfway done. I don’t know if PMAC still allows you to simply challenge the exam, might be worth looking into. The folks in Edmonton at the Alberta Institute can fill you in.

[Red Slinger]

I've worked in the field now for about 17 years and I don't have a PMAC designation. That said, I have been to a few Bob Worthington seminars and I agree that he is excellent (in small quantities).

I've found that the PMAC designations are becoming less and less necessary to make a decent living in the field. Most of the big operating companies still like CPP designations but even many of them are starting to value experience over letters. There are many training programs and international programs that are at least as good, much shorter and cheaper although they aren't necessarily recognized formally by many companies. From a performance standpoint I don't think that there is any substitute for effective experience and when you are a proven performer, that's when promotions and raises tend to follow. I guess I would be considered PMAC skeptic, especially considering the level of competence (or lack thereof) that I've witnessed from some CPPs I've worked with. (I know, I know correlation ain't causation, etc.)

When I was still in Calgary and working for a big EPCM I asked my boss (VP Contracts & Procurement) about his recommedations for some additional education. I asked him about the PMAC programs and even a MBA. He actually recommended a U of C program for construction contract management. I think he was probably right as construction contracts cover just about anything you'll encounter in procurement and more. However, if you're less on the project side and more on the historical supply chain side of things (owner/operator maintenance type of work or supplier inventory type) than a PMAC or equivalent is probably more for you and better recongnized.

[Lionel Steel]

Bumping this old thread...

I finished a business degree at the U of L a couple years ago, with a supply chain management minor. I have been working as a buyer for an oilfield equipment manufacturer for about a year now. I have really enjoyed my time in procurement and would like to continue in the field.

I have been looking starting some sort of designation program and it seems like the SCMP would probably be the best fit. The information I have been able to find (including this brief thread) has shown pretty mixed reviews. Since the program is a pretty big financial commitment, I thought I would ask CP for their input on the designation. Is it worth it? Or are there other options that I should look into? One issue is that I do live in Lethbridge, so online coursework is pretty much my only option at the moment.

[Northendzone]

are you down with CPP....you know me!!!!

[dubc80]

Originally Posted by Lionel Steel

Bumping this old thread...

I finished a business degree at the U of L a couple years ago, with a supply chain management minor. I have been working as a buyer for an oilfield equipment manufacturer for about a year now. I have really enjoyed my time in procurement and would like to continue in the field.

I have been looking starting some sort of designation program and it seems like the SCMP would probably be the best fit. The information I have been able to find (including this brief thread) has shown pretty mixed reviews. Since the program is a pretty big financial commitment, I thought I would ask CP for their input on the designation. Is it worth it? Or are there other options that I should look into? One issue is that I do live in Lethbridge, so online coursework is pretty much my only option at the moment.

Have you asked your current employer to pay for it? Or a portion of it?

[#-3]

My employer sent me to the SMT program in its first year.

The quality of education was pretty bad.

I would like to work on a designation one day, but unless I hear good things from people who have taken the program since they went to the SCMP, I will probably try to find something different that suits the work I am doing.

Maybe it was that it was the first year, or maybe they did not take preparing the diploma program as seriously as preparing the designation program.

[annasuave]

Originally Posted by Lionel Steel

Bumping this old thread...

I finished a business degree at the U of L a couple years ago, with a supply chain management minor. I have been working as a buyer for an oilfield equipment manufacturer for about a year now. I have really enjoyed my time in procurement and would like to continue in the field.

I have been looking starting some sort of designation program and it seems like the SCMP would probably be the best fit. The information I have been able to find (including this brief thread) has shown pretty mixed reviews. Since the program is a pretty big financial commitment, I thought I would ask CP for their input on the designation. Is it worth it? Or are there other options that I should look into? One issue is that I do live in Lethbridge, so online coursework is pretty much my only option at the moment.

PM sent

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Lionel Steel

Bumping this old thread...

I finished a business degree at the U of L a couple years ago, with a supply chain management minor. I have been working as a buyer for an oilfield equipment manufacturer for about a year now. I have really enjoyed my time in procurement and would like to continue in the field.

I have been looking starting some sort of designation program and it seems like the SCMP would probably be the best fit. The information I have been able to find (including this brief thread) has shown pretty mixed reviews. Since the program is a pretty big financial commitment, I thought I would ask CP for their input on the designation. Is it worth it? Or are there other options that I should look into? One issue is that I do live in Lethbridge, so online coursework is pretty much my only option at the moment.

I'm currently in the program. Two people I work with who are also pursuing the SCMP have strongly recommended against doing it online. Apparently it's very disorganized/unclear, as well as slightly more expensive.

As for the material itself, it's nothing that you wouldn't have been exposed to in your business undergrad or work experience. If you can do in-class coursework, it seems that the most value you'll get out of it highly depends on the quality of your groups/peers, which from what I've seen in my short time in the program, is very hit and miss.

[polak]

Sigh, having SCMP Designation "in progress" on my resume hasn't helped anything fyi.

I'm really curious who is applying for these entry level SCM jobs. I heard from one friend who works in HR for a pretty big O&G firm that you have people with 10+ years of experience willing to work for 55 grand a year out here. I just don't get it. How bad is it out in the rest of Canada.

One thing I did learn from my SCM degree, being an owner operator truck driver is where the real money is in Supply Chain. Seriously debating that.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by polak

One thing I did learn from my SCM degree, being an owner operator truck driver is where the real money is in Supply Chain. Seriously debating that.

I mostly talk to companies handling grain, but the hours are long and profit can dwindle fast. Although, if you can get into a spot where you own 5 trucks and hire people, different story. Also, I have mainly dealt with trucks on the east and the US.

[annasuave]

Wracking my brains trying remember a particular bit of Canadian case law regarding procurement.

Shell Canada was the defendant, I can't recall the plaintiff. I believe it was a construction company in Fort MacMurray.

I seem to recall the case went to supreme court with the result being a massive award to the plaintiff. The case is often referenced as a good example of what NOT to say to vendors when drinking.

Anyone? Beuller? Beuller?