CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply
Our CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply is an industry standard qualification which will build on the skills you've gained in both your purchasing career and on the CIPS Level 4 Diploma.
It's ideal if you're a buyer or contract and supply chain manager - or if you aspire to hold those roles - and want the expertise to improve organisational procurement and play a major role in the success of any company.
The qualification is accredited by the Chartered Insititute of Purchasing and Supply, the largest organisation in the world for procurement professionals, so it'll demonstrate to employers that you're abreast of the latest developments and have the most up-to-date skills in procurement.
The course will cover cost reduction, quality improvement and timescale management, managing the supply chain, dealing with legal issues, and many other key skills that every procurement specialist should have.
Completion of this course will allow you to easily fulfil your organisation's objectives by implementing your newly-honed skills.
You'll study five units on this course:
Management in Procurement and Supply
- This unit will allow you to understand different approaches to the management of individuals and groups or teams within organisations.
- In order to develop expertise in developing and fulfilling organizational and functional objectives in procurement and supply, it is essential that you gain a wider appreciation of theories and techniques that relate to managing the people involved with the procurement and supply function.
Managing Risks in Supply Chains
- This unit outlines the tools and techniques to establish the level of risk in supply chains, and will demonstrate and recommend the ways of avoiding, mitigating and managing the risks.
- The unit is also designed to enable you to undertake risk analysis, and apply a range of appropriate risk management tools and techniques within supply chains.
Improving the Competitiveness of Supply Chains
- This unit will demonstrate how to assess a range of processes that help achieve improvements in business performance through its supply chain.
- It's designed to help you understand a range of techniques to improve the competitiveness of organisations in supply chains, and understand their dynamics.
- You'll also cover the methodologies that can be implemented to improve supply chains.
Category Management in Procurement and Supply
- On completion of this unit, you'll be able to develop plans to improve competitiveness by the application of systematic approaches to the management of both direct and indirect organizational expenditure.
- The unit focuses on the different approaches and methodologies for strategic sourcing and category management, demonstrating the role of the procurement and supply chain specialist in leading these approaches.
Sustainability in Supply Chains
- In this final unit, you'll learn about different approaches that can help achieve sustainability.
- The unit will explore the concept and initiatives in sustainability which includes aspects of corporate social responsibility.
- This section will also cover the impact on communities and society, environmental aspects of sourcing, ethical trading, and working standards. The alignment of sustainable goals within supply chains has both global and local dimensions and is a developing area for organizational commitment, procedures, systems and practice.
You must have achieved the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement & Supply to enrol on this course. If you don't have that yet, we offer both the Level 4 and the Level 3 CIPS qualifications.
The course is ideal for those in roles such as:
- Buyer
- Procurement/purchasing executive
- Procurement specialist
- Contract officer
- Supply chain/inventory/logistics analyst
- Supply chain/inventory/logistics planner
It'll allow you to improve purchasing logistics in your organisation and excel in more senior managerial procurement roles. You'll also be able to apply for the many jobs which require candidates to have, or be working towards, a CIPS qualification.
Challenging economic times and growing corporate social responsibility are making the role of buyer pivotal in every business. This means that opportunities and salaries for skilled senior buyers are outstripping those of many other professions.
With an advanced qualification from the leading industry body, you could have a highly lucrative career in purchasing and supply. Jobs you could potentially hold at this level of study include:
- Senior buyer
- Senior purchasing or procurement manager
- Head of commercial
- Supply chain manager
- Head of logistics/transport
- Operations manager
Once you've completed the CIPS Advanced Diploma, you could move on to the CIPS Professional Diploma. This is the final level of CIPS qualifications and is aimed at senior procurement professionals and heads of department.
Once you've completed this and gained 3 years experience in a position of responsibility within purchasing and supply, you'll be awarded MCIPS status.
During your course, you'll complete 4 test papers and an external final exam for each of the five units you'll study.
The test papers won't count towards your final grade and will be submitted to your tutor for marking. They're there so that you and your tutor can keep track of your progress and identify where you're doing well and where you could improve.
The final exams set by CIPS are as follows:
Management in Procurement and Supply
- You'll read an unseen case study of around 500 words, then answer four questions based on it, each work 25 marks.
Managing Risks in Supply Chains
- You'll read an unseen case study of around 500 words, then answer four questions based on it, each work 25 marks.
Improving the Competitiveness of Supply Chains
- You'll read a case study which you'll have been given a month before the exam, then answer four questions based on it, each worth 25 marks.
Category Management in Procurement and Supply
- You'll answer four questions, each work 25 marks.
Sustainability in Supply Chains
- You'll answer four questions, each work 25 marks.
There are CIPS membership, administration and exam fees that are additional to your course fee:
- CIPS UK annual Student membership fee: £166.50 for new members, £119 renewal
- UK exam fees: £96 per exam (five in total)
These assessment fees are set by CIPS and as such may change in August 2016.